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Adidas drops Arenas as endorser following guilty plea
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
Athletic company Adidas said Friday it was dumping longtime endorser Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards following his guilty plea on felony gun charges in Washington, D.C.
The move demonstrates the short fuse that Madison Avenue now has with wayward athletic endorsers. Golf superstar Tiger Woods has been dropped by twocorporate sponsors, AT&T and Accenture, following recent allegations of his alleged extramarital affairs with multiple women.
ARENAS: Pleads guilty to felony gun charge
"In response to Gilbert Arenas' guilty plea to felony charges, Adidas has terminated its agreement with the athlete effectiveimmediately," spokeswoman Stephanie Von Allmen said in a statement. "Beyond this statement we have no further comment at this time.
Adidas initially said last week that it was "evaluating" its relationship with the 28-year old guard after NBA CommissionerDavid Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay.
Arenas has pushed his signature shoe for Adidas since signing an endorsement deal in December 2003. He was one of Adidas' biggestbasketball endorsers with fellow NBA stars Dwight Howard and Tracy McGrady.
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
Athletic company Adidas said Friday it was dumping longtime endorser Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards following his guilty plea on felony gun charges in Washington, D.C.
The move demonstrates the short fuse that Madison Avenue now has with wayward athletic endorsers. Golf superstar Tiger Woods has been dropped by twocorporate sponsors, AT&T and Accenture, following recent allegations of his alleged extramarital affairs with multiple women.
ARENAS: Pleads guilty to felony gun charge
"In response to Gilbert Arenas' guilty plea to felony charges, Adidas has terminated its agreement with the athlete effectiveimmediately," spokeswoman Stephanie Von Allmen said in a statement. "Beyond this statement we have no further comment at this time.
Adidas initially said last week that it was "evaluating" its relationship with the 28-year old guard after NBA CommissionerDavid Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay.
Arenas has pushed his signature shoe for Adidas since signing an endorsement deal in December 2003. He was one of Adidas' biggestbasketball endorsers with fellow NBA stars Dwight Howard and Tracy McGrady.