Sports BIZ News

NBA Re-Launches NBAStore.com
(Sports Business News) - The National Basketball Association (NBA) officially re-launches its online shopping site, NBAStore.com, this month with a chance for fans to win almost $10,000 worth of prizes including a grand prize delivered personally by NBA Legend Clyde "The Glide" Drexler. "Drexler's Slam Dunk Delivery" sweepstakes* gives fans a chance to win some of the NBA's most popular new holiday gifts and a chance to meet or receive a phone call from one of the NBA's all-time great players known for his smooth moves on the hardwood -- both as a 10-time NBA All-Star and former contestant on ABC's Dancing with Stars. Fans will have the opportunity to win a variety of other secondary prizes including an NBA videogame prize pack that includes NBA LIVE 08 (EA Sports), NBA 2K8 (2K Sports), NBA 08 (Sony) and NBA Backyard Basketball (Humongous Inc.); a $500 shopping spree on NBAStore.com, and one of 50 $150 NBAStore.com gift cards. The site offers the most comprehensive online assortment of NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League merchandise. Fans can purchase products from all 30 NBA teams, 14 WNBA teams and 14 NBA Development League teams through specially designed stores for each league -- NBAStore.com, WNBAStore.com and DLeagueStore.com.

America's Cup 2009 Postponed
(Ticker) - America's Cup organizers on Thursday announced the 2009 event has been postponed. BMW Oracle Racing (BOR) is embroiled in a legal dispute with two-time defending champion Alinghi over Desafio Espanol's status as official challenger. A statement on the official race web site read: "The ongoing uncertainty around the conclusion of the New York court case brought by BOR leaves the organizers no choice but to delay the event, as many indicators demonstrate a lack of viability to stage the event in 2009 to the same standards as the 32nd America's Cup." The 2009 America's Cup was scheduled to take place from May to July in Valencia, Spain.

England Fails to Make Euro Championship, Stocks Fall
(MarketWatch) -- Dismayed by England's failure to qualify for the European soccer championship next year, investors punished shares in suppliers and retailers of sports equipment in London on Thursday. Shares in soccer jersey maker Umbro (UK:UMB: news, chart, profile) fell 2.9%.