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Realtree Provides Weather App for Outdoorsmen

admin — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 14:26:59 +0000

Outdoorsmen who require accurate weather forecasts, detailed Doppler radar, and severe weather alerts can now have all of this and more for free on their iPhone, iPod and iPad. Realtree and Weather Decision Technologies (WDT) have teamed up to make certain that every key weather feature outdoorsmen need is available in the palm of their hands, with this new weather app.

The free app, which is available now in the App Store, provides everything, including severe weather alerts, sunrise and sunset data, humidity, dew point, barometric pressure and video hunting tips.

“There are countless weather apps available but while developing Realtree’s weather app, we kept hunters top of mind. The dynamic features included in this app provide a new customized user experience for outdoorsmen that we are proud to stand by,” said Bill Jordan, Realtree designer and president.

Realtree’s Weather Base Station app offers additional features with GPS location-based current weather conditions, as well as live, local and animated radar and satellite information. Within the GPS location-based feature, the app even automatically detects the user’s location and allows users to simply type in the name of a location to view or store for future use.

“Realtree’s Weather Base Station provides the highest quality weather on the market today. Outdoor activities demand timely, accurate and powerful weather intelligence. This app delivers all this, and more,” said Mike Eilts, Chief Executive Officer, WDT.

Anyone familiar with vast array of readily available online radar apps will be impressed by the level of detail found in this app. Users will be able to utilize the “pinch” method to zoom in and out of the weather map, along with the capability to zoom all the way down to street level. The radar within the app animates on demand, creating a continuous loop and allowing hunters to better predict storm paths.

For users looking for more features, useful in-app upgrades can be added for a small fee of 99 cents each. These upgraded features include barometric trends, lightening strike data and Realtree’s Game Activity Meter, a feature that utilizes years of field research.

Stonyfield Becomes The Official Yogurt of USTA League

admin — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:54:31 +0000

Stonyfield, the world’s leading organic yogurt maker, has entered into a two-year sponsorship agreement with plans to support USTA League players through online health and fitness content; sampling for members at USTA League National Championships; as well as ongoing promotions and programs exclusive to USTA members. Stonyfield will be the Official Yogurt of USTA League, the country’s largest recreational tennis league with more than 335,000 players nationwide.

“We are excited to be able to have sponsor activation at this year’s USTA League National Championships,” said Kurt Kamperman, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “To collaborate with Stonyfield by promoting healthy and active lifestyles at the Championships allows us to bring another benefit to our players.”

USTA members and tennis players of all skill levels can visit Stonyfield’s microsite FueledByStonyfield.com, developed for this partnership, to find tennis tips from former World Number One female player Tracy Austin. The site also features recipes and nutrition tips to help players fuel their tennis game.

As part of this year’s USTA partnership, Stonyfield will award a total of $7,500 in grants across the country to help active individuals fuel health and wellness in their communities. Tennis players can come to FueledByStonyfield.com to apply for the grants by answering one simple request: “Share how tennis fuels you and what you would do to fuel others.” The public will vote to determine 10 finalists. Judges at Stonyfield will then select three winners to receive a total of $7,500 in grants, as well as free yogurt. Winners will be selected in November.

“For the past two years we’ve enjoyed being a sponsor of the US Open, the highest-attended sporting event in the world,” says Stonyfield President and CE-Yo Gary Hirshberg. “As an avid tennis player, I’m especially excited to have a broader reaching partnership with the USTA this year, and have the opportunity to engage more with the League’s members on important topics like health and eating to fuel your best game.”

The Tournament of Roses Announces 2012 Rose Queen Drew Washington

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:35:42 +0000

The Pasadena Tournament of Roses named Drew Helen Washington as the 94th Rose Queen today.

This announcement concludes a month-long process that began with approximately 1,000 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Tournament of Roses Royal Court tryouts. Queen Drew was selected from the recently appointed seven-member Royal Court. The Rose Queen and Royal Court will reign over the 2012 Tournament of Roses festivities, culminating in the 123rd Rose Parade presented by Honda and themed Just Imagine…, and the 98th Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO.

“2012 Rose Queen Drew Washington and our six princesses are perfect ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses and the city of Pasadena,” said Tournament of Roses 2012 President Rick Jackson. “They are talented, graceful and stellar role models who will inspire many young girls. We are delighted to have Queen Drew lead our court and reign over the 123rd Rose Parade and 98th Rose Bowl Game.”

Queen Drew and the six Rose Princesses were selected based upon a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement and community involvement. Upon their selection, they received a full wardrobe and fitting from Macy*s including clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as hair and makeup styling from Amadeus Salon and Spa.

Earlier today, the seven young ladies of the Royal Court each received a pearl necklace from Mikimoto, provider of the stately crowns and tiaras. Queen Drew will officially receive her crown featuring more than 600 cultured pearls and six carats of diamonds from Tournament of Roses 2012 President Rick Jackson at the Coronation ceremony on October 27, at the Pasadena Convention Center.

Later today, Queen Drew and the six princesses will each also be fitted for their formal gowns provided by Los Angeles fashion house, Tadashi. The gowns will be unveiled at the Coronation ceremony on October 27.

Rose Queen Drew Helen Washington, 16, lives in Pasadena and attends Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. She is captain of her school’s varsity volleyball and varsity track and field teams. She is active in the Student Ambassador Club, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the Multi-cultural Club and the Latin Club. Drew is a member of her school’s National Honor Society, the California Scholarship Federation and Mu Alpha Theta, the honors math club. Over the summer she served as a camp volleyball coach. She plans to pursue a career in marketing or public relations. In her free time, she enjoys going to the movies, running, playing volleyball and spending time with her friends. Her parents are Craig and Lorie Washington.

As an official ambassador of the Tournament of Roses, Queen Drew will participate in more than 150 community and media functions along with Rose Princesses Morgan Eliza Devaud (#350), 18, La Canada High School; Stephanie Grace Hynes (#330), 18, Maranatha High School; Cynthia Megan Louie (#858), 17, La Salle High School; Kimberly Victoria Ostiller (#8), 17, Flintridge Preparatory School; Hanan Bulto Worku (#458), 17, Pasadena High School and Sarah Nicole Zuno (#455), 17, Benjamin Franklin High School.

Easton Sports Names John Graham Senior Vice President of Commerce

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:05:26 +0000

Easton Sports, Inc. – a developer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse equipment for both sports professionals and enthusiasts announced that John Graham has been named Senior Vice President – Commerce, effective mid-September. Reporting to Chris Zimmerman, president of Easton Sports, Graham will lead the sales teams across the sports it serves.

“John has a diverse sales background, having worked in the European, Canadian and U.S. markets. His breadth and depth of brand and sales management experience will strengthen our ability to become a more effective partner across our diverse set of retail accounts,” said Zimmerman. “This is the first time all Easton sales organizations will be under one leader, which will bring sales consistency and integration across the Easton brand and help us further leverage key product launches.”

Prior to joining Easton Sports, Graham spent 18 years with Nike Inc., where he held progressive management positions in sales, operations and merchandising. His most recent role was Commercial Director of Action Sports. Graham’s prior Nike roles include: Director of Apparel Sales – North America; Director of Sales – Canada; and USA General Merchandise Manager – Foot Locker Inc. Graham has also held executive positions with Reebok and Warnaco Group, Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Boston College.

Kbb.com Kicks Off College, NFL Football Season Naming Top 10 New Tailgating Cars

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:14:41 +0000

With college and NFL football underway, fans are flocking to stadiums around the country to not only cheer for their favorite team, but to party hearty in the parking lot, pre-game. With this national pastime upon us, the expert editors at Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com have named the 2011 Top 10 Tailgating Cars. While almost any car will do for such a party, Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new car and used car information, has selected a few that go the extra yard to ensure a rockin’ good time.

“Forget the beach parties and don’t worry about the holidays just yet — it’s time for cold drinks and hot dogs before a stadium-sized event,” said Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “And to throw a proper tailgating party, you need a proper tailgating car. We’ve ranked the top 10 new party-mobiles to assist anyone in planning their next parking-lot party.”

The kbb.com editors chose new cars with game-party-friendly features such as: adjustable rear seats, multiple video monitors prime for game-watching, in-vehicle coolers, rear-passenger-compartment audio controls, power liftgates, multiple power outlets and an array of impressive sound systems. In addition, many of the cars on this year’s list offer fold-down tailgates.

Sneak Peek: Kbb.com’s 2011 Top 10 Tailgating Cars

10. 2011 Ford Explorer

Why? Ford Explorer seats seven in cavernous comfort, but the 50/50 split-folding third row, 60/40 second row, and fully adjustable front passenger seat can accommodate any combination of sandwich and human cargo for your next tailgate extravaganza…

9. 2012 Lexus RX 350

Why? If your tailgating parties are more likely to involve wine and cheese than beer and bratwursts, the smooth-riding 2012 Lexus RX 350 is a fitting conveyance…

8. 2012 Mini Countryman

Why? Small enough to squeeze into the smallest college stadium parking spaces, its wide-opening tailgate and folding rear seats make it a fun choice for a two-person tailgate with all the fixins…

7. 2011 Kia Soul

Why? Aside from having plenty of space for your lawn chairs and team-color body paint collection, the Kia Soul rocks a sound system with speaker lights that can pulse to the beat of Queen’s “We Will Rock You…”

6. 2011 Honda Ridgeline

Why? With clever storage solutions and an even cleverer tailgate, the 2011 Honda Ridgeline is the Swiss Army knife of tailgating cars…

For the remaining Top 10 Tailgating Cars choices, and the full editorial commentary and reasoning behind each of the editors’ picks, visit the Top 10 Tailgating Cars story in kbb.com’s Latest News section at http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/top-10-tailgating-cars-for-2011/.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), or like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb.

NFL is a registered trademark of the National Football League.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com provides consumer pricing and information on minivans, pickup-trucks, cars, hybrids and SUVs. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

DIRECTV Stokes NASCAR Rivalries With Annual Head2Head Knockout Competition

admin — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:43:16 +0000

DIRECTV will team up with ESPN and NASCAR to open the throttle for a second consecutive year of DIRECTV’s Head2Head Knockout competition – an innovative, bracket-format contest that will showcase existing and new rivalries among 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers.

The high-stakes competition will take place over the course of four races during the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning Aug. 7, 2011. DIRECTV, the exclusive provider of the NASCAR HotPass broadcast, will donate a total of $400,000 to driver charities during the four-round event as drivers compete head-to-head each week with the winner moving on to the next bracket.

And drivers won’t be the only ones competing. A participating fan, who fills out a perfect bracket, can win a $1 million. Aside from a perfect bracket winner, the fan who accumulates the most points will win a brand new truck from the manufacturer of the winning driver. Other prizes include a Panasonic 3D Prize Package. Fans can get more information by visiting www.directv.com/nascar and can enter their brackets until Aug. 7 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

The competition divides 32 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers into four regional brackets, with each driver going head-to-head against a new competitor each week in a single elimination format. Participating drivers advance to subsequent rounds by finishing higher than the driver they are matched up against each week. In classic “tournament” fashion, rounds one through three will narrow the field down to “The Fastest Four” who will trade paint for DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head2Head Knockout Championship in Bristol, Tenn. on Aug. 27.

Out of the 32 drivers, 12 participated in the 2010 Sprint Cup Chase while the 20 remaining bids were determined by a selection committee.

Following is a schedule for DIRECTV’s NASCAR Head2Head Knockout competition in 2011:

* Round One on Aug. 7 (Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono)
* Round Two on Aug. 14 (Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen at Watkins Glen)
* Round Three on Aug. 21 (Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan Speedway)
* “The Fastest Four” on Aug. 27 (Irwin Tools Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway)

“Coming off last year’s successful Head2Head campaign, we are thrilled to team up with ESPN and NASCAR to create a competition that dials up the rivalries among drivers and also helps a number of important charities around the country,” said Jon Gieselman, senior vice president of Marketing and Direct Sales for DIRECTV. “The bracket style, single elimination competition brings out the best in everyone, especially with bragging rights on the line.”

NASCAR HotPass, DIRECTV’s exclusive broadcast that allows viewers to experience the race from the driver’s vantage point with four dedicated driver channels in HD, will offer fans the ultimate way to track the Head2Head Knockout brackets during the four-week competition. NASCAR HotPass is available only on DIRECTV and is included at no extra charge in every base TV package.

“At NASCAR, we are always looking for ways to collaborate with our official partners to engage our avid, loyal fans and this program is a good example,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR Vice President of Partnership Marketing and Business Solutions. “DIRECTV understands how to create exciting initiatives that help fuel fans’ passion for our sport, while also supporting some of our drivers’ charities – many of which have been impacted over the last several years by a slow economy. Providing fans with a chance to compete for great prizes while directing funds to the non-profit sector is truly a win-win.”

Fans Stay Connected at D-Backs Games With Expanded Wireless Network and AT&T Wi-Fi

admin — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:22:34 +0000

AT&T and the Arizona Diamondbacks have expanded wireless and broadband connectivity at Chase Field with a new Distributed Antenna System (DAS) and AT&T Wi-Fi.

The enhancements support the skyrocketing use of advanced wireless devices in the stands and will enrich baseball fans’ wireless experience whether they are checking scores, updating social networking sites, or uploading photos to friends while cheering on their team.

Here’s what’s new:

* AT&T Wi-Fi is now available at D-Backs games at Chase Field as part of a new agreement with AT&T, an industry pioneer in Wi-Fi with the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.**
* Inside the venue, there are 287 access points to cover 48,633 seats, concession stands and concourse areas.
* Chase Field visitors with a Wi-Fi-enabled AT&T smartphone, tablet or device can easily connect to the AT&T Wi-Fi network without any setup or log in required, through an auto-authentication process.

“We want our customers to have a great network experience anywhere they go. Our alliance with the D-Backs at Chase Field has allowed us to build a robust combination of both the AT&T Wi-Fi and DAS systems to do just that,” said Jennifer Biry, Arizona vice president and general manager, AT&T. “We’re ready for the large home game crowds and the major events coming to Chase Field. AT&T is committed to investment in the local wireless network, and the new DAS at Chase Field is just one way that we’re investing in Arizona.”

A DAS installation consists of hundreds of strategically-placed antennas that distribute AT&T’s wireless network coverage throughout Chase Field, providing for more efficient management of wireless capacity in heavily-trafficked areas. DAS has the ability to provide enhanced wireless coverage to customers in indoor or outdoor spaces where geographical limitations — terrain, building construction, etc. — or crowd density might otherwise prevent an optimal wireless experience. The additional capacity is expected to help improve call reliability and enable more consistent network access to help Arizona D-Backs fans at Chase Field make the most of their AT&T devices.

“The D-backs have been pioneers in the sports industry for the many ways we have enhanced the fan experience at Chase Field over the past five years,” D-backs’ President & CEO Derrick Hall said. “In addition to providing great customer service and affordable prices to attend a game, we believe enhancing the technological aspects of a fan’s experience at Chase Field is a must. The AT&T Wi-Fi and DAS systems installed at our ballpark will allow fans to communicate better and also assist them in following the game on their smartphone or tablet devices.”

AT&T operates the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network** with more than 24,000 hotspots in the U.S. and provides access to more than 135,000 hotspots globally through roaming agreements. AT&T customers with a qualifying smartphone, 3G LaptopConnect, and high speed Internet plans get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly data plans.

For more information about AT&T’s mobile broadband coverage in Phoenix or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. The online tool can measure the quality of coverage based on a street address, intersection, ZIP code or even a landmark.

For updates on the AT&T wireless network, please visit www.att.com/networknews and for more information on AT&T Wi-Fi and how to connect, visit AT&T Wi-Fi Access.

Monster Mile Hits Nascar Sprint Cup Drivers With All Its Might

admin — Thu, 12 May 2011 17:05:28 +0000

Racing from Darlington last week lit a spark in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. This week, drivers try to maintain their cool on Sunday, May 15 at 12:30 PM ET as FOX Sports presents the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks from Dover International Speedway.

All eyes will be on Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick as they take their feud to Dover, DE. Busch spun Harvick out during a multi-car accident last week and postrace words were had and penalties handed down from NASCAR for both drivers. Each has a long history of feuds (Harvick vs. Joey Logano, Carl Edwards and Juan Pablo Montoya; Busch vs. Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin and Jeff Burton) and the NASCAR on FOX prerace show hosted by Chris Myers explores them this Sunday.

The prerace show, which also features analysts Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Hammond, airs live from the infield and includes updates from drivers, crewmen and officials shaping the day’s action. Once the green flag drops, the voice of NASCAR Mike Joy is alongside analysts Waltrip and Larry McReynolds to call all the twists and turns on the track while Dick Berggren, Steve Byrnes, Krista Voda and Matt Yocum patrol the pits for reports on teams and pit stops.

ESPN Radio’s Mike Greenberg Loses the Bracket Challenge and Will Dress as Pop Star Justin Bieber on May 4

admin — Wed, 04 May 2011 15:55:27 +0000

Once again someone has to win the Werner Ladder Sheets of Integrity Challenge and the opponent must pay up! This year, Mike Greenberg lost the Challenge, and on May 4th he will dress as Justin Bieber for the entire show, entertaining guests and fans with his antics and Mike Golic’s certain gloating. This is the eighth year of the Challenge, which always generates great anticipation for the stunt, and great media coverage for the event. Don’t miss Greeny dressed as Justin Bieber on May 4th from 6:00-10:00am on ESPN2 and online at http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio.

Werner Ladder is the official sponsor of Mike and Mike’s Werner Sheets of Integrity Challenge…and 2011 was the most successful year ever! The Bracket Challenge is an online men’s college basketball tournament contest between the listeners and ESPN Radio’s Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic using the Werner Sheets of Integrity brackets. This year achieved the highest number of entries ever, an increase of 40% over last year, and Werner is pleased to giveaway an official replica of the ladder used to cut down the nets, along with $500 to the fan with the best bracket.

Chris Filardi, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Werner Co. says, “Werner really appreciates our relationship with Mike and Mike and we love what they are willing to do to energize their fan base. Our partnership with ESPN has been extremely rewarding for Werner. The sponsorship of the Sheets of Integrity Challenge also gives us the opportunity to reach the professional contractors who rely on Werner ladders on job sites every day, and we thank them for helping build America and making the Werner brand #1.”

In addition to the Bracket Challenge, Werner has also created a one-of-a-kind, custom branded Mike and Mike ladder that was given away in the first ever Mike and Mike Ladder Sweepstakes. This unique ladder features the Fibergraphix technology, which embeds full-color customized graphics on a fiberglass ladder to create a durable and functional ladder highlighted by a cool design. A select group of colleges are now represented in the Fibergraphix College Series, designed for the diehard fan.

Jane Lynch To Host 2011 VH1 Do Something Awards

admin — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:20:59 +0000

DoSomething.org and VH1 announce Emmy and Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch will return to host their star-studded “Do Something Awards” telecast on VH1 for a second year. The Do Something Awards will be taped at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and premiere Thursday, August 18th, 2011 at 9PM EDT.

The Do Something Award is the premier national award for community service where nominees and winners represent the pivotal “do-ers” in their field, cause, or issue. Since 1996, DoSomething.org has honored the nation’s best young world-changers, 25 and under.

Additional announcements regarding celebrity attendees and contest finalists will be forthcoming. Taping on August 14th, 2011 and airing on August 18th, 2011 this year’s VH1 Do Something Awards are executive produced by Michael Dempsey and Lee Rolontz for VH1. Nancy Lublin and Naomi Hirabayashi oversee the awards show for DoSomething.org.

Jane Lynch currently stars on the critically acclaimed TV series, Glee, where her magnificent comedic timing has earned herself an Emmy Award® for Outstanding Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award® for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, and a SAG award nomination for her role as Sue Sylvester. Some of her other recent television credits include the STARZ series Party Down, Lovespring International, Desperate Housewives and Weeds as well as the last season of The L Word opposite Cybill Shepherd. She has had recurring roles on Two and a Half Men, where she was nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Guest Actress, Criminal Minds and The New Adventures of Old Christine. Jane also has a long list of film credits to display her acting talents, which can be seen in the upcoming film Paul. Past film work includes Julie & Julia, Christopher Guest’s For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind and Best in Show, as well as Role Models, Talladega Nights, The-40-Year-Old-Virgin. Lynch cut her theatrical teeth at The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre and in many church basements all over the greater Chicago-land area helping her become the comedic talent she is today.

Nancy Lublin, CEO and Chief Old Person at DoSomething.org said “Social change is about breaking down barriers. These kids are like rock stars, but without guitars or leather pants. Jane Lynch is a bad ass, which is why we love her.”

Tom Calderone, President, VH1 said “We’re thrilled to once again present the Do Something Awards as we honor this year’s amazing nominees with our host Jane Lynch. This awards show is truly like no other – as young celebrities and young adults alike, are recognized for their contribution to society through various causes and charities. We were so encouraged by the huge star power that came out to support us last year and we look forward to building on those relationships as well as create new ones this year. And create even more uses for the recycled newspaper suit I wore last year.”