Big Sponsors Now Voicing Displeasure Over Peterson's Status

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities/ESPN))

This is getting escalated quickly...

Big-name Minnesota Vikings sponsors and public figures are voicing their displeasure with the Adrian Peterson situation and the idea that Peterson will play this weekend against New Orleans. Radisson Hotels is suspending its sponsorship of the team and the governor is getting his two cents in.

Of course, it was the lead at 5:00
KMSP-TV

Here's Governor Dayton's statement in full:

"It is an awful situation. Yes, Mr. Peterson is entitled to due process and should be "innocent until proven guilty." However, he is a public figure; and his actions, as described, are a public embarrassment to the Vikings organization and the State of Minnesota. Whipping a child to the extent of visible wounds, as has been alleged, should not be tolerated in our state. Therefore, I believe the team should suspend Mr. Peterson, until the accusations of child abuse have been resolved by the criminal justice system. However, I will not turn my back on the Vikings and their fans, as some have suggested. The Vikings belong to Minnesota – and in Minnesota. This has been the team's only home; and our citizens, including myself, have been its most dedicated fans."

And KO is still on the forefront to keep 28 from playing for the near future- dropping another pipe bomb

Mark Jackson Wouldn't Have People Show Up For Game 5, Sponsors Starting To Leave

((HT: Dan Patrick Show/Youtube))

Golden State head coach Mark Jackson was a guest on the "Dan Patrick Show" this morning- fresh off his 21-point Game 4 win in the firestorm that is now the Clippers-Warriors series...

He played for the Clips for two seasons in the '90s and had an interesting thought on what the proper protest should be for the next home game in Los Angeles...


And now, the corporate sponsors of the Clippers are starting to go:

"CarMax finds the statements attributed to the Clippers' owner completely unacceptable," the company said in a statement through public relations manager Catherine Gryp. "These views directly conflict with CarMax's culture of respect for all individuals. While we have been a proud Clippers sponsor for nine years and support the team, fans and community, these statements necessitate that CarMax end its sponsorship."

State Farm is thinking about it as is Kia and Virgin America and Amtrak are out now as well...

THAT'S where the NBA will take notice from this moment forward. Commissioner Adam Silver is set to have a press conference tomorrow to discuss where the league may go from here...

2PM eastern time...

Swan Racing On Life Support...???

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

Swan Racing looked like they would be an interesting player in the small-team big-money world of NASCAR this season. 50 Cent's SMS Audio and Speed Stick Gear signed on for the two-car team of Cole Whitt and Parker Kligerman...

Here's the SMS presser from Daytona:


But with 10 wrecked cars between the two, and the two ranked 34th (Whitt) and 38th (Kligerman) in points, Swan is being honest about their future:

"Swan Racing is in the process of reviewing its current situation and the ability to continue to compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," the team said in a statement released Thursday on their Facebook page. "The team has been unable to secure the kind of sponsorship required to effectively operate the team. As a result, the team management is exploring every available option. We hope to be in a position to provide a detailed update in the near future."

Whitt has the best finish of the two of 18th at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana. But he also has seven finishes of 27th or worse. Kligerman's year has been worse. He has DNF'ed four times in the 8 races this season...

His adventures included this incident at Daytona
((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

OSG Prem: Yep, Zoopla Is Done With West Brom

((HT: Sky Sports))

And this news comes hours before their Monday night match-up against Everton...

Against West Ham, Anelka celebrated by using a "quenelle" gesture- what is regarded as an inverted Nazi salute. Anelka responded by saying it was a tribute to French comedian Dieudonne, who has been arrested half-a-dozen times for hate speech against Jews.


Zoopla said, in a statement, that it had been "reviewing its position over the past few weeks in light of the actions of striker, Nicolas Anelka, during the match against West Ham over the Christmas period and has decided to focus its attention on other marketing activities after this season."

Zoopla is owned by Alex Chesterman, who is Jewish, and they had given West Brom their largest kit deal in history. The deal was set to end after this season. The firm just confirms it now and word is that any kit Anelka wears must not have the Zoopla logo on its front...

The game with Everton should be interesting...

OSG Prem: West Brom Main Sponsor May Pull Over Anelka Flap

It all started over this salute-slash-tribute by West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka...

At West Ham on Boxing Day, he made a 'quenelle' gesture which some French politicians have associated with anti-Semitism...


Anelka claimed it was a tribute to a stand-up comedian friend of his, Dieudonne...

Now the sponsor on the front of the West Brom kit, Zoopla, may pull out of their sponsorship if Anelka plays Monday. The company is owned by Alex Westerman, who is Jewish. A Marketing Week article by Sebastian Joseph says the company will pull out "with immediate effect" if Anelka is still around.

From Joseph:

It is likely Anelka will face the Merseyside side club next week, however, with one source close to the matter claiming the club is not prepared to let sponsors dictate its team selection. West Brom are believed to have already made early inquires into securing a temporary sponsor for the remainder of the season should Zoopla act on its threat. The property firm’s two-year deal with the club ends this season and the club is “confident’ of being able to find a new long-term backer given the League’s growing popularity, according to the source.

The Football Association is still looking into the move by Anelka...

More Fallout For Waltrip: Only 2 Teams In 2014

((HT: ESPN))

When NAPA pulled out of sponsoring the 55-car after the Did-Bowyer-Spin-On-Purpose situation, the writing on the wall was there for Michael Waltrip Racing...

The benefactor of the conspiracy, Martin Truex, Junior is now a free agent...

Truex, crew chief Chad Johnston and 15 percent of the workforce were told they can go and get other jobs outside Waltrip's shop. Team co-owner Rob Kauffman said the cuts were across the organization and not limited to Truex's team.

Truex's car goes into the shop for research and development. It will be trotted out for Waltrip to use his sponsor's exemptions to try and get a third car into select races- much like it was before he went after a third car in the shop in the first place.

This is what got MWR in hot water in the first place...
((HT: NASCAR))


Paired with this... Brian Vickers questioning... really questioning... coming to the pits...


NASCAR fined MWR $300,000 for the alleged stunt, suspended GM Ty Norris indefinitely and replaced Truex in the Chase field with Ryan Newman. And then they went ahead and added Jeff Gordon, too, since Bowyer wasn't punished...

Truex has been talking to Furniture Row about the soon-to-be vacant #78 ever since all these questions came up...

Here's MWR talking about MWR...

DEVELOPING: NAPA Leaving MWR

And that's not a good thing for Michael Waltrip Racing...

After the fallout of the Bowyer, Vickers, Truex cover-up NAPA believes in fair play and wants nothing to do with the team that they re-upped with through the 2015 season...

To recap:
((HT: ESPN))


"NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR," NAPA said in a statement. "We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."

Michael Waltrip Racing returned fire:

"There is no doubt, the story of Michael Waltrip Racing begins with NAPA Auto Parts, but there are many more chapters yet to be written," the statement said. "MWR has the infrastructure and support of Toyota for three teams plus three Chase-caliber, race-winning drivers. With the support of our corporate partners, we are preparing to field three teams in 2014. MWR is a resilient organization capable of winning races and competing for the championship, and that remains our sole focus."

According to Jenna Fryer, this really sucks for MWR:

It will be a tremendous challenge to quickly replace the money, estimated to be at least $15 million a year, because NAPA is a rare sponsor that covers the entire 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

Should MWR not secure sponsorship to replace NAPA, it could lead to layoffs of close to 100 employees and the possible shuttering of Truex's team. Truex could be out of job as well.

And Fryer surmises that Truex could end up with Furniture Row Racing if Waltrip can't afford a third team...