Faux Pas? Not really!

On April 18, 2007, Brian Urlacher, the Chicago Bears linebacker, was fined $100,000 for wearing a cap emblazoned with a “Vitamin Water” logo at the Super Bowl Media Day in February 2007.

The NFL frowns and levies heavy fines, on players who wear any piece of apparel that is not an NFL-designated sponsor at “official” functions.

Vitamin Water is a product manufactured, bottled and marketed by Glaceau, a Whitestone, NY company. Mr. Urlacher has been affiliated (as an investor, partner and spokesman) with this product for over four years.

Mr. Mike Reople, the president of Glaceau, should be the happiest person in the world today. All across the US, and maybe in other parts of the world, Vitamin Water has received innumerable mentions in the media (including this blog.) Worth millions of dollars!

He should say a special thank you to Mr. Urlacher and give him a “bear” hug!

Did the NFL do anything wrong here? Not really! The NFL, like any other business entity, has to protect its interests along with the interests of its “paying sponsors.”