Winmark Corporation, the parent of Play It Again Sports, announced that current executive chairman, John L. Morgan, 78, will retire as a director and as executive chairman, effective March 1, 2020.
Author: SGB Media

Nike Facing SEC Investigation Over Illicit Payments, Jury Told
Nike Inc. is facing a probe from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over illicit payments to elite youth basketball players, according to a lawyer for Micheal Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer facing trial for allegedly trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike, according to Bloomberg News.

Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show Kicks Off This Week
Here in Denver, CO we’re having great weather for the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show. SGB Executive is reporting Live from the show floor starting today, Day 1, through Friday, January 31. We’re available for interviews and comments or reach out to us at editor@sgbonline.com. We look forward to seeing you in the aisles!

J. Crew Names Former Victoria’s Secret Executive Its CEO
J.Crew Group Inc. appointed Jan Singer to serve as chief executive officer. Singer most recently served as CEO of Victoria’s Secret Lingerie and previously held leadership positions at Nike and Spanx.

Penn National Gaming To Acquire Barstool Sports
Penn National Gaming, a regional gambling operator, has reached an agreement to acquire Barstool Sports, the controversial digital sports publisher. The deal values the Boston-based sports blog at $450 million.

Milliken Finalizes Acquisition Of Borchers
Milliken & Company has formally acquired Borchers Group Limited, a global specialty chemicals company known for its coating additives and specialty catalyst solutions from The Jordan Company, L.P.

Esports Learning Platform Secures $5M Funding Round
ProGuides, an esports learning platform, announced a $5 million seed funding round led by M13 with participation from previous pre-seed investors Amplify LA, Quest Venture Partners, and the GFR Fund.

USA Triathlon Board Of Directors Elects 2020 Officers
The USA Triathlon Board of Directors announced the re-election of three of its members to officer seats — Jacqueline McCook as president, Joel Rosinbum as vice president and Kevin Haas as treasurer — and the election of Keri Serota as secretary.

Stephen Bebis Joins CEO Coaching International
Stephen Bebis, the founder of Golf Town and former head of Sports and Recreation, has become the newest partner and coach of CEO Coaching International, a leadership development consultancy.

Outdoor Foundation Study: America Is Becoming An Indoor Nation
Outdoor Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), released the latest Outdoor Participation Report, showing that just under half the U.S. population does not participate in outdoor recreation at all.

Unifi’s Q2 Sales Increase 1.1 Percent
Unifi Inc., the producer of recycled and synthetic yarns, reported operating earnings improved in the second quarter ended December 29 as sales increased 1.1 percent Unifi slightly lowered its full-year earnings guidance as results were impacted by “softer-than-expected U.S. demand in certain categories, along with global market pricing pressures.”

Report: Nike’s Vaporfly Won’t Face Ban
The World Athletics organization, which governs most international track and field events, will not be imposing a blanket ban on Nike’s Vaporfly running shoes, according to a report in the Guardian. But the international governing body is expected to announce “a temporary suspension of any new shoe technology until after the Tokyo Olympics.”

Family Of Delbert Hayes Makes $3M Donation To Washington State
The family of the late Delbert Hayes, one of the earliest employees at Nike, made a $3 million donation to establish the Delbert J. Hayes Scholarship in Accounting in the WSU Carson College of Business.

Nike.com Sells Out Of Kobe Bryant Gear
Two days after Kobe Bryant’s untimely death in a California helicopter crash, Nike said it had sold out of all Kobe-related merchandise, contradicting an earlier report that the footwear giant had pulled gear bearing his name from its website.

Toms Appoints Magnus Wedhammar CEO
Toms Shoes LLC has appointed Magnus Wedhammar, former GM of Sanuk, as CEO.