Annual High School All-Star Game Finds a New Home in Chicago
REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE via COLLEGIATE PRESSWIRE)--Jan. 17, 2001--EA SPORTS(TM) is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Intersport Inc. to be the title sponsor of the 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic. The former Sonny V Roundball Classic, the 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic will take place on Monday, April 9 at 8 p.m. CDT, and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Tickets for the event will be available through Ticketmaster at 312/559-1212 with proceeds benefiting a select group of children`s charities in the Chicago area.
The 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic moves north from Raleigh, N.C., to its new home at Welsh-Ryan Arena on the campus of Northwestern University in Chicago. The event, which basketball guru Sonny Vacarro began in 1965 as the Dapper Dan and evolved into Magic`s Roundball Classic, is the nation`s oldest and most respected boys high school all-star basketball game and has set the foundation for many of today`s high school All-Star games.
Each year the Roundball Classic features 20 high school senior basketball players from around the country, a good number of whom go on to be stars at the college level and in the NBA. Distinguished alumni of the Roundball Classic include NBA stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Anfernee Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Stephon Marbury, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O`Neal, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jalen Rose, DeShawn Stevenson, Antoine Walker and Chris Webber among many others. This year the 20 participants in the 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic will not only join that elite company, but will represent the inaugural EA SPORTS All-America basketball team. The 2001 EA SPORTS All-Americans will be announced at a later time.
''EA SPORTS is very excited to be part of such a great tradition as the Roundball Classic,'' said EA SPORTS director of marketing Glenn Chin. ''Sonny Vacarro is a basketball icon and we are honored that we can work together with him and adidas for the 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic. For the past 35 years, this game has played a huge role in shaping the lives of the high school student athletes who have participated. We at EA SPORTS believe that we can help carry the torch for years to come and make the name `EA SPORTS` as synonymous with prep athletics as adidas or Sonny V.''
Joining EA SPORTS as primary sponsor for the 2001 EA SPORTS Roundball Classic is long-time event partner adidas. Intersport, a Chicago-based production company known as an industry leader in the creation of the newest ideas in sports will produce the 36th installment of the Roundball Classic.
EA SPORTS is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world. Its top-selling franchises and games include FIFA Soccer, John Madden Football(TM), NHL(R) Hockey, Knockout Kings(TM), NBA LIVE Basketball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR(R) Golf, Triple Play Baseball(TM) NCAA(R) March Madness(TM) and NASCAR(R). EA SPORTS is also very active in the amateur sports, having been affiliated in the past with the Great Eight, the EA SPORTS Las Vegas Bowl, the 2000 Sonny V Roundball Classic, as well as its own high school basketball all-star contest, Prep Live `99. EA SPORTS is dedicated to remaining the leader in interactive sports software and becoming a leader in amateur athletics.
About Electronic Arts (EA)
Electronic Arts (Nasdaq:ERTS), headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., is the world`s leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of more than $1.4 billion for fiscal 2000. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for the Internet, personal computers and video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products under three brand names: EA SPORTS(TM), EA GAMES(TM) and EA.COM(SM). More information about EA`s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://retailsupport.ea.com/press.
About adidas
adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories. The adidas mission is to be the best sports brand in the world. adidas America is a subsidiary of adidas Salomon Worldwide AG, a corporation that also includes sports brands Salomon, Taylor Made, Bonfire and Mavic. For more information on adidas and its products go to www.adidas.com.
Note to Editors: Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, EA GAMES, EA Store, Knockout Kings, John Madden Football, and Triple Play Baseball are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. EA.COM is a service mark of EA.com Inc. FIFA, NBA, Tiger Woods, PGA TOUR, NCAA, March Madness, NHL and NASCAR are trademarks of their respective owners and used with permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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