Schutt Acquires Adams USA Football Helmet and Faceguard Product Lines

Litchfield, Ill. (June 16, 2011) – Schutt Sports, a leading domestic manufacturer of protective sports equipment and aftermarket reconditioning services, announced today that it acquired certain football helmet and faceguard assets from Adams USA. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Schutt Sports will assume responsibility for manufacturing the acquired product lines and will continue marketing helmets and faceguards under the Adams brand name.
“Adams is a respected, traditional football brand that has served its customers very well over the years,” said Robert Erb, Schutt Sports CEO. “We are excited because this acquisition will expand our relationship with the team dealer market and will enhance our lineup, allowing us to offer quality football products to a wider variety of customers.”
Adams has been manufacturing and marketing sporting goods for more than 50 years. Its football helmets and faceguards are popular in the youth football market where Adams’ reputation for quality combines with a strong value proposition.

Adams also manufactures other sports-related equipment, and the company will continue to market those products independently.

“We sold our football headgear product lines in order to focus on improving and expanding our offerings in other areas of the sporting goods market,” said Adams USA CEO David Wright. “Adams has a proud football heritage and we have great confidence in Schutt Sports’ ability to build on that tradition and move forward with these products.”

Platinum Equity acquired Schutt Sports in December 2010. Jacob Kotzubei, the partner at Platinum whose team led the acquisition of Schutt Sports, said the Adams add-on investment is a strong complementary fit.

“This is a strategic acquisition that will expand the Schutt Sports’ product line and take advantage of the company’s world class manufacturing and marketing capabilities,” said Mr. Kotzubei. “We view Schutt Sports as a compelling growth platform and we will continue looking for opportunities to expand the business organically and through additional investments.”

Domingo Ayala Catching with Hank Conger

Has to be the best Domingo Ayala video yet!!!

Diamond Demo: Francisco Liriano

MLB Tonight's Dan Plesac and Mitch Williams break down Francisco Liriano's no-hitter compared to his most recent performance.

Diamond Demo: Peeking in

Tonight's Ron Gant and Billy Ripken breakdown Anthony Rizzo taking a peek at the catchers signs.

EvoShield Announces endorsement deal with Colorado Rockies Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki

Athens, GA- June 9, 2011 EvoShield is proud to announce today a partnership with Major League Baseball All-Star Troy Tulowitzki. Tulowitzki will now be a part of the EvoShield team of athletes who all currently wear the innovative custom-molding protective gear. Other members of the EvoShield team of athletes include Gordon Beckham of the Chicago White Sox, Shane Doan of the Phoenix Coyotes, and Ned Crotty of the Chicago Machine of the NLL and formerly of the Duke University Blue Devils, and Blake Geoffrion of the Nashville Predators.

Tulowitzki, one of Major League Baseball’s bright young stars is coming off an extraordinary 2010 season  which saw him hit .315 with 27 homeruns and 95 RBI’s and earn both a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award. Tulowitzki notes the impact EvoShield has had on his game saying “EvoShield provides me with more flexibility and freedom of movement than other equipment I’ve tried while also providing a high level of protection. EvoShield allows me to be able to go out and play at the top of my game because I feel confident that the equipment I’m wearing will protect me from many of the injury threatening situations I encounter.”

EvoShield’s baseball collection provides athletes superior protection through its custom-molding, form fitting technology. Whether faced with a 90 mile per hour fastball or screaming line drive, EvoShield’s diverse line of products from thumb guards to chest protectors provide baseball players with a lightweight and durable defense against some of the game’s most dangerous situations.

For more information, visit The Sportstation.

About EvoShield.

EvoShield was founded by former collegiate and professional athletes looking for a more effective means of protection without having to sacrifice performance. Understanding that athletes are always looking for a competitive edge, EvoShield operates with the mindset that the right protective gear can actually improve your performance on the field.  EvoShield’s lightweight, custom-molding gear forms to the body of the individual athlete to provide comfortable, customized protection. EvoShield products are thinner, lighter, and stronger than traditional protective gear, giving athletes the freedom to be faster and the confidence to be unstoppable.

Shock Doctor Kicks Off Summer with ShockSkin Apparel and Nano 3D

MINNEAPOLIS – (June 1, 2011) – Thousands of youth football players are getting ready to attend football camps and clinics as well as participate in summer football leagues around the country, and Minneapolis-based Shock Doctor® is ready to protect them with new, technologically advanced sports protection products and to continue living up to its mission of providing athletes with “Hardcore Protection. Fearless Performance.” Shock Doctor is the authentic market leader and creators of innovative, unique performance-driven sports protection and the undisputed leader in mouthguard technology. The company, with its extensive track record of providing best-in-class sports protection to youth and professional athletes, is expanding its unique and innovative ShockSkin™ Football base layer protective apparel distribution and launching its Nano 3D Mouthguard – the ultimate self-fit mouthguard.

Shock Doctor’s leadership in sports protection has enabled the company to revolutionize the category once again, this time with the technological innovation of Shockskin Football – the first and only product of its kind. ShockSkin Football moves like a second skin and the technology is sport specific to football. Its built-in protective apparel is uniquely designed to cover the gaps in football players’ gear, enabling them to focus on the game and enhance their performance. ShockSkin Football consists of integrated fabric and vented foam pads, secured by high frequency seams, that move and contour with the body for ultimate comfort and protection. With minimal weight and bulk, ShockSkin Football integrates with football players’ gear for full-on, full-time protection. The breakthrough technology reduces wear and tear on players while delivering hardcore protection and fearless performance.

As an expert in mouthguard science, performance and safety, Shock Doctor represents 90 percent dollar share of the mouthguard category at sports retailers (Source: SportsScanINFO - Sports Retailers 52 Weeks Ending 5.22.2011.) The company designs and produces the most comfortable, ultra protective mouthguards available, keeping the focus on playing a sport, not wearing a mouthguard. The innovative Shock Doctor Nano 3D Mouthguard is the ultimate self-fit mouthguard and features a lower profile, closer fit and less bulk, providing athletes improved airflow making it easier for them to breathe, communicate and focus. The Nano 3D uses Shock Doctor’s MORA (Mandibular Orthopedic Repositioning Appliance) performance enhancement technology to position the lower jaw down and forward to create optimal muscular function of the head and neck muscles. Preliminary research shows that Shock Doctor mouthguards with MORA may provide increased strength and improved athletic performance.

The Nano 3D Mouthguard’s new thin-wall design and lightweight structure absorbs and disperses impacts away from the point of contact. The exclusive Nano inner wall consists of a semi-flexible polymer that helps to enhance fit while minimizing interference against the tongue. Shock Doctor’s Tri-Bite technology aligns and stabilizes the upper and lower jaw through front incisor and rear molar, gel-filled bite windows which enhances fit and protection, and the Gel-Fit™ Liner custom molds to teeth for a tight, comfortable fit.

NFL football players such as San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews and other professional athletes across the country currently use Shock Doctor’s sports protection because they have discovered that Shock Doctor’s revolutionary products are proving to be vital for better training and improved performance. NCAA football players, NHL hockey players, MLB players, hockey and lacrosse teams, and athletes worldwide who want superior sports protection combined with performance enhancement are using Shock Doctor products ranging from mouthguards to compression apparel.

“Because of our leadership position in performance sports and protection, athletes know they can count on Shock Doctor for innovative products that enable them to optimize their performance while providing best-in-class protection,” said Jay Turkbas, Senior Vice President of Product Development and Marketing for Shock Doctor. “The new ShockSkin Football protective apparel and Nano 3D Mouthguard is the next generation of performance sports protection.”

Diamond Demo: Pick-off Moves

MLB Tonight's Al Leiter and Harold Reynolds demonstrate how to pick off a baserunner.