Tag Archives: legends

FE Enters the Sports Culture Space with Limited-Edition Fashion Line Featuring Hockey Hall of Famers

FE, one of the leading brands focused on sustainability in the apparel business, today formally announced their entrance into the growing space of ‘sports culture,’ with The Legends of the Game Collection, a limited-edition line of collectible reversible bomber jackets that pay tribute to some of the greatest players in hockey history. This exclusive collection, in collaboration with the NHL Alumni Association (NHLAA), the National Hockey League and Getty Images, honors the careers of NHL Legends Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Martin Brodeur and more with a unique blend of style, nostalgia, and craftsmanship. Only 99 pieces of each legend’s jacket have been created, with each style individually numbered from 1 to 99 – making them a rare and coveted addition to any fan’s wardrobe. The jacket is the first style in a growing line that will also include hoodies, each designed to blend the culture and heritage of hockey with contemporary, cutting-edge fashion trends. The jackets are available on the FE Website and at the NHL Shop NYC store in Manhattan.
“The Legends of the Game Collection gives fans the opportunity to honor their hockey heroes in a stylish and sustainable way,” said Bill Chang, CEO at FE. “This collection celebrates remarkable achievements by exceptional players and offers a chance to wear a piece of sports history.”

“Our goal every day at the NHL Alumni Association is to ‘Honour the Past’ by making tomorrow better than today for all NHL Alumni and their families. Through these specially designed jackets, FE is furthering this mission and allowing fans to honour the legacy of iconic hockey heroes,” said Glenn Healy, President and Executive Director of the NHL Alumni Association.

The Legends of the Game Collection is meticulously designed to celebrate the legacy of hockey icons. Each bomber jacket showcases the legendary player’s jersey number, most iconic photos, career stats and team logo. Crafted in the player’s team colors, the jackets capture the essence of these hockey greats with a tribute that’s both striking and meaningful. The jackets are also reversible, providing two distinct looks in one garment. Fans can choose to display their favorite legend’s images on one side or choose a sleek, minimalist design on the reverse.

Craftsmanship is a key focus at FE. After the fabric is printed using state-of-the-art digital printing technology, every panel on each jacket is hand-pinned before cutting for precise placement and every seam is matched perfectly. This dedication to detail ensures a high-quality product that truly honors the legacy of these hockey icons. The jackets are also made from 100% recycled fabric, combining sustainability with performance. The fabric is water-repellent and anti-microbial, offering durability and comfort.

Deborah Hull, wife of the late Chicago Blackhawks legend Bobby Hull, expressed her admiration for the collection: “It is just amazing…Bobby would have loved it! It’s an honor to have this piece of memorabilia for the family to cherish for a long time. I know he would be so proud of the NHL Alumni and what you are achieving. Best of luck on all the Alumni endeavors.”

The initial launch features: Jean Beliveau (Montreal Canadiens), Ray Bourque (Boston Bruins), Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils), Paul Coffey (Edmonton Oilers), Marcel Dionne (Los Angeles Kings), Peter Forsberg (Colorado Avalanche), Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton Oilers), Gordie Howe (Detroit Red Wings), Bobby Hull (Chicago Blackhawks), Brett Hull (St. Louis Blues), Nicklas Lidstrom (Detroit Red Wings), Mark Messier (New York Rangers), Stan Mikita (Chicago Blackhawks), Denis Potvin (New York Islanders), Maurice Richard (Montreal Canadiens), Larry Robinson (Montreal Canadiens), Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche), Joe Sakic (Colorado Avalanche), Teemu Selanne (Winnipeg Jets) and Steve Yzerman (Detroit Red Wings).

The Legends of the Game Collection is now available for purchase exclusively on the FE website (www.fe-apparel.com) and at the NHL Shop NYC store in Manhattan. With only 99 jackets for each legend available, fans are encouraged to act quickly to secure their piece of hockey history.

Legends Media & Entertainment Names Julio Manteiga As Head Of Content And Communications

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) announced today that veteran NBA communications specialist Julio Manteiga has joined the organization in the newly-revamped role of Head of Content and Communications. Manteiga joins the NBRPA from the NBA, where he served in a dual role as Director of NBA’s Latin America communications and Media Monitoring Departments. He will oversee all of the NBRPA’s growing digital and social efforts as well as handle the day-to-day proactive communications for the organization.

“We are proud to be able to bring Julio into this new and expanded role,” said NBRPA Executive Director Scott Rochelle. “His experience as a global strategic storyteller will be invaluable to us as we grow our scope, our partnerships and our strategy.”

“I am looking forward to be joining Scott and the team he is assembling,” Manteiga said. “The stories and the personalities of the men and women that make up the NBRPA are more valuable today than ever before, and we now have a great structure to tell them to a wide global audience.”

Manteiga started at the NBA in 2003 and rose within the ranks at the league, eventually serving as Director of Communications for Latin America for five years. He developed communications plan for daily and weekly dissemination of league announcements to key media stakeholders in the U.S. and Latin America, ensuring accurate league information was published by media partners and regional news outlets. He also integrated standardized operations for local PR/Marketing agencies in Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Puerto Rico to enhance the NBA’s efforts in region and vastly increasing relevancy with local fans and business partners. The New York native also developed, implemented, and executed NBA’s global influencer program for all influencer appearances and promotions at key events that expanded the NBA’s global social media presence among many other duties.

A graduate of Five Towns College in Dix Hills, NY, Julio is fluent in English and Spanish and conversational in Portuguese.

The NBRPA represents over 1,000 former NBA and WNBA players, making it the largest agency of its kind in basketball. In three months LME in both audio and video has drawn almost 600,000 views and listens, more than three times the combined numbers of audio and video around the players in the previous nine months. Viewers and listeners have come from over 20 countries, and have enjoyed content from some of the most unique storytellers in the history of professional basketball. The key unified elements of LME include: Legends Magazine, Legends Studios, the All-Access Legends Podcast and the NBRPA’s social media strategy and content.

To follow along with LME content from the NBRPA, find them on social media at @NBAalumni on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch or on Facebook at NBA Alumni.

Legends Media & Entertainment Adds Peter Vecsey And Hoop Du Jour To Its Content Offering

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) announced today that veteran NBA columnist and renowned basketball insider Peter Vecsey ([email protected]) has joined its content team, sharing his thoughts via his popular Hoop du Jour platform each week. Hoop du Jour will be featured content for Legends Media & Entertainment (LME), the multifaceted story-telling platform producing, distributing and quantifying the wide-reaching stories of many of the NBA and WNBA’s biggest stars that was launched in September and has seen record growth since launch. Athletes First Partners represents the NBRPA in its marketing endeavors and is working on engaging with brands on the platform as well.

Vecsey, the long-time columnist for the New York Post and analyst for TNT/TBS, NBC and NBATV, is one of the most connected and engaged media members in the sport. His opinions, insights and quips about the game–both past and present–have long been required reading for anyone involved or interested in basketball.

The native New Yorker has been enshrined in four Halls of Fame, including Naismith Basketball (Class of 2009), NYC Basketball, Rucker League and Archbishop Molloy.

“If there is any media member who knows our players and our audience, it is Peter Vecsey,” NBRPA President and CEO Scott Rochelle said. “Hoop du Jour was a business and lockerroom must read for decades. Peter’s ability to tell stories in his own style will certainly resonate not just with our current audience, but with a growing number of new fans who love basketball and its personalities. We are confident it’s going to be a must-read and must-follow as our other content has become this fall.”

“The men and women who make up the NBRPA were, and are, the most engaging and interesting athletes anywhere,” Vecsey said. “I’m looking forward to having some fun with them, telling and retelling their stories, and showing a new (and not-so-new) audience just how much noise we can make in this space.”

The first Hoop du Jour can be seen here: https://www.legendsofbasketball.com/hoop-du-jour-2-0/

NBA Alumni Launch Legends Media & Entertainment To Unify Storytelling Efforts

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) today announced the expansion and launch of Legends Media & Entertainment (LME), a multifaceted storytelling platform that will produce, distribute and quantify the wide reaching stories of many of the NBA and WNBA’s biggest stars. The content will span the history of both leagues and feature more recent alums of the game ranging from Sheryl Swoopes and Grant Hill to the sport’s greatest legends and business successes on and off the court, delivered through all forms of media, from print and spoken word to long and short form video.

The NBRPA represents over 1,000 former NBA and WNBA players, making it the largest agency of its kind in basketball. This has allowed for direct access to players for opportunities domestically and internationally.

“With the creation of LME, we are building a multimedia platform for some of the most compelling men and women connected to basketball’s history and culture under one umbrella, something which has been asked for, and needed for some time,” said NBRPA President and CEO Scott Rochelle. “LME will be a vibrant stop for fans, businesses and others who want to enjoy, learn and explore the amazing stories of our Legends both on and off the court. These stories are some of the best in the global business of sport, and now we can house them under one impactful roof.”

NBA Champion and NBRPA Director Caron Butler adds, “Every NBA and WNBA player has a story to tell and Legends Media & Entertainment offers ALL Legends a platform to tell their stories and let their voices be heard,” NBA Champion and NBRPA Director Caron Butler added.

Some of the key unified elements of LME will include:

Legends Magazinewhich debuted in 2018 and is the official publication for NBA and WNBA Legends. Produced quarterly, Legends Magazine has featured cover stories about NBRPA Director Caron Butler, Jerry Stackhouse, Elton Brand, Jamal Mashburn and “The Knuckleheads” – Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. Each issue is delivered to all former players, active players, coaches, stakeholders, influencers and league officials worldwide.

Legends Studios also debuted in 2018 with the launch of original live-action and animated short videos and two podcasts, the All-Access Legends Podcast and On Deck with Scott Rochelle. In April 2020, Legends Live, a weekly web series broadcasted to multiple social media platforms featuring live conversations with NBA and WNBA Legends, was added to the Legends Studios portfolio. In addition to 32 standard episodes, Legends Live also covered the 2020 WNBA Draft and ESPN’s The Last Dance with live commentary from Legends. Last week, media personality Tyler Johnson, aka Trill Withers joined the LME team as host of Legends Live, where he will spend time with many of the game’s most successful and dynamic personalities and business people. Johnson will also be a key contributor to Legends Magazine, the All-Access Legends Podcast and the NBRPA’s social media strategy and content.