West Lawn, PA (Friday May 4, 2001) - Olympic Gold Medalist
Brandon Slay (Freestyle Wrestling, 76 kg.) has signed a
multi-year worldwide endorsement and services contract with
The Brute Group,
manufacturer and exclusive distributor of all "adidas"
wrestling products. The Pennsylvania-based company also
manufactures apparel and accessories under both the Brute
and adidas names. Exact terms of the deal have not been
disclosed.
Brute is steeped in wrestling heritage, dating back to
its legendary founder, retired Naval Captain Josiah (Joe)
Henson. Captain Henson, a Bronze Medalist on the 1952 Olympic
Wrestling Team and amatuer wrestling's Man of the Year in
1967, was also former chairman of the Olympic Wrestling
Committee from 1964 to 1968.
Brandon Slay, originally from Amarillo, Texas, graduated
from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
in 1998. As a member of the university's wrestling team,
Slay achieved NCAA finalist status twice.
In 2000, Slay experienced one of the most incredible years
ever for a freestyle wrestler. He began the year by winning
the United States National Championship at 167.5 lbs., where
he was named outstanding wrestler. He continued his stream
by winning a spot on the Olympic Team in front of a record
home-state crowd. Finally, to the astonishment of everyone
but his fans and friends, Slay crushed the defending World
and Olympic champion Russian Bouvaisa Saitiev and went on
to capture the Gold Medal at the Summer Games in Sydney,
Australia. For his incredible performance, Slay was named
outstanding freestyle wrestler of the year by USA wrestling.
"One of my goals after the Olympics was to align myself
with a very select group of first-class companies,"
said Slay. "I'm very excited about working with the
team at Brute and wearing the Brute and adidas colors. They've
made a long-term commitment to me, and their support will
go a long way in helping my youth-oriented
Greater Gold organization flourish."
"In my opinion, this is the best shoe and apparel
deal any wrestler has ever been offered," said Slay's
agent, John Rizzuti. "He's the perfect spokesman for
Brute because he has the total package of athletic ability,
looks, brains and moral character."
Brute president John Purnell adds, "Brandon Slay joins
a very short list of outstanding individuals and great athletes
to serve as a spokesperson for our company. His predecessors
are former Olympic Gold Medalists John Smith and Kendall
Cross. Both Smith and Cross remain active with the company.
For more information on The Brute Group, please call Tim
Gardner at 610-678-4050, or send e-mail to tgardner@hensco.com.
For more information on Brandon Slay, please contact John
Rizzuti at 214-460-4162, or send e-mail to john@rizzuti.com
