Team Insight

Obits: McArthur, Throneburg, Schindler Three sporting goods and team sports legends recently passed away. • John A. McArthur, the man whose name graced the iconic team dealer and sporting goods retailer he founded back in 1967, passed away Feb. 10, 2020, from pneumonia and cardiac failure. He was 92. Born in St. Louis, McArthur founded Johnny Mac's Sporting Goods in 1967. The sporting goods retailer eventually expanded to operate nine stores across Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Missouri, including five in the St. Louis region. McArthur retired from retail work in 1985 and passed the business on to his sons. Last year, the chain sold part of its business to BSN Sports, and then began closing its stores. • Jim Throneburg, a Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame inductee whose personal health issues inspired the invention of the "activity-specific" padded sock and a desire to help others live healthier lifestyles, passed away February 9 at 82. Throneburg joined the family busi- ness of Throneburg Hosiery Mill and eventually changed the com- pany name to Thorlo, Inc., in 1980. He was driven by the guiding prin- ciples of producing the best foot protection in the world and the sustainability of Thorlo beyond his own lifetime. • Michael Schindler, the long- time CEO and president of Baden Sports, passed away on February 19 from an apparent heart attack during a vacation in Hawaii. Schindler was 70. Schindler was the son of Baden founder E.C. Schindler. He spent his entire career of more than 40 years at Baden and helped turn the family- owned startup into one of the major ball brands in the sporting goods industry. Baden Names New CEO, COO Following the sudden death of former president Michael Schindler earlier this month (see above), Baden Sports' appointed Jake Licht (left in photo) as presi- dent and CEO and Casey Schindler as executive VP & COO. The promotions elevate the company's third generation of family leadership following the unexpected passing of longtime CEO Michael J. Schindler, the son of Baden founder E.C. Schindler, on Feb. 19. Licht and Schindler both served in executive leadership roles at Baden prior to assuming their new responsibilities. They will be tasked with continuing Baden's 40-year legacy of innovation, qual- ity, and service that has made the Seattle-area company one of the most respected ball and bat brands in the industry. Pop Warner Launches Its Own Uniform Brand In a move that it says will "transform how youth sports organizations order uniforms for their participants," Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. has "dramati- cally simplified the process" by introducing its own brand of custom-designed football, flag football and cheer uniforms. With the launch of PW Authentic, the 1450 Pop Warner programs around the nation can order customized, low-cost uniforms that are made in the United States and are typically delivered in five-to-10 days. Pop Warner says it decided to create its own uniform brand in response to local team admin- istrators who wanted a simpler, more cost-effective alternative to ordering uniforms. A sublimated apparel manufac- turing facility for the uniforms is based in the U.S. and Pop Warner says the design team will assist teams in customizing the look. n Trivest Acquires Universal Athletic The most significant pur- chase came when Universal Athletic, the largest remain- ing independent team dealer in America, was acquired by ASB Sports, an affiliate of Trivest, a private investment firm based in Miami that focuses on partnering with founder/family-owned busi- nesses. Universal Athletic joins other previously inde- pendent dealers, including Barcelona Sporting Goods and Athletic Supply, in the ASB Sports stable. Universal, founded in 1971 and based in Bozeman, MT, had more than 50 sales professionals covering 20 states. Universal Athletic also operates a large retail footprint with 12 stores across six states. The retail business was not a apart of the sale. The key executives of Universal Athletic will join ASB's management team. Universal will remain as a member of the Sports Inc. buying group. BSN Makes Four Moves Not to be outdone by the headline-grabbing acquisi- tion of Universal Athletic by rival Trivest Partners, BSN Sports closed on four significant purchases of inde- pendent team dealers itself in early 2020. Most recently, BSN Sports acquired Athletics Unlimited, based in Sacramento, CA. AU, which has been family-owned and led by the Rasmussen Family for more than 30 years, is a team supplier in California and Nevada. Prior to that, BSN Sports acquired Nill Bros. Sports, Kansas City, KS, a family-owned and operated business since its founding in 1960. Nill Bros. services Kansas and Missouri. Randy Nill, a former NSGA chair- man, will join BSN Sports. In late February BSN Sports acquired Longstreth Sports, one of the very few female-specific team deal- ers in America. Specifically, BSN Sports takes over Longstreth's lacrosse and softball team sports busi- nesses, as well as exclusive rights to supply uniform or team apparel and footwear to Longstreth's field hockey team customers. As part of the deal Longstreth will retain its field hockey equipment business and will continue to provide field hockey equipment, apparel and footwear to retail custom- ers on its web site, in its catalog, at events and at its retail store in Spring City, PA. In its first early-2020 move, BSN Sports acquired cer- tain assets from Riddell's Kollege Town division, including approximately 50 sales representatives, sales management and customer service professionals and Kollege Town's fanaKTive graphic capabilities. n END ZONE 50 Team Insight ~ March/April 2020 teaminsightmag.com Acquisition Fever! A spate of early 2020 acquisitions of independent team dealers by both Trivest Partners and BSN Sports has drastically changed the landscape for the rest of the decade.

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