Cleveland, OH

NE Ohio business partners capitalize on licensing deal with Joe Flacco (photos)

Published

6 months ago

January 10, 2024

NE Ohio business partners capitalize on licensing deal with Joe Flacco (photos)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Some people might have thought signing a 38-year-old quarterback was a longshot idea when their team was on the cusp of the playoffs. But Columbus-based Where I’m From, an apparel company with roots in Northeast Ohio, saw an opportunity, and they signed him, too.

The company is run by Ryan Napier, a self-described “lifelong Browns fan” who has season tickets and makes it to about half a dozen games a season, and his business partner Andrew VanderLind.

Because of how quickly Joe Flacco has become a favorite in Cleveland – his fourth NFL team – Napier and VanderLind had to work extremely fast to get the deal in place.

“This has definitely been my favorite one – the most challenging to put together, the most hectic, and the most fun to be a part of,” Napier said.

They have about 15 to 20 Flacco items, which include fleece, shirts and others with assorted designs and graphics like “Flacco Fan Since ‘23.” Flacco is the only current Browns player in their apparel roster, which has included Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow, Collin Sexton and others.

Most of the time, those deals involve discussions that can last months and involve a long-term contract of a year or more, Napier said.

“Obviously,” he said, “we didn’t have that luxury with Joe Flacco.”

Sales are tied to the success of Flacco, who stormed into Cleveland and seamlessly fit in with teammates as he picked up a new offense. With the Browns, he has thrown for 13 touchdowns in five games. In all likelihood, Flacco will top 44,000 career passing yards when the Browns face the Houston Texans this Saturday in a Wild Card matchup.

“Despite how well things are going, we know there is a cap on the time, how long the runway is going to be,” Napier said. “It might end this weekend, or it might end in the middle of February.”

That means Napier and VanderLind have had to communicate, negotiate and allow “enough time to capitalize on this magical moment. It was a very heavy lift and a very big challenge, but very worthwhile.”

Northeast Ohio is a huge sales location, said Napier, who said other Flacco shirts exist through licensing deals through the NFL Players Association, but Where I’m From is the only company that has a deal directly with Flacco and his representatives.

“That’s what makes us different,” he said. “We are officially licensed with Joe. We collaborate and have been on Joe’s Instagram and Twitter. We run everything by them and obviously have a lot more leeway to do things with his likeness.”

The arrangement avoids cease-and-desist orders from a celebrity’s people to unlicensed sellers, so the business can be kept on track.

Where I’m From is closing in on a 10-year anniversary. Napier and VanderLind grew up in Canton and went to Ohio University. Both shared an entrepreneurial spirit.

“We were always kicking ideas off each other and seeing if there was ever an opportunity to do something together. One day we said, ‘Why not take the leap?’ “

The initial necessary capital was fairly limited for a localized-apparel company, he said. They got a website and checked out potential sales markets. The first year and a half saw slow but steady growth.

They started with kiosks, then expanded to seven full stores throughout the state. They carved out a large distribution footprint via retailer deals with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Rally House and DSW. Those collaborations have put Where I’m From in more than 600 stores across the country.

The Flacco items have been on the market for about 10 days, and the end is, well, no one knows.

“We’ll keep producing them as long as the demand is there,” Napier said. “It’s a little trickier than a lot of the other relationships. There’s not able to be as much planning or able to see what the long term looks like. We’re flying a little bit by the seat of our pants to see what the demand is and take it day by day.”

That means walking a tightrope of having the right amount of inventory – not enough means missed sales. Too much and a Browns loss means the company gets stuck.

But Napier is keeping a hopeful, optimistic outlook on the outcome of Saturday’s game. Maybe, just maybe, the ride extends to February, a time when Browns fans usually watch other teams play.

“Oh my gosh,” Napier said, “that would be an absolute dream come true.”

Sports betting is now legal in Ohio. Bets can be placed at sportsbooks, including DraftKings Ohio Sportsbook, BetMGM Ohio, Fan Duel Ohio, Barstool Ohio, Caesars Ohio, Bet365, PointsBet and Tipico.

Related coverage

• Gambling 101: Everything you need to know about sports betting in Ohio

• Get ready for some football – wagering, that is: A guide to betting

Browns merchandise for sale: Find hoodies to hats, socks to tumblers, wall décor, jerseys and more – including sales and next-day shipping.

I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.

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Cleveland, OH

Caitlin Clark B1G Female Athlete of Year Again

Published

2 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Caitlin Clark B1G Female Athlete of Year Again

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa guard, Caitlin Clark, was named 2023-24 Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year, announced today by the Big Ten Conference Office.

Clark, from West Des Moines, Iowa, is the first Hawkeye to win the award in back-to-back years. She is also only the third repeat winner in Big Ten Conference history, joining Wisconsin’s Suzy Favor (1988, 1989, 1990) and Indiana’s Lilly King (2017, 2018).

She is also the third Hawkeye student-athlete to win the award, joining Kristy Gleason (field hockey, 1994) and Megan Gustafson (women’s basketball, 2019). She is also ninth women’s basketball student-athlete to win the award, joining Gustafson, Purdue’s Joy Holmes (1991), MaChelle Joseph (1992), Stephanie White (1999) and Katie Douglas (2001), Penn State’s Kelly Mazzante (2004), Ohio State’s Jessica Davenport (2007), and Minnesota’s Rachel Banham (2016).

It is the ninth time a Hawkeye (men’s or women’s student-athlete) has earned the Big Ten Athlete of the Year award, and the fourth time in the past six seasons. Iowa’s past winners include wrestlers Ed Banach (1983), Barry Davis (1985) and Brent Metcalf (2008), football player Chuck Long (1986), men’s basketball player Luka Garza (2021), Gleason, and Gustafson.

Clark won the 2024 Honda Cup on Monday, and was named Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year as by THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA). She also won the 2024 Naismith, Wooden and Wade Trophies along with the Associated Press and USBWA Ann Drysdale Player of the Year honors.

She is also a three-time winner of the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award and is the first-ever three-time winner of the Dawn Staley Award. She also won the Honda Sport Award for Basketball in April.

Clark, who now plays for the WNBA’s Indiana Fever, is the NCAA basketball all-time leading scorer and the only player in NCAA Division I men’s or women’s basketball history to lead her conference in scoring and assists in four consecutive seasons. Clark led the nation in 10 different offensive categories, including averaging 31.6 points and 8.9 assists per game and also broke the NCAA women’s tournament scoring record during the Hawkeyes’ final NCAA Tournament run.

Off the court, she is a three-time First Team Academic All-American and was named the 2024 CSC Academic All-America of the Year.

The Big Ten Athletes of the Year are selected by a panel of conference media members from nominations submitted by each institution.

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Cleveland, OH

Ohio town named best 4th of July fishing destination in U.S., report says

Published

9 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Ohio town named best 4th of July fishing destination in U.S., report says

Summer is in full swing and Independence Day 2024 is right around the corner.

While many celebrate the annual holiday with cookouts, parades and fireworks, fishing is also a popular activity for the 4th of July. If you’re seeking the best destinations in the U.S. for fishing on the 4th, look no further than Ohio.

Cleveland, Ohio, is the best 4th of July fishing destination in the U.S., according to a report from FishingBooker.com, an online fishing charter service.

“It’s only suitable to kick off this year’s fishing destinations list with the largest city on Lake Erie – Cleveland,” FishingBooker.com writes in its report. “If we were to use only one word to describe Cleveland, it would be diversity. This Ohio beauty promises not only various fish species and numerous bodies of water for exploring, but also an array of activities to do this Independence Day. That’s why Cleveland is the perfect Fourth of July getaway location.”

Beyond Cleveland, eight additional U.S. cities made rankings for best fishing destinations in the U.S., according to FishingBooker.com.

1. Cleveland, OH

2. Fairfield, CT

3. Seward, AK

4. Astoria, OR

5. Port Arthur, TX

6. Sebago Lake, ME

7. Glenwood Springs, CO

8. Huntington Beach, CA

9. Brainerd, MN

The full report from FishingBooker.com on the nine best 4th of July fishing destinations in the U.S. can be found online.

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Cleveland, OH

Cavaliers Linked to Nets Player on Potential Trade Block

Published

15 hours ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Cavaliers Linked to Nets Player on Potential Trade Block

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been relatively quiet in the days leading up to the 2024 NBA Draft after reportedly naming Kenny Atkinson as their next head coach.

The Cavaliers saw multiple players thrown into trade speculation (Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Jarrett Allen) after getting bounced in five games by the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

However, various reports suggest that the Cavs will keep their ‘Core Four’ together, which is good news for Atkinson. That said, for Cleveland to take that next step, they must upgrade the wing spot and their bench this offseason.

One potential option for the Cavaliers could be Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson. The Nets could be on the verge of a firesale after shockingly trading Mikal Bridges on Tuesday night to the New York Knicks.

Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported Wednesday that Johnson is among the Nets vets who are all potential trade candidates to monitor. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said on 92.3 The Fan Wednesday that the Cavaliers “love” Cam Johnson and that they have for years.

Fedor also mentioned that the Cavaliers worked out Johnson during the draft process and have kept him on the radar. However, Fedor also questioned whether the Cavs have the pieces to send to Brooklyn in a potential trade for Johnson.

The Cavs could show interest in Cam Johnson, per @ChrisFedor
“The Cavs love Cam Johnson. If he is available from the Brooklyn Nets, the Cavs will be involved in those conversations. There’s no doubt about that. The question becomes, do they have the pieces to satisfy what… pic.twitter.com/ce5YUZFo7H
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 26, 2024

If the Cavaliers grabbed Johnson, he would be an immediate upgrade on the wing, giving the team floor spacing and another shooter. The 28-year-old forward posted 13.4 points per game on 44.6 percent shooting from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range (6.1 attempts per game).

Johnson signed a four-year, $94.5 million contract extension last summer, so if the Cavaliers traded for him, he’d be in Cleveland for at least three seasons. With the Nets not having a pick in this year’s draft, maybe the Cavs could throw them the No. 20 overall pick, Georges Niang, and Caris LeVert to generate a conversation.

With the Knicks making a major splash for Bridges and the Celtics winning the NBA title, the Cavaliers must explore all options.

More Cavaliers news and analysis:

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