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01/12/043 Huffy® Sports Takes it to the Street Company signs multi-year deal with the Street Basketball Association. Huffy Sports Company, a world-leading manufacturer of basketball systems, inflatable sports balls and other sporting goods products, has signed an exclusive three-year deal with the Street Basketball Association (SBA). The agreement allows Huffy Sports to use the SBA league and team logos on a variety of basketball equipment, including basketball backboards, balls and accessories. Huffy Sports will also produce an official game ball, which will be used during league play. Founded in 2001, the SBA is the first professional street basketball league in the world. Former NBA veteran and European sensation, Jerrod Mustaf, founded the league, which currently features 10 teams competing in two conferences. The SBA has teams in several major markets, including: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Atlanta. The league has expansion plans for Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and other cities in the West and Midwest regions of the country. Randy Schickert, president and general manager of Huffy Sports Company, says the partnership with the SBA strengthens the company's position within the world of basketball "Our goal is to grow our business beyond the driveways of the world, taking our products to wherever the game is played. The SBA gives us the opportunity to be associated with a new and rapidly emerging market." Schickert goes on to explain that the SBA agreement will help fuel the company's growth within the inflatable sports ball market. "No other inflatable company has tapped this market. By being the first through the door, we feel that Huffy Sports has a tremendous opportunity to build brand loyalty with street ball players across the world." Huffy Sports plans to launch a complete line of SBA basketballs in 2004. The balls will be marketed under a new brand name, which has yet to be announced. For more information about Huffy Sports Company and its recent partnership with the SBA, call 1-800-558-5234. Additional company information can be found online at huffysports.com. Huffy Sports Company is a division of Huffy Corporation (NYSE-HUF), a diversified sporting goods company, marketing basketball equipment, sports balls and other outdoor games under the Huffy Sports, Hydra-RIB® and Sure Shot® brands; bicycles and wheeled products under the Huffy®, Royce Union®, Micro® and Airborne® brands; golf equipment under the Tommy Armour®, Ram®, Teardrop® and Zebra® brands; snowboards and accessories under the LTD®, Lamar® and Sims® brands; Hespeler® hockey equipment; Volant® ski equipment; and a variety of action sports items including skateboards, inline skates, and helmets under the UltraWheels®, Rage® and Dukes® brands, and markets a variety of products as a licensee under Disney®, Oxygen®, Airwalk®, NBA® and NCAA® trademarks; and is a leading provider of assembly and merchandising services to retailers. The SBA is a marketing, sports and entertainment company primarily focused on the business of basketball, specifically dedicated to spearheading the growth and development of street basketball. As the first professional street basketball league, the SBA gives street basketball players an opportunity to showcase their talents for scouts, agents, coaches and fans. During the off-season, the SBA has exhibition games and tours throughout the world. For more information about the SBA, visit streetbasketballassociation.net, or call (301) 218-1048. |