OutOnTheNet Blog: John Amaechi Signs Landmark Endorsement Deal

Source: The HeadBlade, Inc.
Date: March 12, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- In a landmark endorsement deal, The HeadBlade(R), Inc., creators of the ultimate head-shaving razor and the pioneers of head care, has signed former NBA player John Amaechi to a multi-year contract, marking the first time a mainstream company has sponsored an openly gay male athlete.

"I think it's fantastic that HeadBlade has approached me to endorse the brand," said Amaechi. "I jumped on the HeadBlade bandwagon the first time I found out about the product almost six years ago, and have been using it ever since. Whether you're black, white, straight or gay, a shaved head is a shaved head, and it requires specialized maintenance."

"John Amaechi is the newest face of the brand because he embodies many of the qualities representative of a HeadBlader," said HeadBlade CEO Todd Greene. "He is a man comfortable in his own skin and he's not afraid to go against the grain. The HeadBlade audience is diverse; we endorse MMA fighters, bodybuilders, Harley Davison drag racers, and other professional athletes. John not only represents a few of our target demographics; he's also a worldwide diplomat for the brand and a role model to many people. John has been a HeadBlader for a long time, and it's an honor to have him officially on the HeadBlade team."

Amaechi, whose recent acknowledgement he spent his entire NBA career as a closeted gay man in his controversial book, Man in the Middle, currently on The New York Times Best Seller List, initially referred to his fascination with the HeadBlade in a 2002 article in ESPN The Magazine. In the article, Amaechi explained, "It's made for your head, not your face, which is good, because with all the wrinkles up there, you need more control."

The multi-year contract, signed for an undisclosed sum of money, is the first major corporate endorsement deal of Amaechi's career.

About John Amaechi

The New York Times Best-Selling author John Amaechi is the first National Basketball Association player to acknowledge he is gay. His book, Man in the Middle, launched in February 2007 from ESPN Books, has garnered worldwide attention, creating a dialogue previously non-existent. Amaechi, who played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, and New York Knicks, remains the only British athlete to have played in the league. Amaechi was honored as one of the NBA's most improved players in 2000 and was the only British member inducted into the United States Basketball Hall of Fame. Since his retirement from basketball, John has pursued a PhD in psychology and heads an executive coaching and training company, while speaking internationally on diversity, success planning and whole-life balance. Most importantly, John uses his experience with children, youth issues and interventions to further develop the unique experience that is manifested at his youth centers in England.

About HeadBlade, Inc.

HeadBlade, Inc. is the pioneer in head care. The Company has taken the head shaving niche and created a lifestyle brand for millions of people who shave their heads. The original HeadBlade was listed among the "Top Ten Designs in 2000" by Time Magazine and is now in the permanent collection at New York's Museum of Modern Art. The all new HeadBlade Sport comes standard with moving wheels and triple blade technology. Since the revolutionary HeadBlade was developed eight years ago, a complete head care line-up has launched, including HeadSlick, the world's first shaving cream specifically developed and formulated for the head; HeadLube, a moisturizer available in both "Gloss" and "Matte" finishes; and HeadShed, a pre-shave exfoliant that makes for a smoother, cleaner shave. Well-known HeadBladers include comedian and Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel, American Idol star Chris Daughtry, MLB catcher Todd Greene, and professional bodybuilder Toney Freeman. HeadBlade products can be purchased online (www.HeadBlade.com) or at Rite-Aid, CVS, Kmart, Walgreens, Meijer, and select Target and WalMart stores.

CONTACT: Ryan Croy, ryan@fifteenminutes.com, or Howard Bragman,
howard@fifteenminutes.com, both for The HeadBlade, Inc., 323-556-9700