Barring a major upset next month, the University of Wisconsin will become business partners with Reebok starting this fall.
The UW Athletic Board gave formal approval to the five-year, $7.91 million deal Friday, two days after its members voted to support it pending a couple modifications.
Those alterations were addressed between the two legal teams Thursday. According to Athletic Board chairman Jim Hoyt, a telephone poll of board members was completed Friday afternoon.
``Everything has been approved on both sides,'' Hoyt said.
All that is standing in the way of implementation is approval from the Board of Regents, which will consider the contract at its meeting June 6-7 in Milwaukee.
Given the financial ramifications -- not only does the athletic department expect to net at least $2 million over the term of the contract, a $457,800 slice of the benefit pie would go to the chancellor's scholarship fund -- it would seem unlikely the Regents would sideswipe it.
Reebok, the second-largest athletic footwear and apparel company in the world, would outfit all 22 men's and women's sports beginning in the fall. In addition, it would provide cash for scholarships, internships, computers and other perks.
In exchange, the company would have an exclusive license to produce replicas of team uniforms and sideline apparel. It also would have access to advertising space, tickets and parking for all Wisconsin sports.
At its meeting Wednesday, the Athletic Board asked that four areas be revised, two of which prompted considerable debate.
One dealt with a no-disparagement clause against the school that called for ``reasonable'' steps to ``address'' derogatory comments made by ``any university employee, agent or representative.''
Reebok officials agreed to have a sentence added that said: ``Nothing herein is intended to abridge the rights of students, faculty or employees to express a personal or individual opinion.''
The other major issue related to Reebok and its international human rights policies. The company, which has been criticized for its involvement with unscrupulous overseas suppliers, included a copy of its human rights ideals in the contract.
Board members wanted to make sure the policy was officially tied to the agreement, prompting an addendum that read: ``There is an expectation between the parties that this policy will be adhered to during the term of this agreement.''
Hoyt said Reebok officials balked, prompting an exchange of compromises. It was ultimately determined the contract would include a line that said: ``Attached ... is a copy of Reebok's current human rights policy which governs Reebok's selection of business partners throughout the world.''
