Kemp agrees to drop suit he filed against Reebok
Reebok spokeswoman Denise Kaigler said Kemp, a former Sonic, dropped all of the claims in his lawsuit and also agreed to pay Reebok an undisclosed amount to settle a countersuit filed by the company.
In its suit, the company claimed Kemp owed it a little more than $1 million in advance royalties.
The agreement was reached about two hours after a jury in U.S. District Court began deliberating the case.
Kemp, who had a five-year, $11.2 million contract to endorse Reebok sneakers and other products, sued the company last September after it canceled his contract two years early.
Reebok said Kemp had violated the terms of his contract when he made disparaging remarks to a newspaper reporter.
Kemp told a reporter for the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal that basketball sneakers just aren't what they used to be, that today's sneakers are "throwaways," and that his all-time favorite pair of sneakers was made by Nike, Reebok's rival.
Kemp told the jury that he did not consider his remarks disparaging.
He said he was speaking about sneakers in general — and not specifically Reeboks — when he complained that all modern sneakers rip easily.
"I signed a contract, but not to lie for them," Kemp told the jury. "Telling the truth is not disparaging."
Kemp claimed Reebok's real reason for canceling his contract was that he is not the superstar he once was.
Kemp was a six-time All-Star early in his career when he played for the Sonics and Cleveland Cavaliers, but has had weight problems during the last three seasons. His first season with the Trail Blazers ended in April, when he checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic for cocaine abuse.
Kemp's personal lawyer, Scott Boatman, would not discuss the terms of the agreement Kemp reached with Reebok.
"He is certainly happy that this is settled and he can focus on the start of the season, which is less than a month away," Boatman said.
Kaigler said Kemp does not receive "one dime" from the company under the agreement.
"The message here is real clear, and that is Reebok will not now nor will we ever compensate an athlete who is endorsing our products for making disparaging comments about our company or our products," she said.
Iverson impresses Time
NEW YORK — Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson was selected as America's best athlete by Time magazine, which praised Iverson's speed, toughness and agility.
The magazine said it chose last year's NBA most valuable player over athletes such as golfer Tiger Woods and cyclist Lance Armstrong because basketball requires more athletic ability.
"Our feeling ultimately was that Tiger Woods is the world's best golfer, but that doesn't make him America's best athlete," said Lisa Beyer, Time's society editor. "Golf is not a sport that requires a great deal of athleticism."
In the third installment of Time's "America's Best" series, writer Josh Tyrangiel writes that "basketball players are the best athletes in the world."
The article also says the choice of Iverson may be considered controversial because of his off-court problems, including a four-month prison sentence for participating in a brawl as a teenager. The conviction was later reversed because of insufficient evidence.
Notes
• The Detroit Pistons have re-signed forward Brian Cardinal to a multiyear contract. They also signed forward-center Victor Alexander, a Detroit native who played the last three years in Europe.
• The Orlando Magic re-signed guard Troy Hudson to a one-year, $590,850 contract, agent William Neff said.