Sometimes two entities come together at the perfect time, as in 1979, when ESPN and the Big East were launched, and amazing things happened.
St. John’s, experiencing a dramatic resurgence under men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin, and Under Armour, which is quickly gaining traction as the cool athletic apparel brand, are about to sign a blockbuster deal that could significantly benefit both brands, The Post has learned.
Sources said St. John’s and Under Armour have agreed to a six-year deal that will give the Red Storm a package commensurate with those of the top five percent of Division I basketball programs that don’t play full-scholarship football.
In other words, St. John’s will be in the same neighborhood as Georgetown, Marquette, Gonzaga and Butler.
Under Armour, known for its state-of-the-art form fitting workout attire and outrageous uniforms, believes the Johnnies are worth the money because it gives the company big-time visibility in the biggest sports, media, financial and entertainment market in the country.
Under Armour outfitted three teams in the 2013 NCAA Tournament: South Dakota State, Temple and LaSalle. St. John’s represents a huge increase in exposure.
“This is a win-win,’’ said one source who requested anonymity because the deal is not yet signed. “St. John’s was not getting a great deal from Nike. And Under Armour has done a great job of breaking into a competitive market but needed exposure.’’
St. John’s had been with Nike since the Felipe Lopez era. The Red Storm, in part because of former coach Mike Jarvis’s friendship with Michael Jordan, was one of the first six schools to get the Brand Jordan uniforms.
But as the St. John’s program declined, Nike reduced its sponsorship, said a source. Under the current deal, Nike had two weeks to respond to any offer St. John’s received. The St. John’s-Nike deal officially expires on June 30.
Under Armour, said another source, blew St. John’s out of the water with its offer. Although numbers were not available, the deal includes sneakers, apparel, marketing money and marketing partnerships between the two entities, compensation for Lavin, and additional money to be used at the athletic department’s discretion to fund scholarships, make capital improvements and for other options.
Calls to Nike were not returned. Under Armour officials were at an executive meeting and not available to comment.
The deal comes at a pivotal time as the “new” Big East begins play. Georgetown and Marquette are two of Nike’s elite Brand Jordan teams. St. John’s needs to generate revenue that will allow it to run a top-flight program.
The Johnnies, who should have every player back from last season’s squad, are expected to make a serious NCAA Tournament run. Under Armour is counting on that, which means Red Storm fans might see some eye-opening, jaw-dropping uniforms next March.
* If the Philadelphia Big 5 — LaSalle, Penn, St. Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova — can put aside any animosities and petty jealousies and play great games against each other every season, why can’t that happen in the Big Apple?
It’s time for Columbia, Fordham, LIU Brooklyn, Manhattan, St. Francis and St. John’s to step up. Call it the Big Apple Pick Six. It can be played in the Garden or Barclays Center in alternating years.
* The more I hear from friends of the late, great James Gandolfini, and the more I feel their profound sense of loss and heartbreak, the more I appreciate that the man who played Tony Soprano was one of us — a man whose parents emigrated from Italy to this melting pot known as the metropolitan area, and saw their son realize his dreams.