Profits from NCAA ball to benefit house

In a coalition with Nikco Sports and Rawlings, two Ronald McDonald Houses - one in Phoenix, one in Tucson - will receive a portion of the sales of 1,500 limited edition official NCAA Championship basketballs.

Joy Bidner, Nikco Sports president and owner, said that for every in-house order taken through its 1-800 number, Nikco Sports will donate $5 per ball.

Orders taken by a Nikco employee not through the 1-800 number, such as by mail order or telemarketing, don't figure into the total in which the Ronald McDonald Houses get a portion of.

"We did something similar after the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl and raised lots of money for Ronald McDonald Houses in that state," Bidner said. "We felt a there was a similar atmosphere in Arizona, after the Wildcats finally won the NCAA title after being so close for so many years."

The ball - which costs $99 - features the Wildcats' logo, the Final Four logo, the final score of the championship game and the venue. Each ball is numbered 1/1,500 and can be ordered by calling 1-800-345-2868.

Kathy Wells, executive director of Tucson's Ronald McDonald house, said that the Ronald McDonald Houses can't advertise with a company unless all the proceeds are donated, which is not the case with Nikco Sports, but any donation from their campaign is greatly appreciated.

Nikco Sports, which began in 1990, is a profitable organization that Bidner said is "donating out of the kindness of their hearts."

"Everyone wins in the deal," she said. "The Tucson community gets a great, commemorative ball to remember Arizona's amazing feat, Ronald McDonald Houses get a donation to help needy children and our company hopefully makes enough money to help Ronald McDonald Houses in another championship city."

Mike Low, the University of Arizona Licensing Administrator, said that Rawlings, Nikco Sports' contracted manufacturer, is a corporate sponsor of the NCAA and with Arizona winning the national championship can use the university's logo on the ball.

Low said that the NCAA receives a 10 percent royalty from the sales, in which eight percent of that goes back to the university and two percent are retained.

"We are the national champion and they are offiliated with the NCAA, so they have the right to make the ball," he said.