MARKETING POTENTIAL HIGH AS THE STARS FOR VENUS WILLIAMS

     The marketability of 15-year old tennis star Venus Williams
is examined by Julie Cart in the L.A. TIMES.  Williams has been
pursued by management companies, but Cart reports on "speculation
that her father, Richard Williams, is trying to package a deal
that includes his youngest daughter, Serena."  Williams last week
signed a multi-year contract with Reebok, whose interest "stems
from the publicity she generates as a teen-ager and a player of
enormous promise.  And as that rarest of tennis players -- an
African American."  Cart writes "tennis officials and marketers
alike have quit disguising their glee at the prospect of fresh
blood."  Cart:  "What remains is for Williams to rise above her
hype and those who would seek to exploit her in the guise of
helping her.  Including, unfortunately, her parents. ... How
wonderful that tennis finally has an African-American in the
spotlight.  How awful that she's only 15" (L.A. TIMES, 5/28).