In the wake of Kmart's decision not to renew their
sponsorship of the PGA Tour's Greater Greensboro Open, tournament
officials says talks with several potential sponsors have taken
place and they hope to announce a new sponsor following the
conclusion of the '96 event.  Kmart's decision was "another in a
series of cost-cutting measures undertaken by the struggling
discount chain during the past year," according to Helen Ross of
the GREENSBORO NEWS & RECORD.  Kmart is looking to cut $800M from
its budget.  They had been affiliated with the PGA event for
eight years, with a financial involvement estimated at roughly
$2M.  That includes close to half the event's $1.5M purse and
another $1M in TV advertising.  Tournament officials will conduct
a national search for a new sponsor, "since larger companies are
likelier to spend the television advertising dollars the
tournament needs."  The GGO is part of the three-year package the
PGA Tour negotiated with CBS that runs through '98 (GREENSBORO
NEWS & RECORD, 9/30).
     GOLF NEWS & NOTES: The grizzly on the new NHL Bruins special
occasion uniform is based on a piece of artwork by Jack Nicklaus'
Golden Bear company purchased by Bruins GM Harry Sinden at an
auction....VH1 will feature music and golf stars in the second
annual "Fairway to Heaven" tournament on October 15-16 at the TPC
in Las Vegas.  The event will feature Hootie and the Blowfish,
Van Halen, and Alice Cooper and touring pros Phil Mickelson and
John Cook. It airs November 11-12....The PGA Tour's Senior
Division Board has voted to discontinue the senior event in
Dallas.  The event began as the Dallas Reunion Pro-Am, and has
not had a sponsor since '93 (GOLF WORLD, 9/29 issue)....The
"Impact of Golf Business Symposium" will be held November 9 at
the Myrtle Beach Hilton.  The preview notes that in '95 there
were 465 million rounds played by 24.3 million golfers who spent
$4.5B on equipment; and the gross national product of golf was
$16.3B.  For information call the Dept of Sports Info at the
Univ. of South Carolina (USC).

     NASCAR has entered into a long-term licensing agreement with
Knoxville-based Connor Management to own, operate and manage a
nationwide chain of NASCAR-themed, interactive eating
establishments to be known as the NASCAR Cafe.  Brian France,
NASCAR's VP/Marketing and Corporate Communications, said the Cafe
"will combine an all-star team of experts in restaurant design,
management and operations with the marketing power of NASCAR to
bring the Authentic NASCAR Restaurant to fans all over the
country."  The deal between NASCAR and Connor Management calls
for 10 NASCAR Cafes to be opened within a five year period at a
capital commitment of $4-6M per site.  The first Cafe will open
next summer in Myrtle Beach, SC, with one opening in Orlando in
early '98.  The establishments will include surround-sound video
boards, electronic and multi-media games, along with artifacts,
collectibles and NASCAR stock cars and trucks.  Officially
licensed NASCAR products and merchandise will also be sold.
Charles Daboub Designs Inc., designers of 20 Hard Rock Cafes and
three Planet Hollywoods, will design the Cafe concept, while Sean
Michael Edwards Design has been retained to design the logo and
brand identity (NASCAR).
     TO BILL, FROM THE KING:  R.J. Reynolds took out full page
ads in several major papers this morning, featuring a letter to
President Clinton asking to work together on Clinton's proposed
regulations on the tobacco industry.  In the PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, a photo of Richard Petty is underlined by "Dear Mr.
President: Before you ban tobacco companies from NASCAR racing,
the King would like a word with you" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
10/4).

     The Lightning are expanding their retail presence in the
Tampa area.  The Lightning Locker in Foot Locker, Champ Sports
and other sports attire stores in Tampa area malls is part of the
expansion.  The team has opened a 500-square foot shop and a
pushcart in two area malls, joining two other specialty spots in
the area.  Leases for team-operated retail areas run until
December 31, but could be extended (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/3)....The
plight of sports bars is examined in the DETROIT NEWS.  With
alcohol consumption declining, "bar owners are finding they must
offer more than just cold beer" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/3)... OfficeMax
will contribute $1,000 to charity for each time any Indian player
hits a home run over the OfficeMax sign in right field at Jacobs
Field during the playoffs (OfficeMax)....Hallmark/ Tassone has
been named agency of record for the Penguins.  In addition,
Pittsburgh Sports Associates, the team's parent organization,
also awarded them assignments for the Stingers soccer team and
for the Iceoplex, the Penguins training facility.  Billings were
not disclosed.  Hallmark/Tassone is the 4th largest agency in
Pittsburgh (Penguins)....Ads running just before or after the
O.J. Simpson verdict could go for $200,000 per 30-second -- 470%
above normal (USA TODAY, 10/3)....Kash n' Karry is expected to
title sponsor of the Florida Grand Prix.  IMG, which owns and
operates the event, declined to confirm (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 10/3).

     The NBA will expand its All-Star Game voting further than
any U.S. sports league by distributing ballots in eight languages
and twelve countries, according to Michael Hiestand of USA TODAY.
The balloting will be handled by league sponsor Foot-Locker, who
will put 10 million ballots in its 2,000 stores worldwide while
just 175,000 ballots will be available in each NBA arena.
Hiestand writes that this "extends the NBA's international
aggressiveness," which ranges from non-U.S. merchandise sales to
TV outside the U.S.  The league also opened its first "official
fan club Japan, and, "with Nike, is building official NBA jungle
gyms in China" (USA TODAY, 10/3).
     CAN RODMAN FLY IN WINDY CITY?  Several prominent ad execs
"question the marketability in Chicago" of new Bull Dennis
Rodman, according to Fred Mitchell of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE.  PR
exec Jennifer Hauser-Bragg said Rodman "will  have to sell
himself to Chicagoans," adding that fans "grew tired of Scottie
Pippen's off-court misadventures ... and will be less inclined to
tolerate Rodman if he crosses the line" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/3).

     Russell Corp. and Auburn Univ. have announced a $2.9M deal
that will keep the team and Coach Terry Bowden in Russell
uniforms past the year 2000.  The five-year deal makes Russell
the official supplier of all 19 men's and women's teams at
Auburn.  Russell is currently building a $30M licensed products
division in Columbus, GA.  Auburn has been with Russell since
'50, but the "relationship became strained last spring" when Nike
courted the athletic department.  At that time, critics said
Auburn "was snubbing a long tradition with Russell and possibly
hurting a home-grown company."  The deal is with the athletic
department, and previous contracts, such as Bowden's shoe deal
with Nike, are not affected.  The deal calls for Russell to
provide $350,000 in products each year and an additional $235,00
through "royalty guarantees, advertising commitments, and support
of academic enhancement programs" (Mark Rice, COLUMBUS LEDGER,
10/3).

     The Athletic Footwear Association has released a national
study showing that consumer purchases of athletic footwear have
declined by 4% (in terms of pairs sold) during the first four
months of '95 compared to the same period last year.  But
spending only decreased .5% for athletic footwear during all of
'95.  The big boost was in outdoor-look shoes, as consumers
purchased 20% more pairs from January to April than last year and
spent 15% more.  Greg Hartley, Exec Dir of Athletic Footwear
Association: "The industry consensus is that outdoor looks will
remain popular this year, but probably won't become an
overwhelming fashion choice."  Purchase of men's athletic
footwear rose in both pairs (33.7 million) and dollars ($1.42B),
while women's declined in both (46.9 million and $1.39B) (AFA).
     KAEPA IS  UP: Kaepa, Inc., an athletic footwear manufacturer
outfitting teenage females with performance and casual shoes, has
reported a year-to-date increase in domestic net sales of 54%
through August 12.  The company projects '95 year-end figures to
increase 58%.  A boost has come from their Brace shoe, a
volleyball shoe with a self-contained brace system built in
(Kaepa).