The AZ Office of Tourism, which ran TV spots during
broadcasts of the Copper Bowl from Tucson and Fiesta Bowl from
Tempe, reports big response from a toll-free number shown in
both.  Sara Hammond reports in this morning's ARIZONA DAILY STAR
that the three-minute "infomercial" about the state that ran
during ESPN's December 27 Copper Bowl coverage generated 6,546
calls, with the 30-second spot during Tuesday's CBS Fiesta Bowl
coverage generating 500 inquiries (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 1/5).

     The Bullets are selling advertising on the steps inside
USAir Arena in Landover, MD.  Richard Justice reports in this
morning's WASHINGTON POST that the team is charging $250,000 to
place a logo on the steps near midcourt, plus other incentives
(WASHINGTON POST, 1/5).  Home Depot is the first company to
advertise on the steps (THE DAILY).

     Bucks star Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson will have his own Reebok
shoe, "The Rail," set for release February 1, according to this
morning's MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL.  Orlando Ledbetter reports
that Robinson spent several hours yesterday shooting a commercial
to support the release of the shoe at Milwaukee's Wisconsin
Lutheran College, and that the spot will "take a more in-your-
face approach" than Penny Hardaway's Nike campaign (MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/5).

     The "biggest-selling" NFL product during the holiday season
was the $120 Pro Player reversible team jacket.  USA TODAY's
Michael Hiestand: "Expect more NFL reversible gear."  NFL
merchandise sales from April-October, with teams' October '94
rank in parentheses (USA TODAY, 1/5):
     1.   Dallas (1)               7.   Oakland (5)
     2.   San Francisco (2)        8.   Kansas City (3)
     3.   Miami (4)                9.   Carolina (8)
     4.   Pittsburgh (10)          10.  Chicago (11)
     5.   Green Bay (7)
          New England (17)

     Microsoft will give away more than 73,000 copies of its
World Wide Web browser at Super Bowl XXX, placing a CD-ROM copy
at every seat in Sun Devil Stadium, according to this morning's
S.F. CHRONICLE.  David Einstein reports the ploy promises to give
Microsoft's Internet Explorer "a nice promotional boost" in its
battle against Netscape, which dominates the market for Web
browsers.  Each CD-ROM will contain the browser and Windows '95
shortcuts to other Web sports sites, including ESPNET, NBC and
the NFL home page, along with a 30-day trial of The Microsoft
Network.  As for the fear that Super Bowl fans could throw the
product on the field -- a la the Giants' "snowball incident" --
Microsoft's Steve Guggeneimer says he has been assured the NFL
"has a plan" in case that happens (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/5).

     S.C. Johnson & Son's Edge shaving gel is sponsoring the Pro
Football Preview area of ESPNET SportsZone.  The site features
game predictions, commentary, a slang dictionary and Edge quiz
(AD AGE ONLINE, 1/5)....According to numbers released by the
Consumer Electronics Show, DBS sales were up 41% to $1.3B in '95,
but video-game hardware sales were down 5% to $1.5B (USA TODAY,
1/5)....Bally Entertainment Corp. of Chicago will complete the
spinoff of its Total Fitness Holding Corp. unit with a January 9
distribution of Bally Total Fitness shares (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
1/5)....Del Wilber + Associates has acquired the Ice Capades from
Int'l Family Entertainment (DWA)....Ocean Spray is offering
$143,000 in scholarships, awards and grants for high school and
outstanding female athletes through its WAVE program (Ocean
Spray)....Fans attending the '96 NBA All Star Jam Session will
receive a commemorative ticket which resembles a Fleer NBA
basketball card.  Tickets for the event go on sale Monday at all
Ticketmaster outlets (NBA)....Mobil Corp. and Porsche AG
announced an agreement to partner in auto racing, research and
development, and advertising and marketing activities
(Mobil)....Coca-Cola's "Taste of the NFL V" will feature a top
chef and former NFL player from each NFL city preparing food and
wine at a charity gala.  The $300-a-plate fund-raiser will
benefit hunger-relief, with 50% of proceeds going to Phoenix-area
agencies (Coca-Cola)....The current ADWEEK calls the FL Panthers
latest campaign "genuinely funny."  The campaign features a
retro-theme dentist performing a procedure on a Panther player so
tough he refuses anesthesia, with another spot telling fans its
easier to pass a Kidney stone than slip a puck past goalie John
Vanbiesbrouk (ADWEEK, 1/1 issue)....USA TODAY's Mike Hiestand
notes that Michael Jordan's current standing in sixth place
overall in All Star voting could be "An omen of Michael Jordan's
marketing momentum" (USA TODAY, 1/5). ....Investment bank Goldman
Sachs Co. is negotiating to buy bowling equipment manufacturer
and bowling center owner AMF Corp. for as much as $1B (N.Y.
TIMES, 1/5).

     Leading makers of baseball products "are still trying to
recover" from the '94-95 strike, as witnessed by Rawlings' report
of lower profits for its most recent quarter, according to
REUTERS.  The St. Louis-based Rawlings said profits have dropped
to $890,000 from $1.77M a year ago (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/5).
Rawlings Chair Carl Shields said sales were up in apparel, which
has a lower profit margin, and down in baseball equipment, which
has a higher margin.  Rawlings' heavy investment in a Cal Ripken
Jr. commemorative baseball reportedly "cut into profits" (KNIGHT-
RIDDER/TRIBUNE BUSINESS NEWS, 1/5).  This morning's USA TODAY
features a full page ad for the Rawlings Ripken commemorative
baseball (USA TODAY, 1/5).

     Coca-Cola brand Fresca is receiving a "makeover" with new
packaging, a new slogan and widespread TV coverage.  The campaign
is part of "an attack" against Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper and Seven-
Up, targeting the 25-49 audience.  Fresca plans to target skiers
and cyclists, including discounts on lift tickets to selected
resorts and ski-trip giveaways.  Fresca also plans to increase
its sponsorship of cycling events, including the Tour DuPont and
Tour de France, and will be the official soft drink of the '96
U.S. Olympic Trials (Chris Roush, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/5).