With the 49ers set to wear Reebok apparel next season, Nike
is looking re-sign QB Steve Young and outfit him next season in
Nike apparel "from head to toe" -- in Nike caps, outerwear and
shoes.  Terry Lefton notes in BRANDWEEK that under NFL rules,
Young may only be granted an exemption from wearing Reebok if
Nike uses him as a national spokesperson, something that Young's
representative, Fred Fried of ISI, says must happen for Young to
return to Nike.  Logo 7 has already resigned Troy Aikman to a
four-year extension.  Logo 7 President Tom Shine:  "Troy's gone
from delivering our message to being our message" (BRANDWEEK, 2/5
issue).
     OTHER NFL NOTES:  Sunglasses may become the latest equipment
to make the mandatory wear-list on the sidelines.  Just like caps
and jackets, Ray-Ban wants an NFL sponsorship to include
sidelines TV exposure....Visa is working to make its NFL
sponsorship deal "as ambush-proof as possible," as it has
purchased long-term signage at the next three Super Bowl
stadiums:  The Superdome, Jack Murphy Stadium and 3Com Park.
Visa "is looking to forge closer ties" with NFL
licensing....Nike's Pro Line jerseys for the Broncos, Jags,
Raiders and Cowboys were on display at the Super Bowl, each
sporting on-sleeve swooshes (Terry Lefton, BRANDWEEK, 2/5).

     Calling the changes "evolutionary, not revolutionary,"
Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie presented his team's new uniforms
yesterday, which features a change in color to "Midnight Green"
from kelly green.  Helmets are also modified, with the midnight
green and new-look wings outlined in silver and black.  A new
"menacing Eagle face" will appear on the uniform sleeves of the
green jersey, and on one sleeve of the away white jersey.  Pants
will be white and green.  Lurie said both pants "can be mixed 'n'
matched" with the jerseys.  Philadelphia ranked 13th in the NFL
last year, according to NFL Properties' Brian McCarthy, with $61M
in sales.  McCarthy said sales of Eagles merchandise should
increase by 20-25% (Tim Panaccio, PHILA. INQUIRER, 2/6).  Lurie
cited the role of fan surveys in the design process:  "Our fans
don't want to be the same color as the Jets.  We took that to
heart" (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 2/6).  CNN's Fred Hickman:  "The
Eagles have molted."  He said the logo shows a "much meaner
looking bird" ("Sports Tonight," 2/5).
     NOTHING COULD BE FINER:  The 49ers also announced a uniform
change yesterday, with a new look featuring a deeper shade of red
(PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 2/6).  The 49ers will also return to their
Throwback-look block numbers (THE DAILY).

     FL-based ad agency Anita Hoffman & Associates has been hired
to help promote first-round Olympic soccer games that will be
played at the Orange Bowl.  Campaigns will be in English and
Spanish (MIAMI HERALD, 2/5)....American Express has set up a Web
site for its American Express Invitational presented by Business
Week Senior PGA Event.  Address:  http://www.sarasota-
online.com/golf/html (AmEx)....An Oakland company is marketing a
new product that allows fans to display tickets on their shirts.
TicKlip is a clothespin-type device that clips on to fans
clothing while also displaying a ticket -- allowing fans to use
both hands while ushers direct them to their seats.  TicKlip
notes the possible sponsorship opportunities (TicKlip).

     Yesterday, THE DAILY highlighted the announcement of Nike's
plans for '96, and today Reebok's outlook for the year ahead is
featured.  Below are new product lines and news from other Super
Show participants:
     CHAMPION:  The apparel-maker was promoting the following:
New "progressive styling" in its Fall line; a new line of NFL
Throwback wear, through Champion's exclusive license to produce
the NFL's "vintage clothing"; the official outfits of the USOC
and ACOG -- including USA Basketball and USA Volleyball teams, as
well as U.S. team Opening Ceremony uniforms, Award Suits, and
casual and dress apparel; new NBA Shooting Shirts; a new youth
line with a full size lineup of NBA replica jerseys (Champion).
     CONVERSE:  The shoe-maker "launches its new corporate
positioning by looking to its past" with the premiere of the All
Star 2000 -- the first time since the mid-'70s that Converse has
placed its "All Star" patch on a "performance basketball shoe."
Larry Johnson will debut the Illusion in Spring '96, the first of
Converse's new BTS '96 collection.  Other shoe styles introduced:
New styles designed for skateboarders; new colors for old styles
such as the Chuck Taylor, Jack Purcell and One Star; the C Star
fashion collection for women; new classic styles for kids; the
new Touch-EFX collection for kids which allows wearers to change
colors by touch; a new training collection; and Wild Things for
kids.  Also, Bonnie Blair introduced the Active Apparel Group's
line of Chuck Taylor-logoed clothes (Converse).
     EZ GARD INDUSTRIES:  The maker of Shock Doctor and Hammer
mouthguards reported sales of over 20 million units in '95, an
increase of about 15% over the previous year.  The company cited
an increase in in-line hockey, among other factors.  EZ Gard will
step up involvement in in-line hockey, sponsoring NIHA, North
American Roller Hockey Championships, and NHL Breakout '96 Tour
(EZ Gard).
     GARGOYLES:  The eyewear maker announced that Ken Griffey Jr.
has signed an exclusive four-year deal to wear Gargoyles
sunglasses.  A new model with purple lenses will be named the
"Griffey Wrap."  Also signed were snowboarding champs Mike Jacoby
and Michele Taggart (Gargoyles).
     L.A. GEAR:  The shoe-maker introduced "on-trend and fashion"
lines for women; two new technologies -- GRAf/x and NEONZ -- for
children; and a men's line equipped with "Comfort Zone"
technology (L.A. Gear).
     MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP:  Marvel kicked off its new
Marvel Sports program to add licensees to previous programs,
which include Marvel comic book art on golf accessories and
snowboards.  Marvel noted that its comic books reach 56.3% of all
kids age 6-12 and the possible tie-ins with Marvel-related
companies Fleer and Skybox (Marvel).
     SONY SIGNATURES:  The group's Sports Licensing division
promoted its main properties "for the purpose of expanding its
list of qualified licensing and marketing partners."  Sony
Signatures is seeking licensing partnerships for World Cup '98
and partners to develop designs for IHL-licensed apparel, toys,
publishing and multimedia products.  As marketing representative
for Oksana Baiul, they are looking to develop skating and non-
skating related products for the gold medalist (Sony Signatures).
     WORTH INC.:  The No. 1 softball manufacturer is introducing
a new line of patent-pending Super Dot softball and new
technology in its Supercell and Copperhead bats.  Supercell
features new ALCOA C405 aluminum alloy, "never available outside
the defense industry" (Worth).
     RED, WHITE & SWOOSH:  In Philadelphia, Ron Reid bashes Nike
and the commercialization of the U.S. Track and Field uniforms.
Reid notes the U.S. team jackets have an American flag with a
swoosh in place of stars, and writes, "They unveiled the United
States of Nike yesterday."  Nike officials said the design was a
graphic, "not the flag." Officials from ACOG and USAT&F had no
comment (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/6)....In Atlanta, Kristen Eddy
takes a sarcastic shot at Nike's "inspiration" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 2/6).

     The NBA's All Star Weekend has been "transformed into a
megabucks marketing event" where "the real name of the game is
marketing and selling," writes Karen Hunter in the N.Y. DAILY
NEWS.  Hunter profiles the NBA's strategy for All-Star Weekend,
noting that "fan-friendly" changes four years ago have also
brought in big dollars.  Hunter adds the NBA's strategy of making
a sponsorships difficult to attain has made "an NBA marketing
package one of the most coveted in sports" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
2/5).  In San Antonio this morning, Charlotte-Anne Lucas profiles
the Jam session and the corporate involvement by San Antonio's
Coca-Cola Bottling Co., which distributed most of the 12,000
tickets to low-income youth (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 2/6).
Estimates on economic impact for the city from All-Star Weekend
are about $40M (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 2/4).

     The NHL and Nike yesterday announced a multi-year agreement
in principle that "marks an expanded role" for the company, with
a broader marketing partnership and increased commitment by Nike
in NHL on-ice exposure, advertising promotions and marketing.  As
part of the deal, Nike has agreed to advertise on U.S. and
Canadian NHL broadcasts and expose Nike's NHL stars, including
Sergei Fedorov and Scott Stevens, through ads and promotions.
Other promotional efforts will include the Nike/NHL Street Hockey
and NHL Breakout tour.  Nike's first ice hockey and in-line
skates will be available in retail next Spring (NHL).

     Reebok Brands Unit Chair Robert Meers said Sunday his goals
include reorganization of the company "to try and regain
momentum."  At the Super Show in Atlanta, Reebok execs announced
profits were down 35% in '95, to $164.8M.  Meers predicted a
"very, very, hard year" with "no overnight solutions."  In
Boston, David Halbfinger reports Reebok's plans include
"elevating product development to the same  status within the
company as marketing, reshuffling key managers" in Reebok's North
American and Japanese units and "creating a logistics unit to
serve" as a "worldwide rapid-deployment force" for Reebok
products.  Meers' strategy of developing Reebok, "not merely its
products -- also appears to emulate" Nike's "trademark swoosh"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 2/5).
     INTRODUCTIONS:  Reebok will have its brand on a third of the
participants at the '96 Games, more than any of its competitors,
and stressed its Olympic involvement at the Super Show.  Reebok
unveiled its medal presentation award suits and apparel for the
seven countries that will wear its gear:  Russia, Jamaica, New
Zealand, Ireland, South Africa, Brazil and Poland.  Each design
will feature a kinetic, circular design.  New Reebok equipment
licensees include Watch Reebok, a division of CT-based Callenen
Int'l making branded timepieces, and Versa Training fitness
equipment.  For Fall '96, Reebok's NFL Sideline collection will
be available in all 30 teams.  Also, Reebok will debut NBA and
new collegiate lines.  Schools include Michigan State, UCLA,
Texas, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Florida State (Reebok).