The marketing of sprinter Michael Johnson is featured in
Sunday's ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS by Rick Morrissey. Johnson is
represented by Boulder-based Brad Hunt, who is adamant on not
repeating mistakes made by Carl Lewis and his agent in '84 ion
appearing too commercial. Johnson currently has deals with Nike,
Sara Lee, Bausch & Lomb, Gannett Co. and Cox Newspapers. But
Hunt estimates that 70% of Johnson's $1M income comes from
Europe. Hunt, who says the "focus has to be on the sport," calls
his client "charismatic, but unfortunately it's the type of
charisma that takes awhile to be appreciated" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
NEWS, 6/16). Nike-backed Todd Lewis, who failed to finish in the
10,000 meters at the U.S. Olympic trials Friday due to injury, is
profiled by William Rhoden of the N.Y. TIMES. Nike's backing of
"a cash-poor sport like track lifts a great burden, but replaces
it with an even heavier one." Lewis: "As a Nike athlete, yeah,
you feel a little more added pressure because of the campaigns
and everything" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/16).
IMAGE TESTING: The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS' Morrissey also
notes athletes will have to sign off on the commercial use of
their image to the USOC. Fuji had considered featuring
decathlete Dan O'Brien on a billboard in Atlanta, but the USOC
refused to grant a waiver since Kodak is the official ACOG
sponsor. USOC Dir of Information Mike Moran said the USOC won't
grant waivers on possible ambush ads, but that does not apply to
shoe and apparel manufacturers. Hunt, who represents O'Brien,
said he has been told by some sponsors that the USOC had told
them they couldn't use athletes during the Games, "and that
dissuaded them from even approaching athletes." Hunt has
complained to IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch and USOC Exec
Dir Richard Schultz about the ruling. Hunt: "As far as I'm
concerned, as long as Fuji isn't using those five rings ... then
Dan can grant those rights at his discretion" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN
NEWS, 6/16).
BACK IN TIME: After Dennis Mitchell won the Men's 100-meter
dash at the U.S. Olympic trials, he told the crowd, "Fantastic
baby. I came home first .... and I'm Barcelona-bound" (ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION, 6/16).
