U.S. gymnastics hero Kerri Strug has decided to forgo her
college career at UCLA so she can compete in a post-Olympic tour
and accept money from commercial endorsements, according to the
ATLANTA CONSTITUTION. Strug did not comment immediately on her
decision, simply having an ACOG volunteer pass out the name and
number of her agent, Sheryl Shabe. The ACOG official said Shabe,
Strug and Strug's parents would hold a news conference later this
week (Susan Viniella, ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/31). Strug later
told NBC of her decision in an interview aired in the after-
midnight edition. Strug is expected back in her hometown of
Tucson, AZ, today (Kevin Paul Dupont, BOSTON GLOBE, 7/31). This
week's issue of TIME was to have had Strug on its cover with the
header "Heart of Gold." Instead, the bombing got the cover
(TIME, 8/5 issue). NEWSWEEK is also said to have held a Strug
cover for the bombing (Mult., 7/31).
GO TEAM! USA Gymnastics President Kathy Scanlan said they
hope to create a domestic pro tour, on a "smaller scale" than
what has been done in figure skating (Christopher Clary, N.Y.
TIMES, 7/31). As for Dominique Dawes, she already has licensing
deals with Kodak, Champion, AT&T and the USPS, but her agent,
David Carrodine, said he has had conversations with a make-up
company and a facial cream company (J.A. Adande, WASHINGTON POST,
7/31).
SWIMMING IN POSSIBILITIES: Four-time gold medal swimmer Amy
Van Dyken said she sees endorsement deals and speaking
engagements as a way to "get the excitement for swimming back."
Van Dyken has a contract with Speedo, which plans to highlight
her as a spokesperson in the next few years. Also, Van Dyken's
agent, Janey Miller, said she is pursuing other deals, focusing
on two to four "real solid companies" and "long-term
relationships." Van Dyken is also interested in raising
awareness for asthma, with which she suffers (Rebecca Cantwell,
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/30).
THE WHEATIES DERBY: Van Dyken has reportedly been contacted
by representatives from General Mills about being on the Wheaties
box (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/30). In this morning's Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE, Jay Weiner notes that Wheaties Marketing Manager
Shawn O'Grady and other General Mills execs will decide on one
person, a team, or other configurations for the box. An
announcement is expected Sunday at 1pm CDT. Candidates
mentioned: Strug, Van Dyken and Michael Johnson (Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE, 7/31).
SUPERMAN AWAITS: While marketing execs note that no one
athlete has emerged as the clear marketing favorite, ad exec
Jerry Della Femina notes that decathlete Dan O'Brien can't be
discounted, should he win gold (N.Y. POST, 7/31).
