Expanded coverage of high school sports "is one reason
sportswear companies are competing to outfit the top high school
programs," according to Sean Callebs of CNN's "Moneyline." Nike
sponsors some of the "best teams in the biggest markets, it won't
say how many, but it does pay the team $20,000-a year to wear
Nike gear." Nike spokesperson Erin Patton: "What we're
developing are relationships at the high school level. We are
coming in to provide resources. We are coming in to provide
quality product." Mike Levine, Dir of Marketing at Athletes and
Artists, said Nike "has always been a company that has had no
shame about what its doing to promote its athletes, its products
and its brand. And ... this is the latest surge." Callebs notes
most sports marketers are "not surprised the battle" now involves
high schoolers ("Moneyline," CNN, 9/19).
OTHER SHOE NEWS: "Extra" examined the plight of Josh Holexa
from Tacoma, WA who, at 15-years old is 6'8", 280, and wears a
size 22 shoe. Holexa: "They call me little Shaq." Having
difficulty finding shoes his size, Reebok donated a pair of $300
size 22 sneakers after Josh called "begging for help." Reebok's
Kate Urekew: "We did have some other shoes that we had available
that we did make up for Shaquille, so we sent them out" ("Extra,"
9/19). ....Under the header "Adidas rep bought clothes for Odom,"
USA TODAY's Carolyn White writes adidas representative Sonny
Vaccaro admitted Thursday he bought "non-basketball clothes" for
high school basketball star Lamar Odom of Christ the King H.S.
(Queens, NY). Vaccaro's "gifts" could cause Odom "eligibility
problems" with the NCAA (USA TODAY, 9/20).
