Schutt Manufacturing, an affiliate of Litchfield, IL-based
Schutt Sports has bought Marysville, CA-based Hollywood Bases
Inc., the MLB base supplier since '39 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH,
10/10)....The United States Basketball League, Inc. has retained
New York-based investor relations firm KCSA for support in the
areas of investor relations and financial communications
(USBL)....The All Star Cafe will become part of a $35.6M movie
complex in Southfield, MI. The establishment is expected to open
late next year (DETROIT NEWS, 10/11)....Erik Spanberg writes in
the CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL that Food Lion has spent as much
as $2M launching its marketing campaign as NASCAR's official
grocery store. Spanberg notes Food Lion's "payoff" has been
third-quarter earnings 22% above 1995 and sales increases ranging
from 6% to 7% in its second and third quarters." Food Lion
Spokesperson Cecily Durrett: "We give NASCAR a lot of credit for
that improvement" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/7
issue)....Steve Marantz's column in THE SPORTING NEWS examines
sports fans and advertisers. Marantz: "Data and a little
theorizing indicate a near-religious fervor exists among U.S.
fans -- and advertisers are quick to take note of the flock's
preferences" (TSN, 10/14 issue)...MN-based skate maker Riedell
Shoes has signed world figure skating champion Michelle Kwan to a
contract. Kwan will skate exclusively in Riedell skates.
Company officials would not specify contract terms (Minneapolis
STAR-TRIBUNE, 10/11)....The announcement of Advanta Corp.
sponsoring the U.S. Indoor men's tennis tournament was cancelled
yesterday, but a U.S. Indoor official said last night a deal is
expected soon (PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 10/11)....ESPN's Dan Patrick
notes The Upper Deck Company hopes to issue a trading card of 12-
year-old Jeff Maier ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/10).
