The Bullets Chris Webber has "severed ties" with Nike
because he says the company "refuses" to lower the price of its
basketball shoe named after him, according to Frank Hughes of the
WASHINGTON TIMES.  Webber's three-year deal with Nike recently
ran out, and his agent, Fallasha Erwin, said that they would not
negotiate a new deal because Nike "insisted" they continue to
charge $140 for the CWebb shoe, more than any other sneaker on
the market.  Erwin said he and Webber disagree with Nike's idea
to target inner-city youths in an attempt to begin buying trends
that move to the suburbs.  Erwin said they also didn't like the
idea that the shoe could create violence between kids who had the
shoe, and those who couldn't afford it.  Webber: "How can I
charge that [price] for my shoe when I speak to all those inner-
city kids and preach to them?  How can my shoe cost more than
Michael Jordan's?"  Nike had no comment.  Erwin said with no
contract, Nike cannot manufacture or sell the CWebb.  Since the
deal ran out, Webber has been wore Converse's All-Star 2000.
Erwin has called Converse about an endorsement, but Converse has
not called back. For now, Webber blackens out the logo
(WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/5).

     GTE has become the "Official Telecommunications Consultant"
for the Pac-10, Big Ten and Big 12.  GTE's partnerships with the
conferences, which runs for at least three years, gives it
exclusive marketing rights within the telecom category. GTE will
provide media support and telecom equipment and services to the
conferences, and will sponsor conference awards and other
programs (GTE).

     BRANDWEEK NEWS & NOTES: Coca-Cola is producing 3.65 million
commemorative Yankees cans to be distributed this week in the NYC
metro area, upstate New York, Connecticut, and Southern
Massachusetts....Penny Hardaway is set to star in ads for
Sprite....Pepperidge Farm has signed its first celebrity
endorser, ex-NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, to promote its 15 oz.
family size Goldfish box....NFL licensing execs have been
"shopping the concept" of an NFL-branded men's casual/lifestyle
clothing line to various marketers.  As presented to marketers,
the line would be more upscale than anything currently licensed
by the league (BRANDWEEK, 11/4 issue)....IMG has signed Toyota's
truck division to a letter of intent to be a sponsor of the
Formula One's Grand Prix of Cleveland (CRAIN's CLEVELAND
BUSINESS, 11/4 issue). ...Benetton Sportsystem, SpA will move
Nordica USA Inc. to Bordentown, NJ, which is the current location
of Prince Sports Group Inc. (Benetton)....Silverman Media &
Marketing has received new assignments from  Nutmeg Mills/Lee
Sport, GSMG Int'l, Bio Magnetics Int'l, and the Shidokan
Association (Silverman)....Fila is profiled in the WALL STREET
JOURNAL.  Joseph Pereira notes spokesperson Grant Hill receives
about $6M annually from Fila,  $1M plus 5% of his signature shoe
sales (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/5). ...Sports commentator Sally
Jenkins noted the New York City Marathon provides an estimated
$120M boost to NYC's local economy.  Jenkins: "It really is as
much about tourism as it is a competition" ("Sports View," CNBC,
11/4).

     In the second year of its NBA partnership, American Express
has developed a multi-layered promo linking its "Charge Against
Hunger" corporate fundraising partnership with "Share Our
Strength" -- formed to fight hunger in America -- and the "NBA at
50" celebration.  Hall of Famers Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and
Bill Walton will be featured in AmEx "Charge Against Hunger" PSAs
set to air on TNT/TBS NBA broadcasts.  The PSAs focus on an AmEx
program whereby, during November and December, each time any AmEx
card is used for a purchase, the company donates $.03 to Share
Our Strength.  AmEx will donate up to $5M.  AmEx will also
sponsor the "NBA at 50" documentary on November 13 on TNT.
During the broadcast, AmEx and Turner will offer an "NBA at 50"
gift pack including the "NBA at 50" book, "NBA at 50" home video,
and an "NBA at 50" hat.  AmEx cardmembers will get a discount on
the package and Turner will match the $.03 donation to Share Our
Strength for each gift pack purchased with an AmEx card.  Park
Lane Press, publisher of the "NBA at 50" book, will also match
donations when the book is purchased as part of the gift pack, or
separately.  AmEx has also tied-in with The Sports Authority for
an "NBA at 50" promo in November and December by which AmEx will
offer consumers a free "NBA Legacy" video with the purchase of
$50 or more of NBA merchandise with an AmEx card (NBA).
     BIG SHOT: BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton notes AmEx is "close to
taking" title sponsorship of the All-Star $1M shot promo, which
was sponsored by Foot Locker (BRANDWEEK, 11/4 issue).

     Schick has signed the Bucks Ray Allen as the official
spokesperson for the '97 Schick Rookie Game, played Saturday
February 8, featuring the NBA's top 16 rookies during the NBA
All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.  To promote the Rookie Game,
Schick will highlight Allen and other NBA rookie stars in an ad
and PR campaign, and consumers promos (Schick).
     DETAILS:  Schick has just renewed its NBA sponsorship for
two more years, and will begin its marketing push in mid-January
with Allen, according to Jeff Jensen of AD AGE.  Schick's rookie
package includes title sponsorship of the Rookie Game, the All-
Rookie Team, and both Rookie of the Month and Rookie of the Year
awards.  To "compliment" its NBA program, Schick will expand its
grassroots Schick Super Hoops -- a national collegiate intramural
tournament that will involve 600 schools this year.  Schick is
also adding three additional sponsors, including a TV network
that will "possibly air Schick-sponsored vignettes" drawn from
Super Hoops footage.  Schick will leverage these sponsorships
with an integrated marketing program to launch four weeks prior
to the All-Star Weekend. National Media Group, New York, is
Schick's marketing agency, and J. Walter Thompson, New York, is
its ad agency (ADVERTISING AGE, 11/4 issue).

     Sprint and the NFL will team to make the playoffs a "branded
event" for the first time, with Sprint "readying" an "NFL
Playoffs Challenge," giving fans the chance to pick the winners
for prizes, according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK.  For the
league's $24M-a-year telecom sponsor, the post-season program
offers "weeks of clutter-free activity, especially relative to
the Super Bowl."  Sprint will support the program through a four-
page insert in the December 23 Sports Illustrated and other print
timed to the end of the NFL's regular season.  Sprint will also
purchase in-stadium signage and video screen time through local
team deals it has with every club but the Cowboys.  Fans can
participate through the NFL and Sprint web sites.  Sprint will
also become presenting sponsor of a new NFL films show, "The
NFL's Second Season," shown in syndication January 3-19.  Sprint
may also establish "on-site presence" outside playoff games for
"product sampling and technology demonstrations" (BRANDWEEK, 11/4
issue).  Jeff Jensen notes the Clarion Performance Properties,
Greenwich, CT, promo is "similar" to a promo Sprint has during
the NCAA college basketball tournament.  Jensen also notes NFL
Properties has created an "annual playoff branding concept" for
ABC, CBS and Fox.  Under the banner of "The NFL Playoffs:
Destination New Orleans," a graphic promoting the drive to reach
Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans will be sent to sports media for
use in playoff coverage.  NFLP also created "sister logos" for
each stage of the playoffs (AD AGE, 11/4 issue).