The Jazz's Karl Malone and the Mavs' Samaki Walker will
be at Planet Hollywood in New York City Tuesday to announce
their roles as endorsers for the revived Apex (N.Y. DAILY
NEWS, 12/16)....The Hornets' Glen Rice and the Grizzlies'
Bryant Reeves are the only NBA players currently wearing a
new line of shoes being designed and manufactured by Warner
Bros. (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/15)....Alonzo Mourning was on
hand Sunday to open the new A-Sports Nike shop in Miami's
South Beach (A-Sports)....AND 1 signed a shoe deal with
Magic G Darrell Armstrong, who will wear the company's
"Stephon Marbury" line (AND 1)....Nike's relationship with
Chris Webber is noted in BUSINESS WEEK. Nike states the
"real reason" Webber didn't re-sign his endorsement contract
with Nike was that he didn't want to do "marketing chores."
Webber has said his $140 name shoe cost too much for inner-
city kids, but Nike spokesperson Erin Patton said shoe
prices "didn't even come up" during negotiations with
Webber. Nike adds Webber's shoe was already off the market
as of last Christmas. OSU marketing professor Robert Leone
says that Webber's stance may make him a "hot commodity" for
other shoe companies (BUSINESS WEEK, 12/23 issue).
READY TO WEAR: The Globetrotters will debut their first
"new look" in 50 years today in New York City with new
Reebok-designed uniforms (USA TODAY, 12/16)....Dean Witter
Reynolds stockbroker Scott Emerman, on the Nike's
sponsorship deal with the Brazilian national soccer team:
"Nike's market share is so huge in the U.S. that it becomes
more difficult each year to grow it at healthy rates. Over
the long term, there's more growth to be had
internationally" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/14 issue).
