Lon Babby, who is the lawyer and negotiator for Grant
Hill, wants to "squash talk" from Nike "co-conspirators"
that Hill is "unhappy" with his Fila deal and could be
heading to Nike, according to Steve Rosenbloom of the
CHICAGO TRIBUNE. Babby: "It's not coming from Grant and
it's not coming from the Hills and it's not coming from me -
- and we're the only people who would know. He's happy with
the relationship and he's happy with the shoe, and I'd have
to say it's one of the most successful shoe marketing deals
in history. When we signed with Fila, the stock was trading
at 16, and now it's in the 60s" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/29).
GOOD BEHAVIOR: In Chicago, George Lazarus notes the
Scottie Pippen "anything less would be uncivilized" ads for
Gillette's Right-Guard. Lazarus: "This is Scottie's first
work for Gillette and it could lead to perhaps another
commercial, thus matching the two spots another All-Star,
Charles Barkley, did for the brand" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
1/29)....Nike Manager of Public Relations Jim Small, on the
success of Nike's Li'l Penny ads: "We didn't have any idea
this thing would hit like it did. But once we started
receiving tons of fan mail addressed to Li'l Penny, we
realized we were on to something." Small added Nike has
received several offers for movies, TV and books featuring
Anfernee Hardaway and Li'l Penny. Hardaway: "Li'l Penny
says and does things that I might think about, but would
never do. At first, I think people thought that he and I
were the same, but now they realize I'm basically a very shy
person and Li'l Penny is the extrovert I could never be"
(TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/28)....Jay Leno, on Dennis Rodman signing
with Converse: "They've got a new shoe out -- the cross
trainer for cross dressers" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 1/28).
