The marketability of 14-year-old figure skater Tara
Lipinski, who on Saturday became the youngest women's world
champion in history, was examined by Philip Hersh of the
CHICAGO TRIBUNE who declared, "Taramania officially is upon
us." Hersh: "Take it to the bank. Lipinski will.
Saturday's victory likely will make her a $1 million-a-year
athlete, with the majority of that income coming from the
upcoming Tour of Olympic and World Champions. The world
title was worth $50,000, bringing her earnings this season
in prize money alone to $160,000." Agent Michael Rosenberg:
"Unless our sport takes a big dive in popularity, the gold
medal would be worth $10 million to her." Lipinksi's agent,
Edge Marketing + Management's Michael Burg: "All this is
three weeks old. It's not like we had a master plan." The
TRIBUNE's Hersh notes marketing possibilities could include
Wonder Bread, which has "expressed interest" in using
Lipinski as a spokesperson, as well as a Tara doll or action
figure, a milk mustache ad and appearances on Sesame Street
and the "Late Show" with David Letterman. U.S. Figure
Skating sponsor Donna Karan also "is expected to do a
separate deal" with Lipinski. Burg: "What separates Tara
from any other skater is she is a kid who can open up the
kids' market to skating like no competitor ever before. We
won't be trying to make her into an older woman. What she
is is a darling little girl" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/23).
TARA'S TALES: On Friday, Lipinski signed to write
"Triumph on Ice," a 128-page book for the younger readers
division of Bantam Doubleday Dell (Michael Shain, N.Y. POST,
3/23). In N.Y., Jere Longman wrote that Lipinski has a
three-year deal with a Canadian firm to wear its skating
outfits. She also plans to skate about 45 performances in a
spring/summer tour "that will make her skating more mature
and, at up to $5,000 an appearance, could add $225,000 to
her bank account" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/23).
