As reported yesterday, SportsLine USA signed Michael
Jordan to an exclusive ten-year deal to create an official
fan area on its World Wide Web site. The new site, "which
is not yet named and has not established a URL address, is
expected to be running by early next month," according to
Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. Jordan "would be
able to continue participating in any sites by sponsors with
which he currently has deals but he would be restricted from
signing any new online deals" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/26).
In N.Y., George Mannes writes that the deal "carries
enormous risk for Jordan and SportsLine." Muller Sports
Group President Roberto Muller: "If a bad web [site] is
created, his stock as a spokesperson is diminished." But
the DAILY NEWS' Mannes writes that the "biggest startup
problem" will be finding a name for the site as the web
address of michaeljordan.com, mj.com, jordan.com, 23.com and
even belikemike.com are already in use. SportsLine
officials "conceded" they may have to buy michaeljordan.com
from NJ-based Ginn Computer Co. (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/26).
