"After a little more than a year in office, the rumors
about [MLBE CEO] Greg Murphy's demise will not subside,"
according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK. But Murphy "shrugs
them off, along with the idea that the installation" of
outgoing Blue Jays President Paul Beeston as MLB's COO
"would be mutually exclusive of Murphy's continued
employment at the league." Murphy: "To the degree someone
like Paul Beeston comes in and overarches the whole
operation, that could only help this thing as far as overall
leadership and better integration with the clubs. The
question is whether he's going to do it and I really don't
know anymore than anyone else on this." Murphy said that
the $500M in total MLB corporate sponsorship deals he
estimated was "still a good number. A footwear and apparel
deal will bring you pretty close to that figure by itself
and I just can't imagine that we will not get that done this
year. ... Everybody will get a fair shot at this deal,
including Adidas." Lefton: "While Murphy wouldn't comment,
insiders said the long-rumored Visa deal ... is imminent.
Meanwhile, Murphy continues to recruit for some high-level
staff members with the goal of assembling an in-house
corporate sponsorship team soon" (BRANDWEEK, 7/14 issue).
AD AGE CHIMES IN: An editorial in the current AD AGE
states MLB "shows few signs of dealing with its marketing
woes. There's no commissioner. Marketing chief Greg Murphy
has been largely unable to pull off the kinds of big
sponsorship deals he envisioned" (AD AGE, 7/14 issue).
ON THE ROAD WITH MLB: USA TODAY's Sports "Cover Story"
features Mike Lopresti writing under the header, "Is Major
League Baseball Fan-Friendly?" Lopresti: "So here is an
early summer week spent as a fan. No press pass, no free
lunch. One view of life as a paying customer." After
visits to Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Milwaukee and
Chicago, Lopresti concludes, "The workers of baseball were,
by and large, friendly and obliging. There's tangible
evidence baseball is more serious about its customers.
Above all, the clubs are after your kids, no matter what it
takes. ... Foul balls routinely handed over to the nearest
tyke. And more autograph sessions" (USA TODAY, 7/15).
