FILA SCORES WITH SEVEN-YEAR, $80M CONTRACT DEAL FOR HILL

          Fila Holding signed Grant Hill to "one of the richest
     sports endorsement contracts ever" with a pact for "at
     least" $80M over seven years, according to Stefan Fatsis of
     the WALL STREET JOURNAL.  The deal, expected to be announced
     today, "catapults" Hill into "the sneaker-riches realm" of
     Nike's Michael Jordan, and gives him "a sweeping role in the
     company's operations."  While Fila's stock "has plummeted to
     around $28 a share ... from $105 a share a year ago," Fatsis
     reports that the company "is counting on" Hill to "revive a
     brand he helped create" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/23).
          GRANT'S SHOW: Hill will receive "a base salary and
     minimum royalty guarantees on his signature products, plus
     royalties on sales of other Fila products, performance
     bonuses and stock options," and will "head a committee to
     advise Fila about marketing initiatives and other athletes
     the company should enlist."  The company "renegotiated the
     last two years" of Hill's existing Fila deal which paid him
     "around" $6M a year.  Under the new deal, Hill will be
     "asked to boost the company's profile outside the U.S." 
     Fila Senior VP/Sports Marketing Howe Burch: "We think Grant
     is more than a guy who just sells shoes.  We think he is a
     brand influencer, not just here but around the world." 
     Hill, on his new advisory role with the company: "It makes
     me feel vested in all the decisions I make."  Asked what he
     would tell NBA players who tried to use an on-court
     relationship to ink a Fila deal: "Give me 10 good reasons
     why we should take you on" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/23).