NIKE NOT PLAYING FAVORITES: COMPANY ANNOUNCES ABL MEDIA DEAL

          The ABL and Nike have entered into a media partnership     for the '97-98 season.  Nike will feature two of its ABL     athletes -- Dawn Staley of the Rage and Jennifer Rizzotti of     the Blizzard -- in a TV ad campaign for girls and women who     play basketball.  Nike also plans to use the two ABL players     in a print campaign during the upcoming season (ABL).  In     Hartford, Bruce Berlet reports that the 30-second spots will     begin airing this winter during ABL broadcasts on BET and     Fox Sports Net.  Nike Business Manager for Women's Sports     Marketing Sandi Bittler: "This agreement with the ABL means     Nike can extend its support for women's basketball through     advertising year-round" (HARTFORD COURANT, 9/26).  Nike is     also an official partner of the WNBA and signed a marketing     deal with the league in February of '97 (THE DAILY).