Warner Bros. Consumer Products "is rolling out a
     marketing push this month" for the first products under its
     WB Sport brand, according to Jeff Jensen of AD AGE.  Outdoor
     ads began in 10 markets last week and TV spots, featuring WB
     athletes Shaquille O'Neal and Albert Belle, will be airing
     later this month under the tagline "True athletic gear." 
     Despite the ads tagline and "performance imagery," Warner
     Bros. execs say WB Sport "is more of a lifestyle brand than
     a sports brand."  Warner Bros. VP/Property Dev. Michael
     Peikoff: "We're a lifestyle brand, but one whose foundation
     is in sports and legitimized by these athletes."  Warner
     Bros. Dir of Sales & Sports Marketing Jeffrey Orridge: "We
     see our brand co-existing with the Nikes and the Reeboks.
     ... We see kids playing in their Nikes, but going out with
     friends or hanging out in WB Sport."  Since Reebok "is
     licensing" O'Neal to WB Sport, it can only use his name and
     image for direct mail, POPs and trade print.  But WB Sport
     is compiling a database of kids and "plans to send them a
     holiday card" from O'Neal (AD AGE, 10/6 issue).

          WNBA President Val Ackerman and NBAP President Rick
     Welts have been named BRANDWEEK's Grand Marketers of the
     Year for their efforts in the "ballyhooed, multi-faceted
     launch" of the WNBA.  BRANDWEEK's Matthew Grimm writes that
     Ackerman and Welts "spearheaded the start-up as if it were a
     major consumer product launch" and "vaulted" women's pro
     sports into "America's cluttered sports-conscience."  Grimm
     adds that "measured as a product launch alone, the WNBA
     clearly was one of the year's most successful."  With its
     "incremental marketing investments," and its "big ticket
     marketers ... it is certainly the sports marketing success
     of the year."  Ackerman and Welts will be honored at the
     Assoc. of National Advertisers' annual conference October
     17-21 in CA.  ESPN Senior VP/Marketing Judy Fearing is also
     named a BRANDWEEK Marketer of the Year.  Winners will be
     profiled in BRANDWEEK's Superbrands/Marketers of the Year
     special issue later this month (BRANDWEEK, 10/6 issue).

          A full-page ad for naming rights to the Bucs' new
     facility in Tampa is featured in this week's Brandweek and
     Ad Age.  The naming rights offer touts Tampa hosting Super
     Bowl XXXV (THE DAILY)....In Akron, the Indians Team Shop
     said it has "sold out" its supply of Starter's retro Indians
     jackets, and "had nothing" left with P Jaret Wright's name
     on it (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/7)....Advantage Int'l has
     signed speedskater Casey FitzRandolph, skier Megan Gerety
     and luger Cammy Myler to management and marketing contracts
     (Advantage Int'l).....The CISL and GMC Safari announced
     plans for a "Million Dollar Kick," to be held during the
     CISL Championship Series next month (CISL).

          Jets WR Wayne Chrebet, Panters QB Kerry Collins, Eagles
     QB Ty Detmer, Giants RB Rodney Hampton, Vikings QB Brad
     Johnson and former Giant George Martin will compete today in
     a cookoff to help launch "The NFL Family Cookbook."  The
     winner of today's contest will have $1,000 donated to Hunger
     Related Charities in his name.  The $17.98 Smithmark
     publication features recipes that include Brad Johnson's
     Baked Lasagna; John Elway's Hamburger Soup; Brett Favre's
     Crawfish Etouffee; Chris Berman's Baby, Back, Back, Back
     Ribs and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's Summer Risotto (NFL).

          IN-based Thomson Consumer Electronics "is cutting back
     its NASCAR involvement" and won't be the primary sponsor of
     a Winston Cup car in '98, according to Bill Koenig of the
     INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS.  Thomson and its RCA brand had been
     the lead sponsor of Cale Yarborough's Winston Cup entry
     since '95.  Koenig reported Thomson "still wants to have
     some ties" to NASCAR in '98 and may return as a main sponsor
     in '99 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 9/6).  
          AROUND THE TRACK: AOL will sponsor an Automobile Racing
     Club of America (ARCA) car next season, owned by a new team
     formed by driver Andy Belmont.  The car will debut in the
     ARCA Supercar Series event at the Daytona Int'l Raceway in
     February (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 10/3)....NASCAR unveiled
     a NASCAR edition Monopoly board game, designed by CA-based
     USAOPOLY.  Sponsors include DuPont, McDonald's, Skittles,
     Goodwrench and Tide (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5).... NY-based
     Bully Hill Winery's sponsorship of NASCAR driver Eric Bodine
     is profiled in BRANDWEEK.  Bully Hill "became the first"
     NASCAR winery, and its logo has been on Bodine's car for 21
     races in 7 states (BRANDWEEK, 10/6 issue)....Sunday's
     CHARLOTTE OBSERVER featured an extensive profile on race in
     the auto racing industry under the header, "NASCAR's Rise
     Leaves Diversity In The Dust" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/5).

          For the first time, USA Network "is pitching a sports
     package" that combines telecasts of the PGA Tour with its
     coverage of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, according to
     Langdon Brockinton of MEDIAWEEK.  USA VP/Sales Bob Riordan
     said that by packaging U.S. Open tennis with the "highly
     coveted" PGA Tour, USA is looking to "lay in as early as
     possible as big an advertiser base" for the U.S. Open as it
     can.  Riordan added that USA will also offer advertisers up
     to three year, multiyear, PGA Tour deals.  Sources tell
     Brockinton that a one-year PGA Tour/U.S. Open sponsorship
     will be worth "about" $600,000 (MEDIAWEEK, 10/6 issue).
          NICE PANTS: Looking to "make inroads in golf apparel,"
     Bugle Boy is "wooing" the PGA Tour's Paul Stankowski, who
     currently endorses Tommy Bahama (GOLFWEEK, 10/4 issue)....
     GOLFWORLD reports that Tom Lehman has inked a sponsorship
     deal with Rogaine.  Lehman will reportedly use the hair
     treatment as well as endorse it (GOLFWORLD, 10/5 issue).
          BUICK ANGEL: Buick Motor Division has signed actress
     Cheryl Ladd to a personal services contract to represent the
     company at golf tournaments, golf exhibitions and golf
     events worldwide.  Ladd joins Ben Crenshaw, Steve Elkington,
     David Berganio Jr. and Chip Beck as Buick endorsers (Buick).