The NBA and Champion will introduce a limited edition
     line of apparel under the name "Champion's Gold" featuring
     the '97 NBA All-Star starters and select '97 award winners. 
     The line includes replica jerseys, shorts and T-shirts, all
     made of gold fabric, with the team logo and player name in
     the traditional team colors.  The items will be made
     available to retail on February 1 (NBA).
          FEELING HOT: Champion has also joined with NH-based The
     Shirt Factory to offer event and hot market printables.  The
     Shirt Factory will print and ship, while Champion will
     manufacture and sell the products.  The partners will work
     together on slogans and creative graphics (Champion).

          Converse Senior VP/Marketing James Solomon said the
     company "will try to capture consumers' changing tastes
     toward less bulky athletic shoes with the introduction of a
     running-style basketball shoe" in fall of '98, according to
     the L.A. TIMES.  Converse said its running shoe orders have
     risen only 2.2% in the third quarter, but the company "has
     identified promise in running shoes" and will introduce a
     new line in spring of '99.  A company official said Converse
     "plans to take advantage of a resurgence of popularity of
     its Chuck Taylor and Jack Purcell lines" (L.A. TIMES, 11/6).

          NASCAR Cafe will open its second location in Nashville,
     TN, this Tuesday, November 11 (NASCAR)....CART Licensed
     Products has reached licensing agreements with three
     manufacturers for the merchandising of apparel bearing the
     CART logo: FL-based Joy Athletic, WI-based Ralph Marlin &
     Co. and CA-based Jeff Hamilton Industries (CART).
          SHOE NEWS: Reebok Dir of PR Dave Fogelson said that
     while Reebok does not have an endorsement deal with Serena
     Williams, the company would be interested in signing
     Williams, who has been wearing Nike apparel at the Ameritech
     Cup in Chicago: "Sure. If there is an opportunity.  If she's
     searching to travel the same path as Venus, turning pro and
     seeking an endorsement deal" (THE DAILY)....Shawn Kemp, on
     his Reignman II Reebok shoe: "A lot of guys have been trying
     to wear it.  I've gotten a lot of requests from girls and
     guys in college, the ABL, the WNBA and lots of players in
     the league are trying to wear the shoe.  The only guys who
     will wear it will be me, Bobby (Sura) and Vitaly
     (Potapenko).  No one else" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/7).

          Reebok has been named title sponsor and MBNA presenting
     sponsor of MLB's Expansion Draft on November 18.  Both will 
     receive event signage, advertising on ESPN and ESPN2 during
     draft coverage and the right to use the draft logo in ads
     and promos.  Both companies will also receive recognition on
     MLB's expansion draft coverage on its Web site (MLB).

          The Arizona Sports Foundation has signed a multiyear,
     multimillion dollar deal with AZ-based computer marketer
     Insight Enterprises, Inc., for title sponsorship of Tucson's
     Copper Bowl, to be renamed the Insight.com Bowl.  The first
     Insight.com Bowl, the ninth game in the bowl's history, is
     scheduled for Saturday, December 27, in Arizona Stadium at
     the Univ. of Arizona (ASF).  Sources of the ARIZONA DAILY
     STAR said that the sponsor has agreed to pay "a minimum" of
     $600,000 for this year's game (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 11/6).