IS IT THE SHOES? AFTER INJURIES, NC STATE WILL TRY NIKES

          N.C. State has "temporarily ditched" adidas sneakers
     for Nike following three foot injuries to Wolfpack players,
     according to Caulton Tudor of the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER. 
     Coach Herb Sendek, who "has a lucrative contract with
     adidas," did not blame the injuries on the shoes, but said
     that N.C. State is likely to wear Nikes until mid-February,
     when adidas "is scheduled to ship a new model."  Sendek:
     "[W]e couldn't find any pattern to the injuries ... but this
     [changing to Nike] is something we want to try at least for
     a while.  We contacted adidas, and they want to do what's
     best for the players."  adidas Dir of Sports Promotions
     Sonny Vaccaro said that Sendek's salary will not be affected
     as a result of the switch.  Tudor: "Players at some schools
     that wear Nike -- Duke, Kansas, Georgetown -- have suffered
     similar injuries" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 1/21).