NBA AIMS FOR REPLICA BOOST WITH TWO-PLAYER REVERSIBLE JERSEY

          The NBA will "experiment" with a reversible jersey
     featuring players from two different teams, to hit retail
     April 15, "followed by a mid-tier jersey" for fall,
     according to Andy Bernstein of SPORTING GOODS BUSINESS.  The
     jerseys will not have "the multi-layered fabrications of an
     actual authentic" as the league "hopes to beckon customers
     who are priced out of the authentic category."  The NBA and
     Champion said they considered many player combos for the
     two-team variety before "arriving on pairs which made
     sense," such as "superstars" Michael Jordan and Grant Hill
     and "youngsters" Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett (SGB, 2/98). 
          HEAVY METAL: SPORTSTYLE's Eric Alt reports that for
     Fall '98, "metallic colors shine, logos rule, and textures
     dominate, as licensed apparel manufacturers look for
     enthusiasm in the stands and at retail" (SPORTSTYLE, 2/4).