In BASEBALL AMERICA, Will Lingo reports that minor
league baseball fans "have been bombarded with so many
stupid nicknames and dizzying logos that they've decided to
spend their money on something else." Lingo reports that
since minor league merchandise sales "peaked" at $60M in
'94, "sales have been down," dropping to $46M in '95 and
$33.7M in '96 (Will Lingo, BASEBALL AMERICA, 3/1 issue).
...PA-based Partners Design, Inc. has redesigned the logo
for the AA Reading Phillies (THE DAILY).
NOTES: Nike officials are "circumspect" about a new
Snickers ad that parodies Nike's "I Can" campaign. Said one
Nike spokesperson: "Imitation is a form of flattery" (L.A.
TIMES, 2/12)....An AD AGE editorial comments on the proposed
Time Warner/GE football league, saying that unless the two
companies can come up with a league that "is a real
departure from the NFL mold, why do it? It would be better
to nurture a new sports franchise with real potential for
the future, or develop new non-sports programming genres for
male viewers" (AD AGE, 2/9 issue)....Florence Griffith
Joyner has signed a footwear and apparel deal with Hyde
Athletics/Saucony Inc. They will develop a line of both
shoes and clothing distributed by Lady Foot Locker (ICM)....
IN officials are in the "final stages of their corporate
fund-raising effort," in an attempt to raise $6M for the
construction of the new NCAA nat'l headquarters (K.C. STAR,
2/11)....PGA Tour golfer Jim Furyk has become a spokesperson
for Fountain Pharmaceuticals' Daylong sunscreen. Daylong,
which will be available in pro shops beginning in March,
will feature Furyk in packaging and POP displays (ISI).
