DEALS: Nintendo signed Kobe Bryant to an endorsement
deal and rebranded its "NBA Courtside" to "Kobe Bryant's NBA
Courtside" (BRANDWEEK, 3/9 issue)....Taylor Made Golf signed
an endorsement deal with PGA European Tour player Thomas
Bjorn, giving the company three of the top six players on
the '98 money list: Ernie Els, Bjorn and Retief Goosen
(GOLFWEEK, 3/7 issue)....World Champion Triathlete Michellie
Jones has signed on to endorse MET-Rx Engineered Nutrition,
which produces high protein, low fat nutritional drink mix
and food bars (MET-Rx)....Soccer star Carla Overbeck
selected Sue Rodin of NY-based Stars & Strategies as her
exclusive marketing agent. Overbeck currently has a multi-
year endorsement deal with Fila Sports, the company's only
female soccer player (Stars & Strategies).
NOTES: Hasbro will run TV spots this year touting
separate Nerf products. One of the spots will support
Hasbro's marketing alliance with the NFL (AD AGE, 3/9)....
MA-based information storage company EMC will be the title
sponsor of the Senior PGA Tour's Kaanapali Classic through
2000. Previously a presenting sponsor, EMC has a three-year
option to continue its deal through 2003 (PGA Tour).
