MARKETPLACE ROUND-UP

          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).