DEALS: IL-based Sanford Corp. signed a three-year deal
to be title sponsor of the Independence Bowl, after previous
sponsor Poulan/Weed Eater pulled out (CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
4/16)....Harvard Univ. women's basketball player Allison
Feaster signed with Woolf Associates and will be represented
by Woolf VP Andrew Brandt (Woolf)....Reebok Soccer will
outfit the Tallahassee Scorpions for the '98 EISL Soccer
season (EISL)....BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton reports that CT-
based Imadgine will provide technology to the WWF for its
syndicated broadcasts which go to more than 100 countries.
MLB Int'l plans an upcoming test of the Imadgine technology,
"with an eye toward using virtual signage in international
broadcasts" of the '98 MLB All-Star Game (BRANDWEEK, 4/13).
NOTES: Reebok CEO Paul Fireman, on his company's market
strength: "Nike's unsold inventory is flooding the market
and taking up shelf space, so dollars-and centswise, I don't
think we're going to enjoy a great year selling shoes. By
early 1999 I think we'll be in a good position to move
forward" (SI, 4/20 issue)....In response to Kodak's three-
year, multimillion dollar deal to become the official
photographic supplier for the Yankees, Fuji has erected a
huge billboard outside Yankee Stadium. Fuji VP/Marketing
Joan Rutherford: "We'll not only get the Yankees fans, but
we'll be seen by everyone on the Major Deegan, or coming off
the George Washington bridge" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6)....Red Sox P
Pedro Martinez, is "sifting through numerous endorsement
possibilities," but is "deferring" most of them, according
to his agent Fernando Cuza. Martinez is also working with
the Red Sox to set up his own charitable foundation. The
team's "other hot property," SS Nomar Garciaparra, "also has
been approached by numerous business interests ... and may
be close to landing a national shoe contract with one of the
leading manufacturers" (Gordon Edes, BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16).
