NASCAR: With NASCAR returning to the S.F. Bay Area this
weekend, Gary Swan of the S.F. CHRONICLE looked at the
success of the league under the header "Roaring Success --
Sponsors Fuel NASCAR's Huge Popularity." Swan wrote the $2B
a year industry has grown 65% in the 90s, "As a television
sport, it is second in viewers only to the NFL. Financial
analysts say the end of the sport's growth is nowhere in
sight." 49ers CFO Bill Duffy: "I know the NFL has looked at
some of what NASCAR has done with its sponsorships and, to a
certain extent, we've tried some of it with the World League
with sponsors' logos on players uniforms. Of course, we'd
like to preserve the purity of our sport. On the other
hand, a lot of (owners) would probably like to go the NASCAR
way, So I'd never say never" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/24).
OTHER NOTES: Venus Williams said that women should
receive equal prize money as the men do in the Grand Slam
events: "Everybody loves the ladies. I think in Grand Slams
events it should be equal pay. ... I think the ladies should
do something about it instead of just playing and just
feeling comfortable and relaxed with it and just accepting
it for years to come" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/24).
.....N.Y.-based law firm Simpson, Thatcher and Bartlett is
representing Casey Martin in the PGA Tour's appeal of his
golf cart-riding privileges. Bill Wiswall, one of Martin's
attorneys in the first case: "I told Casey he should have a
high-profile firm representing him because this case might
end up in the Supreme Court" (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/24).
