Nike announced the formation of a new hockey category
     business unit, which combines Nike and Bauer's hockey
     organizations into a standalone business unit, while
     maintaining both brand names.  Bauer President Pierre Boivin
     will manage the new entity -- based in Montreal -- which
     will be responsible for all areas of the business for both
     the Bauer and Nike brands, including research, product
     design and development, dual brand global marketing, sales
     and distribution.  Organizational details will be finalized
     over the course of the coming fiscal year (Nike).
          THE GRAFTERS: In Calgary, Paul Jackson profiles
     Calgary-based Graf, which is now producing 30,000 pairs of
     skates a year and is looking to expand its manufacturing ops
     "within a year."  Graf expects its staff, now at 35, to
     almost double over that same period (CALGARY SUN, 6/5).

          ESPN's Rich Eisen reported last night that UNC men's
     basketball coach Bill Guthridge signed a five-year, $2.25M
     shoe contract with Nike, a deal worth "more than three times
     his coaching salary" ("SportsCenter," 6/4).  In Raleigh, 
     Steve Elling reports that Guthridge will receive $500,000
     from Nike next year, and another $150,000 if UNC wins an
     NCAA title.  The numbers, when coupled with his base salary
     and yet-to-be finalized TV contract, are expected to push
     his annual compensation to $1M.  Guthridge earns $155,000 in
     base salary.  Guthridge, on the Nike deal: "It's kind of out
     of whack.  I know I'm not worth this kind of money."  Elling
     calls the numbers "enormous," adding that Guthridge could
     stand to make a total of $768,000 this season, not including
     earnings for his weekly TV show, running the UNC basketball
     summer camp, or his $25,000 annual school expense account. 
     Nike also signed UNC football coach Carl Torbush to a
     "considerably smaller" deal (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/5).

          The IHL has joined with Coca-Cola in an advertising
     experiment where it will display the PowerAde logo on the
     top of the goal nets during the Wolves-Vipers Turner Cup
     Final.  The new advertising, which debuted during Tuesday
     night's Game Two, will be utilized for the remainder of the
     series.  The PowerAde logo also appears on the back and side
     bars of each net (IHL).  The logo is painted in the twine on
     top of each net, and IHL VP/Communications Bill Jamieson
     said it is "very visible" to the in-arena crowd and to the
     TV audience during high-angle camera shots.  Fox Sports Net
     is airing all Cup games on a tape-delay basis.  Although
     PowerAde is not an IHL sponsor, both the Rosemont Horizon
     (home of the Wolves) and The Palace of Auburn Hills (Vipers)
     are arenas where Coca-Cola has pouring rights.  Jamieson
     said Coke is not paying for the PowerAde signage during the
     ad test.  But if it proves successful, the IHL may look into
     selling the inventory space next year (THE DAILY).

          Despite a report in the Charlotte Observer yesterday,
     Tellem & Associates told THE DAILY that while Arn Tellem has
     worked with Scott Montross in the past with regards to his
     son Eric, Tellem will be the exclusive representative of
     former UNC player Antawn Jamison (THE DAILY)....Clyde
     Drexler is featured in a new Denny's TV spot which begins
     airing nationally on Monday.  The ad, from Lowe & Partners/
     SMS, touts Denny's summer burger promo (Denny's)....CA-based
     OPI Products was named the official nail care provider of
     the ABL.  OPI will form an ABL Nail Care Team consisting of
     ABL players who will make personal appearances at OPI-
     sponsored events and be featured in a fall campaign which
     will run in Cosmopolitan, Elle, Jane and In Style.  The
     group will also make an appearance on E!'s "Fashion
     Emergency" (ABL)....TENNIS WEEK reports that John McEnroe,
     who designed shirts last year for US Open sponsor Heineken,
     will create a new design for this year's tournament....In
     other news, Justin Gimelstob is "swapping" manager Beau
     Delafield for Jeff Schwartz at IMG.  Delafield left IMG to
     work in investment banking (TENNIS WEEK, 6/4 issue).   
          A HARD RUN? USA TODAY's cover story examines the USGA's
     possible ban on titanium clubs under the header, "USGA Fears
     Modern Gear May Make Golf Too Easy."  Jerry Potter reports
     that the "mere possibility" of a metalwoods ban "has created
     a buzz from Main Street to Wall Street," with the authority
     of the USGA "at stake" (USA TODAY, 6/5).  Callaway Golf
     Chair Ely Callaway, on the possible ban: "May I suggest that
     golf is no longer a game primarily for the few, nor should
     it be ruled by or for the few" (OTTAWA SUN, 6/5).

          Canon "is close" to signing a four-year extension with
     the Greater Hartford Open (GHO) as part of the PGA Tour's
     "new plan to get long-term commitments from title sponsors,"
     according to Bruce Berlet of the HARTFORD COURANT.  The
     "stumbling block," however, is an additional multimillion
     dollar investment in the purse, which is expected to total
     more than $3M by 2002.  Canon increased the purse this year
     by $500,000, to $2M, bringing its total commitment for prize
     money and TV spots "to a reported" $5M.  Canon's GHO
     contract expires this year (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/5).

          The following lists apparel suppliers, listed
     alphabetically, for the 32 participating World Cup soccer
     teams.  Among the top providers: adidas has 7 teams, Nike
     outfits 6, Puma outfits 5 and Umbro outfits 4 (THE DAILY). 

     

  
 
    
 
      
COUNTRY
    
    
 
      
SPONSOR
    
    

    
 
      
COUNTRY
    
    
 
      
SPONSOR
    
  
  
 
    
Mexico
    
ABA Sport
    
Italy
    
Nike
  
  
 
    
Saudi 
      Arabia
    
ABA Sport
    
Netherlands
    
Nike
  
  
 
    
Argentina
    
adidas
    
Nigeria
    
Nike
  
  
 
    
France
    
adidas
    
South Korea
    
Nike
  
  
 
    
Germany
    
adidas
    
United 
      States
    
Nike
  
  
 
    
Japan
    
adidas
    
Austria
    
Puma
  
  
 
    
Romania
    
adidas
    
Bulgaria
    
Puma
  
  
 
    
Spain
    
adidas
    
Cameroon
    
Puma
  
  
 
    
Yugoslavia
    
adidas
    
Iran
    
Puma
  
  
 
    
Belgium
    
Diadora
    
Morocco
    
Puma
  
  
 
    
Denmark
    
Hummel
    
Chile
    
Reebok
  
  
 
    
Jamaica
    
Kappa
    
Paraguay
    
Reebok
  
  
 
    
South 
      Africa
    
Kappa
    
Columbia
    
Umbro
  
  
 
    
Croatia
    
Lotto
    
England
    
Umbro
  
  
 
    
Tunisia
    
Lotto
    
Norway
    
Umbro
  
  
 
    
Brazil
    
Nike
    
Scotland
    
Umbro
  




          THE BRAZILIANS: KNIGHT RIDDER's Katherine Ellison
     reported that Nike's $400M sponsorship of the Brazil
     national soccer team is "looking like a bad gamble."  In
     addition to "playing poorly," the Brazilian team deal "has
     embarrassed" Nike off the field as well.  The Nike deal has
     also come under "increasing political pressure, in and
     outside of Brazil" (KNIGHT RIDDER/S.J. MERCURY NEWS, 6/4).