The '98 National Sports Collectors Convention, which
ended yesterday in Chicago, "figured to feature an abundance
of Kerry Wood and Mark McGwire merchandise," but the hot
items were Beanie Babies, as close to 20,000 were "snapped
up" by the end of the show (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/9)....Karl
Malone's hair regrowth from using Rogaine "has been very,
very strong," and Malone and Packers coach Mike Holmgren's
Rogaine ads "are two of the three or four best-testing
commercials ever" for the company, according to Rogaine
Brand Dir Ken Vargha. Vargha: "We have received a lot of
calls from agents representing sports personalities. The
agents come to us saying they were told, 'Hey, go talk to
the Rogaine guys. I want to regrow my hair'" (DETROIT NEWS,
8/9)....Broncos WR Ed McCaffrey will sponsor a new brand of
mustard to be introduced today (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 8/10).
...Berlin Cameron & Partners' Andy Berlin, who does work for
the NBA and Reebok, is profiled in USA TODAY. Berlin:
"Everyone is doing well [in the ad industry], but I've never
done this well this fast before." NBA Commissioner David
Stern "praises" Berlin as "a continued source of probing,
prodding and out-of-the-box thinking" (USA TODAY, 8/10).
