Venus Williams "will be all over the tube and the talk
of sports radio and the sports pages" during the U.S. Open,
as her "broad cross-market appeal" has corporations "angling
to get Venus to pitch their products," according to Richard
Wilner of the N.Y. POST. While Williams has limited
endorsement deals so far, people "familiar with the plans of
Team Venus say an impressive showing at this year's U.S.
Open, with most of the advertising world attentively
watching on, will convince the Williams brain trust to
finally allow the endorsement floodgates to open." Wilner:
"If so, the rush of money that will find its way to Venus
might be unprecedented in the history of tennis." Burns
Celebrity Sports Service President Bob Williams: "She's
definitely in the mid-six figure to seven-figure range for a
one year deal." Wilner added that Team Venus, however, is
being "very selective" and is "looking for top dollar."
Anne Marie Huizinga, an assistant to Williams' agent/lawyer
Kevan Davis: "You don't want to get locked into a deal today
because she might be worth more tomorrow. Our general
philosophy is to be patient" (N.Y. POST, 8/30).
KING RICHARD: Venus' father, Richard Williams, is
profiled by Frederick Klein of the WALL STREET JOURNAL.
Williams said that he may attend the U.S. Open, "but you
never can tell." Williams, on Venus and Serena: "You know
what I wish? I wish they'd quit tennis and move on to other
things. ... They're so brilliant, they'll be great in
anything they do" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/31).
