DEALS: Anna Kournikova, 17, signed a representation
agreement with Advantage Int'l (Advantage)....AFLAC will
title sponsor the LPGA AFLAC Tournament of Champions through
2001. The '98 event will be held October 8-11 in Opelika/
Auburn, AL (AFLAC)....Olympic gold medalist Jonny Moseley
signed an endorsement deal with CA-based American Skiing
Co., and will guest coach at each of ASC's nine ski resorts
(USA TODAY, 9/16)....Woolf Associates finalized a deal with
Total Sports Concepts on behalf of Yankees P David Wells, to
produce a limited edition lithograph depicting his perfect
game (Woolf)....IL-based Big League Bottling (BLB) has been
licensed by the NFL to produce a series of collectible wine
bottles featuring the logos of all 30 NFL teams. Inside
each bottle is a Sutter Home alcohol-free wine (BLB).
NOTES: HBO has created a new division to oversee the
licensing and merchandising of its properties. HBO
President & CEO Seth Abraham will oversee the new division.
Pamela Lester, Time Warner Sports Senior VP/Business Affairs
& General Counsel, will manage its day-to-day operations,
and John Dunn will handle marketing and creative affairs
(HBO)....CNBC's Jerry Cobb reported on Nike, noting that
consumers are "beginning to wonder" whether Nike is "just
overdoing it," as younger consumers "now consider [the
swoosh] uncool" ("The Edge," CNBC, 9/16).