Visa USA has launched a self-described "grand
experiment in integrated marketing" and has challenged three
ad agencies, BBDO Worldwide, Highway One and CKS Partners,
to "come up with the best 'idea' to promote its NFL
presence" (ADWEEK, 11/23 issue)....ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's
A.J. Jacobs gives Spike Lee a grade of "A" for his role in
the Nike "Start the Season ... Hurry" campaign and calls the
campaign a "worthy successor to the brilliant Spike-and-Mike
campaign of the late '80s" (EW, 11/30 issue)....General
Motors will sponsor the Pontiac GMC Cup, a Canadian ski
racing circuit aimed at 14- to 17-year-olds (TORONTO STAR,
11/25)....K.C.-area McDonald's have ended their "Elvisize"
promo, but the move "wasn't in response to the Chiefs'
benching of [QB] Elvis Grbac." McDonald's Regional
Marketing Manager Lynn Bender said the promo was designed
for five weeks, and "turned out to be a pretty big success"
(K.C. STAR, 11/24)....Univ. of KY AD C.M. Newton said that
beer, wine and liquor ads will "disappear from sports" at
the school. The move was "brought on by a number of
problems involving" the school's athletes and alcohol,
including the recent death of football player Arthur
Steinmetz (HERALD-LEADER, 11/25)....Clothing company Roots
inked a deal with the Canadian Olympic Association for the
next three Olympics, and is "expected to announce" an NHL
licensing deal (CP, 11/25)....Cleveland-based Malley's
Chocolates will market a candy bar named for five-time NPSL
scoring champ, the Crunch's Hector Marinaro (NPSL).
