Mark McGwire has teamed with NC-based Randy Baker to
market "The Ultimate MAXXBAR," according to the CHARLOTTE
OBSERVER. The energy bar is expected to hit stores in
March. The bar will be marketed by Extreme Nutritionals,
which was formed by Baker and McGwire, who both own a half-
interest in the company. McGwire's "image and signature
will appear on the first million wrappers being produced, as
well as on store displays" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/15).
NO OFFSEASON FOR HR HEROES: In Chicago, Fred Mitchell
reported that Sammy Sosa's latest endorsement deal is with
Fuji Photo Film, and he will make a company appearance in
Las Vegas. From there, he will go to L.A. to film a new
McDonald's ad with Grant Hill (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/16). Sosa
will announce today at the Bellagio Hotel that Fuji has
joined with the MLBPA becoming its official film and camera
(Fuji Film). Integrated Marketing Solutions President Mark
Leonard, on Sosa's active offseason: "He's had offers to do
everything from movies (a feeler from DreamWorks SKG) to TV
shows to cartoons to books to T-shirts to memorabilia to
cereals. Some folks wanted to do Sammy Sosa salsa."
Meanwhile, McGwire "embraced a few endorsement
opportunities," including deals with Wheaties and
McDonald's, but he turned down others, "including a seven-
figure offer from a razor company to shave off his goatee"
(Larry Stone, SEATTLE TIMES, 2/16).
