LICENSE TO SELL: WILL SALES OF JORDAN MERCHANDISE MARCH ON?

          Michael Jordan and the NBA are "scrambling to make deals
     before a March 24 deadline ends production" of Jordan
     merchandise, according to Josh Gotthelf of the SPORTSBUSINESS
     JOURNAL.  If "new deals" aren't made, the NBA and its
     licensees will "lose the right" to use Jordan's likeness "70
     days after his retirement," per the league's group licensing
     agreement.  Champion and other licensees are "negotiating"
     with the league and Jordan's agent David Falk to extend
     existing licensing deals and "create" new ones.  NBA Dir of
     Marketing Communications Hilary Cassidy: "We expect to have a
     continuing relationship with him, and we're in the process of
     working out the details" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/15).