Rockets F Scottie Pippen has signed a five-year, $1.9M
endorsement deal with Houston-based Coastal Banc and will
appear in TV, print and outdoor ads touting Coastal's
"business-to-business services," according to Josh Gotthelf
of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. TX-based The Marketing Arm
represents both parties. Pippen is also "close to signing
with a publisher" for his autobiography, to be entitled "Out
of the Shadow" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/12 issue).
GO-GO PROMO: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy
Bernstein reports that the "paint job" on Bill Elliott's No.
94 McDonald's Winston Cup car "will publicize" the
McDonald's promo around the Disney film, "Inspector Gadget,"
that will run at its stores in late July and early August.
Elliott's car will support each element of the promo through
its entire run. Bernstein adds that McDonald's said that
"about half of U.S. outlets will be running some sort of
NASCAR-themed local" promo (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/12).
GIVE THEM LIBERTY, AND THEIR THINKPADS: BRANDWEEK's
Terry Lefton reports that IBM has "all but completed the re-
up" of its three-year NHL deal, which now includes NHLPA
rights. IBM "hopes to get its laptops and other hardware
into the hands" of NHLers and launch a program "similar" to
its PGA Tour link.....Pepsi, Chase Manhattan, Wilson and
Tiffany have all renewed their USTA deals, "seeking the U.S.
Open cachet" that is the property's "primary benefit."
Pepsi "plans its first U.S. Open consumer" promo in NY, NJ
and CT prior to the event (BRANDWEEK, 4/12 issue)
