THANK YOU, THANK YOU: Jaguars players are spending this
week making unannounced visits to local stores, offices and
malls in order to meet fans and thank them for their
support. All players, except rookies, are participating in
the program, and Jaguars VP/Marketing Dan Connell said the
idea "stemmed from" this year's NFLP Super Bowl ad in which
several teams thanked their fans (FL TIMES-UNION, 5/10).
POWER LUNCH: The Browns and Steelers held their
inaugural "Grudge Luncheon" in Pittsburgh yesterday to
celebrate the renewal of their rivalry. An estimated crowd
of 600 attended the event (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 5/11). Fox
Sports Net Pittsburgh will televise the luncheon between
7:00-8:00pm on Friday (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/11).
INT'L PLAY: In N.Y., Simon Romero profiles the state of
Brazilian soccer under the header, "Making Brazilian Soccer
A Bigger Deal." Foreign and Brazilian investment firms
"increasingly see opportunities to transform Brazilian
soccer into a moneymaker" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/11).
OTHER NOTES: In Chicago, Ron Rapoport writes that "one
team Michael Jordan will not be buying any time soon is the
Blackhawks, who still are miffed about the way he stiffed
them during the final home game of the season April 17."
Jordan was provided a luxury box and 35 tickets for the
game, and had previously agreed to drop the "ceremonial
first puck before the game." But when "someone came to
escort him to the ice shortly before game time, he had
changed his mind. The reason? He didn't like the way the
team had treated Chris Chelios" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
5/11)....In AZ, Kent Somers examined the efforts of NBA
teams to promote their players and coaches for postseason
awards. This season, "teams have outdone themselves. Their
marketing departments ... have reached new levels in
imagination and shamelessness." One effort: The Blazers
offering the Mike Dunleavy science kit for his coach of the
year campaign. The kit comes with a "Mike-roscope."
Somers: "Get it?" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/9).
