SHOE NEWS: Shares in Nike rose 2 11/16 to 65 1/2
yesterday, reaching a 52-week high. Goldman Sachs analysts
placed the stock on its "recommended" list (WALL STREET
JOURNAL, 5/12). CNBC's Bob Pisani reported that Goldman
Sachs' move "was sufficient for Nike to close at a two-year
high. Nike was in the 30s near the end of 1998. Hard to
believe" ("MarketWrap," CNBC, 5/11)....Lakers G Kobe Bryant,
on Rockets F Scottie Pippen "slipping and losing the ball"
in the final minute of Sunday's Rockets-Lakers Game One:
"Maybe he should've worn adidas" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER,
5/11)....Foot Locker Worldwide will open its flagship store
on W. 34th Street in NYC today. Foot Locker, Lady Foot
Locker and Kids Foot Locker will all be incorporated in the
20,000-square-foot facility (Foot Locker)....Today's BOSTON
GLOBE editorial: "College students deserve praise for their
efforts to persuade universities to take responsibility for
the conditions under which the sweatshirts and other apparel
bearing school logos are made" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/12).
OFF THE LINKS: The recent executive appointments made
at Nike Golf (See THE DAILY, 5/10) show that the "sleeping
giant is ready to rumble." New Nike Golf Dir of
Communications Mike Kelly, who comes from Ram and Taylor
Made: "We're bringing in experienced golf people and it
makes for a very strong management team that can analyze
situations. The brand is very strong." But GOLFWEB's Ted
Johnson wonders if Nike can be a "real golf company without
golf clubs" (GOLFWEB, 5/10)....GolfWatch, the "luxury-
seating effort," will be at five PGA Tour events this year.
Peter Crowley, VP/Business & Development of Strategic
Marketing Int'l, which operates GolfWatch: "The product has
been proven. We bring logic and proximity to watching a
golf tournament." The PGA Tour allows "only" 1,000
Golfwatch credentials per event. Four-day passes for the
five events cost $1,500 (DENVER POST, 5/11).
NOTES: In Hartford, Lori Riley examines the
marketability of female athletes and writes that "women
athletes in general are becoming more marketable. Tennis
players and figure skaters lead the pack and the WNBA is
making healthy inroads." Marketing Evaluations/TVQ Exec VP
Henry Schafer: "What has been shown over the past year or so
is that women's athletes, particularly professional
athletes, have risen in prominence in recognition and
appeal. That's primarily due to influence of the WNBA"
(HARTFORD COURANT, 5/12)....Dr Pepper will launch its first
national TV ad linked to its NASCAR sponsorship May 14. The
15-second spot from N.Y.-based Y&R Advertising touts a
racecar giveaway (AD AGE, 5/12).
