NASCAR: In Birmingham, Neal Sims examined the impact of
track fatalities on racing sponsors: "Many potential
sponsors have shied away from racing, and not just because
of the rare potential for death. This is a dangerous game
played at high speed, and racing means wrecking." Sims
reported that airlines, Walt Disney and UPS are among the
companies "reluctant" to become involved with the sport due
to the potential for accidents (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/17).
...Joe Gibbs "is considering" adding a third Winston Cup
team next season, with MBNA as a sponsor. MBNA already
sponsors Gibbs' BGN team (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 5/17).
NOTES: BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton reports that FedEx is
increasing its NHL "ante, paying incremental fees" to become
title sponsor of the league's SuperSkills competition, which
will "relaunch under its old format" next season. The
contests will be a part of each team's official schedule and
will be held at rinks on off-days, with admission charges
benefiting a "yet-unnamed" charity (BRANDWEEK, 5/17 issue).
...BUSINESS WEEK's Joan Hamilton profiles sports companies
designing sneakers specifically for women and notes Nike's
M9, the soccer shoe named after Mia Hamm. Companies are
"finally putting resources into making sure" that athletic
shoes fit women "better" (BUSINESS WEEK, 5/24 issue)....In
Vancouver, Lowell Ullrich wrote that phones at Canada-based
Ortho Active Appliances, the co-developer of a "spandex-like
compression pant device ... to deal with chronic pelvic and
groin injuries," has been "ringing off the hook" from NHL
players, since the device was initially worn by Penguins RW
Jaromir Jagr (PROVINCE, 5/14)....Coca-Cola and Festina may
"withdraw their backing" of the Tour de France if the event,
"sullied by doping scandals, ... fails to improve its
image." Coca-Cola Dir of Communications Cyriac de Salaberry:
"When the 1999 Tour starts in two months we will assess if
this event harms our image or not" (REUTERS, 5/15).
