FRANCHISES: In Salt Lake City, Phil Miller writes that
even if the Jazz are eliminated from the playoffs, its
players "are certain to remain a fixture on Utah televisions
-- during the commercials." John Rogers, Ad Dir for RC
Wiley, a furniture store endorsed by Jazz F Bryon Russell:
"You can't get much higher visibility around here than the
Jazz. They're just a great business to identify with" (SALT
LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/27)....MN-based Sun Country Airlines, trying
"to get into the" MN sports market, "wants to" be the
carrier for the NHL Wild (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/27).
ROOKIES: Puma runs a full-page ad in the N.Y. TIMES
congratulating Raptors G Vince Carter on being named NBA
Rookie of the Year (N.Y. TIMES, 5/27)....In Cleveland, Roger
Browns writes that although Browns QB Tim Couch has inked a
"lucrative endorsement deal" with Nike, he will not appear
in "any splashy national" TV ads for the company this year.
Couch's Nike "exposure this season will be limited to"
wearing the company's footwear on the field and "possibly
appearing in a local ad or two" (PLAIN DEALER, 5/26).
