Although Spurs F/C Tim Duncan has "six national
endorsement deals," including Sprite, Nike, EA Sports, Edge,
Topps and Fleer, as well as a local deal with Gunn
Automotive, "he has come off as so emotionless, so aloof,
... that he's not the most marketable personality in the
game," according to John Delong of the WINSTON-SALEM
JOURNAL. But Duncan's roommate and business manager Marc
Scott said, "As long as we're one-on-one with Tim and
sponsors, they love him because he's got a great
personality. As long as we can bring out his personality,
he's fine. ... It's just in the media, when he's sitting
there doing interview after interview, he's not showing any
pizazz." Delong added that Duncan is "beginning to take a
personal interest in his Web site -- Slamduncan.com."
Scott, on the Web site: "We want the fans to know what's
going on all the time. At this point, Tim isn't the best
with the media, but if he does something, if he's featured
in something, we want his fans to be able to go look and
find out what's going on with him" (W-S JOURNAL, 6/14).
KNICKS MEAN BUCKS? Pro Player has sold more than $1M
worth of Knicks Eastern Conference Championship locker room
T-shirts in retail sales and claims sales are five times
more profitable than any previous conference championship
shirt. Pro Player states that should the Knicks win the NBA
Finals, sales of their merchandise will be three times more
profitable than those of the Spurs (Pro Player).
NO BANNER DAY: In San Antonio, Antonio Sharp writes
that the Historic & Design Review Committee of San Antonio
"won't allow exceptions for the Spurs" regarding a city
ordinance that prohibits banners in the city's River Walk
district, the "downtown tourism magnet," on the "theory that
they may diminish [its] overall beauty and architectural
integrity." Historic Preservation Office Senior Planner
Genie Cooper: "We don't want to seem like 'no fun'
bureaucrats. This is just a standard for keeping the
clutter down" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/15).
