Spurs F/C Tim Duncan "should be the guy around which
the league builds its marketing campaign in the next
century," according to Peter May of the BOSTON GLOBE. May:
"The NBA ought to revisit its scheduling situation so that
each city gets to see ... Duncan a little more" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 6/20). In N.Y., Mike Wise wrote that while Duncan
currently "is not inducing any bidding war for his likeness
on Madison Avenue, ... another week in the national
spotlight and a title can change that" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20).
On "The Sports Reporters," ESPN's Mike Lupica said, "Maybe
NBC now with the ratings, thinks, 'Maybe we could've done a
little more Tim [Duncan] during the regular season, a little
less Shaq and Kobe." Dick Schaap: "The only thing Duncan
may be lacking is an image. Will his intelligence bring him
that image or will some sneaker company superimpose an
image?" ("The Sports Reporters," 6/20). The Marketing Arm
Managing Partner Ray Clark said the NBA is "smart enough to
embrace the excitement" that 76ers G Allen Iverson brings to
the NBA, but "they're not going to hand over ambassadorship
of the league to him," which is why they're "comfortable"
with Duncan. Clark: "I don't think Tim Duncan is an
exciting-enough player to reach the elite level, if he
doesn't win championships. I don't think as many companies
will gravitate to him as people think. ... I don't think Tim
Duncan can carry the league on his back, but I also don't
think he has to. ... I don't think the league needs another
Michael Jordan right now" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/19).
MERCHANDISE SALES: In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports
that Logo Athletic's Conference Championship T-shirts have
"sold far better in San Antonio than in New York." Logo
Athletic President Tom Shine: "[The Knicks] want to be
champions. But San Antonio hasn't been here before."
Champion has "sold out of its Knicks replica jerseys," with
Latrell Sprewell "the most popular" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/21).
NIKE'S A TEAMS: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Josh
Gotthelf reports that when Hornets G Eddie Jones was traded
from the Lakers, his annual base salary from Nike "dropped
from" $950,000 to $650,000 and his guaranteed annual royalty
payment dropped from $250,000 to $150,000. The pay cut is a
result of Nike's NBA classifications, in which the Lakers
are considered a "Group A" team and the Hornets "Group C."
Nike Global Dir of Basketball Ralph Greene said that the
"classifications aren't the same for all Nike endorsers."
The details on the Nike deal were made public as Jones is
suing his agent, Sal DiFazio, for allegedly stealing $1.5M
from his accounts (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/21 issue).
