COCA-COLA'S EUROPEAN PR CRISIS: Coca-Cola Chair DOUG
IVESTER "started a major campaign to apologize to Belgian
consumers who became ill after drinking Coke's products."
The company will begin an ad campaign today in 15 Belgian
newspapers (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/22). In the open letter,
Ivester writes, "To all the Belgian people, I want to say
that I'm personally very sorry for any discomfort or
inconvenience. My colleagues and I will be working hard to
earn your trust again." PR exec BOB DILENSHNEIDER calls the
ads "smart," and says, "It time for Ivester to step up, get
his arms around this and declare victory" (USA TODAY, 6/22).
OTHER NAMES: WGN-AM Cubs color analyst and former MLBer
RON SANTO "was listed in stable condition Monday night" at a
Denver hospital after suffering a heart attack in his hotel
room Monday morning (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/22)....A former
Hornets cheerleader said that team Owner GEORGE SHINN
"pressured her into a sexual relationship by threatening to
ruin her career, but did not physically force or threaten
force against her." The ex-cheerleader's sworn deposition
"differs from a crucial document filed three months ago in"
Leslie Price's sexual-assault suit against Shinn. Price's
attorneys said that the cheerleader had a encounter with
Shinn that was "exactly the same" as Price's and established
"a pattern of sexual assault" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
6/22)....Sonics G HERSEY HAWKINS won the fourth annual NBA
Sportsmanship Award yesterday (CBS SportsLine, 6/22). FSN's
KEITH OLBERMANN, on Hawkins: "And no, the veteran guard did
not celebrate by doing a moondance into the news conference,
forming the letter 'H' with his arms, or signing a shoe
contract with a company who'll promote him by using the
phrase 'Be a good sport or we'll kill you'" (FSN, 6/21).
...ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's "IT" list includes "Arli$$"
creators MIKE TOLLIN and BRIAN ROBBINS. Tollin, on his work
habits: "I put on the PowerBook and watch baseball on the
satellite dish." Robbins' next project will be to direct
"Ready To Rumble," a "road-trip flick about two wrestling-
obsessed twentysomethings" (ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, 6/25
issue).....Wichita State P BEN CHRISTENSEN, who was drafted
by the Cubs after the NCAA recently suspended him for
throwing at and hitting in the face Univ. of Evansville's
ANTHONY MOLINA during a game, was profiled by ABC's Dean
Reynolds. Cubs GM ED LYNCH, on Christensen: "What he did,
was it wrong? Absolutely. Does he deserve a second chance?
Yes, he absolutely does" ("World News Tonight," ABC, 6/21).
