The Women's World Cup resumes tonight with four games,
including the U.S.-Nigeria match at Chicago's Soldier Field.
Last night in DC, Norway defeated Canada before 16,448 at
Jack Kent Cooke Stadium. In Portland, China defeated Ghana
before 17,668 at Civic Stadium (WASHINGTON POST, 6/24).
FAME AND FORTUNE: In N.Y., Ursula Reel, on the
popularity of the U.S. team: "This is the price of new-
found, explosive fame, and it's catching the U.S. women's
soccer team by surprise" (N.Y. POST, 6/24). In Toronto,
Norman Da Costa: "Women's soccer is finally getting the
exposure that's been long overdue" (TORONTO STAR, 6/24).
USA TODAY's Peter Brewington: "Women's World Cup mania is on
a crescendo. ... Now there's talk that [David] Letterman
wants to spend a day with the squad" (USA TODAY, 6/24).
RATINGS, ADS AND FREE KICKS: In Chicago, Ron Rapoport,
on ABC earning a 2.2/6 overnight for Saturday's U.S. women's
game: "Those not-so-hot numbers are the only downer of the
World Cup experience so far, but I wonder if this is an
occasion when what we see -- or in this case, don't see --
is not necessarily what we get." More Rapoport: "At the
stadiums, the World Cup is drawing a remarkable number of
families doing something special together. Surely, there
are any number of advertisers eager to reach just that kind
of audience now and in the future" (SUN-TIMES, 6/24). But
in Milwaukee, Dale Hofmann: "No question there are enough
soccer fans in any large city to fill a stadium, but that
doesn't translate into a nation that's gone crazy for corner
kicks." (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/24).
ALLSTATE ON THE SPOT: On "Good Morning America," ABC's
Robin Roberts interviewed 13-year-olds Werner Ramirez and
Crystal Juarez, who will each have a chance to win $1M by
kicking a soccer ball through a target at halftime of
tonight's U.S.-Nigeria match. The contest is sponsored by
Allstate, and the two participants wore adidas soccer
jerseys with the Allstate logo during today's interview.
Roberts promoted tonight's game on ESPN and said, "World Cup
mania [is] reining here in Chicago." George Stephanopolus:
"This mania has really swept across the nation." Roberts:
"I was there at Giants Stadium on Saturday, and let me tell
you, it was legit. ... I got goose bumps" (ABC, 6/24).
WORLD CUP SOUVENIRS RUNNETH OUT? Under the title,
"Souvenir Supply Falls Short," Kevin DeMarrais wrote: "Much
of the business community seems to have underestimated its
financial impact and sales potential. ... Few sporting goods
stores are carrying (souvenirs). Vendors couldn't even meet
demand [at Giants Stadium]." WWC VP/Communications Steve
Vanderpool: "We sold out all our licensed goods at Giants
Stadium and in Los Angeles. The concession people under-
ordered. They're real conservative. There's going to be a
lot of calls to licensees to crank up the presses."
DeMarrais wrote that the WWC "has been virtually ignored" in
north NJ sporting goods stores except Lady Foot Locker. WWC
sponsor/adidas spokesperson Nicole Vollebregt: "Orders have
to be done so far in advance, and people were not sure of
the success of the event" (Bergen RECORD, 6/23).
DO THE SHOES FIT? CNBC's Darby Mullany reported that,
according to the Athletic Footwear Association, $6.3B of the
$13.8B spent on athletic footwear in '98 was spent on
women's sports shoes. adidas America CEO Steve Wynne: "The
number is significant and it's only now coming into focus,
because, as you know. ... particularly in the athletic
footwear market, many companies simply ignored the female
athlete" ("Power Lunch," CNBC, 6/23).
HE SAID, SHE SAID: Mia Hamm "was anything but shy" when
fielding questions from SI writer Rick Reilly. Reilly:
"What we see on TV is like `Friends,' and on television,
it's all sex, and women quite often are sex objects, every
plot has to do with sex ..." Hamm, responding to Reilly, on
his recent Miller Lite ad with model Rebecca Romijn: "Like
the ad you were in?" More Hamm, on whether the WWC will be
good for society: "When you watch our team play, you see a
lot of very strong, confident, highly intelligent, well-
educated women" (Melanie Jackson, ESPN.com, 6/23).
