COCA-COLA CRISIS MANAGEMENT: Belgium authorities "ended
a 10-day ban" on COCA-COLA products yesterday and the
company "welcomed the relaxation, promised a Coke giveaway"
and "offered to pay the medical costs of anyone who became
ill." The N.Y. TIMES' Alan Cowell writes that "it remains
doubtful that the heavyweight public relations campaign by
the company" and CEO DOUG IVESTER "had stilled Europe's
mistrust." Ivester appeared at a Brussels news conference
and responded to "criticism that Coca-Cola was slow in
responding to the crisis" by saying "he had maintained an
initial public silence at the request of the Belgian
authorities." When asked if he would resign, Ivester said
that "he would not" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/24).
OTHER NAMES: Suns CEO & D'Backs Managing General
Partner JERRY COLANGELO was the keynote speaker at the AP
Sports Editors' 26th annual convention yesterday in Phoenix
(AZ REPUBLIC, 6/24)....In the wake of an operating deficit
at its athletic department, the UNIV. OF MI is capping staff
raises in the athletic department at 2.5% for the '99-2000
budget rather than the 4% increase it awarded this year.
Marketing costs for men's basketball will be cut from
$70,000 to $25,000 and Internet services for the
department's Web site will be outsourced (DETROIT FREE
PRESS, 6/24)....TANK BLACK "went on the offensive Wednesday"
regarding his $10M lawsuit against the NFLPA. Black: "One
of the reasons I think these allegations were brought forth
is because our competition cannot adequately sell against us
right now. We feel that we are years ahead of the
competition" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/24)....Raptors F TRACY
MCGRADY is buying a house in Orlando next door to Magic G
PENNY HARDAWAY (TORONTO SUN, 6/24)....ESPN is moving its
ESPY AWARDS from N.Y. to the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
The awards show will take place on February 14, 2000
(ESPN)....RICHARD WILLIAMS "maintained Tuesday" that
daughter SERENA pulled out of Wimbledon because she is sick
with the flu. Williams: "She was very disappointed in the
way everyone is treating her. ... That girl has a fever of
102 degrees, and last night I was up all night with her"
(PALM BEACH POST, 6/23)....Rockies co-Owner CHARLIE MONFORT
was arrested early Wednesday "on drunken-driving charges."
SGT. JOHN GATES said Monfort's blood-alcohol level was .209.
A blood-alcohol reading of .10 is legally drunk in CO (AP,
6/24)....Univ. of RI head coach JERRY DEGREGORIO is acting
as LAMAR ODOM's agent this week. Odom is searching for a
new agent, but must wait 15 days to hire a replacement" for
N.Y.-based JEFF KLEIN (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 6/24).
