NFL: In Toronto, Marty York writes that NFL execs "are
miffed" that Chargers coach Mike Riley's QBs were "shouting
out names of cars in their snap counts," as they are
"concerned ... about free plugs" for the car companies. The
NFL "might order Riley to refrain from using the names"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 8/10)....Browns fan John Thompson
spent $14 to have his middle name legally changed to "Big
Dawg," providing the "same effect as a copyright -- that
would have cost $2,600, he said -- to protect his image"
(N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/10)....Bucs QSR sponsor Checkers Drive-
in Restaurants is sponsoring the team's first preseason home
game against the Browns on Saturday. Checkers will hand out
65,000 Checkers/Bucs collectible travel mugs and Checkers
discount coupons to all ticket holders (Checkers).
RACIN': A source of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Liz
Mullen puts vegas.com's title sponsorship of the Las Vegas
Motor Speedway's September 26 IRL event at "about $200,000
in cash plus an undetermined amount in media exposure"
(SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/9 issue)....IN-based auto parts
company Arvin Industries has signed Winston Cup driver Tony
Stewart as a spokesperson. Stewart will appear in TV and
print ads and will make personal appearances for the
company. Terms were not disclosed (SPEEDNET, 8/10).
MLB: Pro Player Dir of Hot Markets Tod Rastello said
that Mark McGwire's record-breaking 62nd HR last year "sold
roughly 200,000 T-shirts across the country," but last
week's "trifecta of events" -- McGwire's 500th career HR and
Tony Gwynn's and Wade Boggs' 3,000th career hits -- were
"very regional in popularity." Rastello added that no L.A.
or N.Y. retailer "craved items" (N.Y. POST, 8/10).
