Charlotte-based Muhleman Marketing (MMI) has been
retained to develop and manage Outback Steakhouse's NASCAR
marketing programs. MMI handled Outback's recently signed
deal with NASCAR to become "NASCAR's Bloomin' Favorite"
(MMI)....Stride Rite Corp. "cut" 125 jobs at its Lexington,
MA, headquarters yesterday, "aiming to save" $9M a year.
About 50 of the jobs were vacant (BOSTON HERALD, 8/11).
...The USOC is "on the verge of announcing" two new sponsors
for its U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame "went
dormant" in '92 when Coca-Cola "pulled out" as its sponsor
(CO Springs GAZETTE, 8/8)....As part of its NFL effort, Visa
USA will again team with the Pro Football Hall of Fame to
present the Visa Hall of Fans exhibit, which honors the
"most loyal, knowledgeable and enthusiastic fan" from each
NFL team (Visa USA)....CT-based SoBe Beverage is the first
corporate sponsor of Cannondale's Team HeadShok mountain
biking team. The SoBe HeadShok team consists of amateur and
semi-pro mountain bikers, who will compete in over 500
local, regional and national events wearing SoBe Lizard
biking gear and riding customized Lizard design Cannondale
bikes. Over 3,000 U.S. bike shops will sell the Lizard
design gear. SoBe will also sponsor The National Off-Road
Bicycle Association's Chevy Trucks National Championship
Series to be held in CA May 2000 (SoBe).
COLLEGIATE NOTES: Delta Air Lines has renewed its deal
as the Official Airline of the Big South Conference for the
'99-2000 basketball season (Big South).....Host
Communications named MI-based General Sports & Entertainment
as the local NCAA ad sales rep of the 2000 NCAA Men's
Basketball Championship 3rd and 4th round sessions that will
be played at The Palace next March (NCAA).