THE E-BUSINESS SOLUTION? The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's
Andy Bernstein reports that IBM has an "agreement in
principal" with NBAP to renew its NBA sponsorship, with the
"understanding that IBM will become involved in the league's
e-commerce ventures and build the store on NBA.com." But
the "fate" of IBM's NHL sponsorship, which expired at the
end of last season, is "still unresolved" (SPORTSBUSINESS
JOURNAL, 8/16)....The NBPA Foundation and ING Financial
Services have joined the X-NBA Players Association (X-NBA)
to sponsor a series of basketball camps for inner city
youths. X-NBA members will conduct skills training while
active players will provide motivational discussions (NBPA).
NOTES: Oakley has named VitroRobertson to handle its
estimated $2M ad account. The San Diego shop "prevailed
over" FCB, San Francisco (BRANDWEEK ONLINE, 8/17).
..Princeton Video Image (PVI) will handle virtual
advertisements for all three St. Paul-based KSTP-ABC's '99
preseason Vikings telecasts. KSTP will insert ads for the
Dodge Durango and local advertisers (PVI)....Lance Armstrong
has become a spokesperson for N.Y.-based financial news
provider Bridge Information Systems and its subsidiaries
(Bridge). ...Temple Univ. Associate AD for Marketing &
Promotions Valerie Abbott, on whether the school having U.S.
women's soccer team members Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and
Julie Foudy attend the football team's September 2 home-
opener is "a bit of counter-programming" against an Eagles
preseason game at the Vet: "Exactly. It's always tough
competing in this city" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/17)....The
Chicago Motor Speedway and Shell have agreed to a marketing
sponsorship, in which this Sunday's inaugural CART race at
the Speedway will now be called the "Target Grand Prix of
Chicago presented by Shell" (Chicago Motor Speedway).
