IT'S ALIEN TO US: The July issue of Bean Bag World
rated the "Alien Iverson" Meanie dolls -- issued during a
76ers promotional giveaway on April 16 -- as "the No. 1
beanbag doll of the summer." A doll recently sold on eBay
for $175 (Ted Taylor, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/19).
IN THE NEWS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Francine Pope
writes that Mattel's Hot Wheels "are generating fan buzz
this summer at several" MLB ballparks as teams begin
"looking for alternatives to traditional fan draws like 'Bat
Day' and 'Towel Night'" and the recent Beanie Babies
giveaways. Another "fan-pleaser": The "Home Run Heroes"
traveling exhibit, which displays the record-breaking HR
balls hit by Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa last season (WALL
STREET JOURNAL, 8/19)....ESPN's Suzy Kolber, on Rockies LF
Dante Bichette donning a "Turn Ahead The Clock" uniform for
the team's game against the Braves yesterday: "Let's hope he
plays better than he looks" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/18).
Chris Myers, on the futuristic uniforms: "The two teams
broke out those future uniforms, and that's more future than
we care to see" ("Primetime," FSN, 8/18)....Veryfine is the
presenting sponsor of the U.S. women's soccer team match vs.
Ireland at Foxboro Stadium on September 4 (THE DAILY).
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Valvoline's Catch the Action
Sweepstakes grand prize is tickets to the Rose Bowl, Fiesta
Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, with VIP accommodations and $25,000
in spending money. Consumers can enter the sweeps via
specially-marked Valvoline products, entry forms at retailer
or installer locations or by going on-line to valvoline.com
(Valvoline)....In N.Y., Richard Wilner writes that Turner
Broadcasting execs said the company "could expand" its
Heisman Trophy partnership role by "televising the star-
studded Heisman dinner by 2000." Wilner: "Such a move would
be an elbow to the ribs of rival ESPN, which has televised
the [award] ceremony for years and will do so again this
fall as it starts a new five-year deal" (N.Y. POST, 8/19).
ON TRACKS: Terrell Davis and Jake Plummer will be
featured on the hood of the TV Guide-sponsored Kevin Lepage
Ford during the Pepsi 400 at MI Speedway this weekend to
promote their appearance on the publication's August 28
cover. TV Guide will do 31 regional NFL covers (TV Guide).
