WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU, SPAM! TRIATHLETE GETS UNIQUE SPONSOR

          Triathlete Bob Brubaker will be sponsored by Spam when
     he competes in next month's Ironman Triathlon World
     Championships in HI, according to Cheryl Powell of the AKRON
     BEACON JOURNAL, who notes that the event will be televised
     nationally on NBC in November.  Brubaker said he eats Spam
     "at least once a week" and "when I don't have my Spam -- I
     crave it."  He recently e-mailed MN-based Hormel, maker of
     Spam, "to tell them about his devotion."  Spam "agreed to
     provide his gear," as well as apparel for his wife and eight
     friends who will make the trip to HI.  Hormel spokesperson
     Meri Harris, on Brubaker: "He's a great advocate for Spam. 
     And he's healthy, or he wouldn't be doing a triathlon, for
     crying out loud.  Spam kind of gets portrayed as a food
     that's not good to eat if you're a health nut."  Harris
     added, "We don't normally do sponsorships."  Ironman
     spokesperson Tracy Keanaaina: "Spam is a huge thing over in
     Hawaii. ... They eat it by the case" (BEACON JOURNAL, 9/17).