WNBA: BRANDWEEK's Terry Lefton reports that AmEx and GM
are "all but finished on setting new three-year deals" with
the WNBA. Meanwhile, the league is "trying to find a way to
reduce the Nike monopoly that has" Fila, Reebok and adidas
"reluctant to renew" their WNBA deals (BRANDWEEK, 9/20).
RACIN': SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein reports
that two months ago, a NASCAR deal with Burger King
"appeared to be all but sewn up," but McDonald's is "bidding
to renew" its sponsorship with the organization in an effort
to "keep out" its "rival" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/20).
...USA TODAY's Micheline Maynard wrote that "major auto
companies have been pouring money into" F-1 racing "like
never before," as Ford, Honda, Mercedes, BMW and Toyota are
all "expanding their presence" (USA TODAY, 9/20).
BACK TO THE FUTURISTIC: The shipment of futuristic
uniforms for last Saturday's Tigers-Red Sox game was delayed
by Hurricane Floyd. But many fans at Fenway Park "cheered"
when the announcement was made that the uniforms were not
available (Providence JOURNAL, 9/19). MLB VP/Design
Services Anne Occi, on the futuristic uniforms: "I knew how
controversial looking ahead would be. Baseball is so
steeped in tradition" (CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, 9/21).
