LICENSEES: MA-based hat retailer Lids unveiled The
Pennant, an exclusive line of NCAA Football headwear
manufactured by Zephyr Graphics. The all black cap features
the NCAA Football logo on the back and marks the first
cross-licensing program for NCAA Football and the first
licensing deal for NCAA Football in the apparel category
(Lids)....In Pittsburgh, Kelly Burgess profiles WA-based
online store Seattle Traders. The company specializes in
outdoor rec products and makes the officially licensed
Gridiron Tailgate Barbecue Grill and NFL Tailgater 14-inch
Kettle Grill, both of which have "huge helmets for lids."
The company sells 19 products related to tailgating, and
"most can be ordered with the logos of NFL teams, college
teams or NASCAR drivers" (POST-GAZETTE, 9/23)....TX-based
Team Mouse "will produce and distribute computer accessories
and home products" featuring the CART logo as well as
drivers and teams (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/23).
DEALS: Countrywide Home Loans has extended its
sponsorship of the Senior PGA Tour's Tradition in a deal
through 2002 that includes title sponsorship of the event.
Beginning next year, the tournament will be called The
Countrywide Tradition (Senior PGA Tour)....Motorola has
provided NFL coaches with the company's pagers to "alert
referees that they want to challenge a call" under the new
replay system. The coaches are also using wireless headsets
that have been "redesigned for greater comfort" (WIRED,
9/20)....Phillips 66 increased its partnership with the Big
South Conference to the Corporate Partner level for the '99-
2000 basketball season (Big South)....Zandl Group VP Richard
Leonard said Tommy Hilfiger has "become a mass brand. He's
covered his bases." Leonard: "He's really everywhere from
sponsoring the Rolling Stones ... to 16-year old pop singer
Britney Spears. ... He also has tie-ins with surf camps and
NASCAR racing. He's taking a fairly populist approach"
(REUTERS, 9/22)....In a global brand survey of 250 nationals
in the U.K., U.S., Germany, Japan and Brazil conducted by
The Sterling Group, the top three brands were found to be
Sony, for "quality of performance," Nike, for "shoe style
and advertising," and Coca-Cola, for "taste and
refreshment." Sterling has handled multi-country branding
assignments for Nike, among other corporations (Sterling).
