Sabres G Dominik Hasek has signed a sponsorship deal
with Louisville to wear the company's new line of
goaltending equipment, according to Jim Kelley of the
BUFFALO NEWS. But Kelley noted that the deal is reportedly
for "more than one season," a "curious development" since
Hasek has announced that this season is his last.
Meanwhile, Kelley added that Sabres C Michael Peca has
signed with Newport Sports Management (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/17).
NAMES & FACES: Nike is "working" on another national TV
commercial that will feature Vikings WR Randy Moss as a
youngster in Rand, WV (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/17).
....Lakers coach Phil Jackson is featured in a new ad for TD
Waterhouse financial services. A full-page ad ran in
yesterday's N.Y. TIMES (THE DAILY)....John Daly, on being
dropped as an endorser by Callaway: "We're all still family.
I mean I can call Mr. C [Callaway Chair Ely Callaway] and
talk to him. It's still a family, there's no doubt about
it. ... Something finally told me, 'Hey, money ... is not
always what's going to make somebody happy'" (ESPN,
10/15)....CNBC's Bill Griffeth profiled S.F.-based Blue
Marlin, a manufacturer of baseball caps of old Negro and
Latin league clubs. Griffeth: "[Blue Marlin Founder & CEO
Erik] Stuebe admits his products don't appeal to the average
sports enthusiast. For that reason he limits his
distributors to about a thousand high-end retailers
internationally, including Barneys New York, Bloomingdales
and Nordstrom." Stuebe: "We've been fortunate enough to
have some very high-profile celebrities and figures in the
music and entertainment industry wear our product, which
[gives] ... a lot more credibility than paid advertising."
Stuebe projects about $5M in sales this year and $10M next
year, and added, "Our goal in the intermediate term is to be
a $100 million brand" ("The Edge," CNBC, 10/15).
SHAMELESS SHILL: Fox's Steve Lyons, introducing the
contestant for the $2M Gillette Strike Zone Challenge promo
prior to Game Three of the Yankees-Red Sox ALCS: "Earlier
this morning, I woke up, and I shaved with my Mach 3 razor
by Gillette, and it got me such a close shave, [it] felt
like a Pedro Martinez fastball up-and-in" (Fox, 10/16).
