Wayne Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
yesterday and during a press conference in Toronto, he was
asked whether he was "getting a little tired" of making more
public appearances "than ever before" and signing "more
endorsements." Gretzky responded, "That's who I am. That's
my life" (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/23). In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich
notes the extensive amount of TV coverage on Gretzky's Hall
induction: "The fact that people still want to see him --
and if they didn't, TV networks wouldn't be covering his
every move -- is a testament to how remarkably likeable he
actually is" (TORONTO STAR, 11/23). A-B's Bud Light brand
congratulates Gretzky on his Hall of Fame honor in a full-
page color ad in USA TODAY (11/23). During the induction
ceremonies, Hall of Fame Chair Bill Hay thanked sponsors
Molson, Kodak, Royal Canadian Mint, Ford and "all our
distinguished sponsors." The newest interactive attraction
at the Hockey Hall of Fame is the McDonald's Shootout where
participants can take shots against HOF goalies. A brief
promo for the HOF's Web site at www.hhof.com ran during
ESPN2's broadcast of the event (ESPN2, 11/22).
WHAT'D YOU EXPECT HIM TO BE DRINKING? John Elway was
interviewed by ABC's Al Michaels during halftime of last
night's Raiders-Broncos "MNF" game. Elway: "I've got some
real exciting things that I'm looking at. I've got an e-
commerce site coming out in a couple of weeks that we're
real excited about" (see THE DAILY, 8/4). Michaels: "How
important is it for you to get back to football -- either as
a coach or an executive or in broadcasting -- in the
future?" Elway: "I think in the long run, that's something
I want to do. I've been in football my whole life. ...
That's what I know. That's what I'm best at. But I'm going
to take a couple of years away from it for now and hopefully
down the line I can get back into it, because that's where
my love is." Elway was shown in a luxury box with a bottle
of Coors Light during the fourth quarter. Michaels: "Well,
Janet [Elway] will be driving home tonight." ABC's Boomer
Esiason: "At least we got him with the right product."
Michaels: "We hope" ("MNF," ABC, 11/22).
NOTES: Houston ad agency BRSG has signed Astros P Jose
Lima to be a spokesperson for Casa Ole Restaurant. The
agency "completed filming of a new commercial" in Pasadena,
TX, where Lima lives and Casa Ole opened a new restaurant
(HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/22 issue)....In St. Paul,
Charley Walters writes that T'Wolves F Wally Szczerbiak
"still hasn't accepted a million-dollar endorsement offer"
from Tommy Hilfiger "because he wants to focus on the
season" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/23)....Titleist takes
out a full page color ad in USA TODAY congratulating Tiger
Woods on being named the '99 PGA Player of the Year. The ad
tag reads, "We can't wait for next year" (THE DAILY).
