NAMES & FACES: MA-based Winstanley Associates has
"crafted" a $1M TV campaign for "longtime client" Spalding's
indoor/outdoor basketball and has enlisted Lakers G Kobe
Bryant for two 30-second spots, which broke this week and
will run for six weeks during basketball programming on NBC,
ESPN and ESPN2 (ADWEEK, 11/22)....BRANDWEEK's Becky Ebenkamp
reports that K-Swiss will "funnel all of next year's ad
dollars -- $20[M] and its biggest buy yet -- behind its new"
Training line, due next spring, via a "trio" of 30-second
ads set to break in March. Minor League Baseball's Rookie
of the Year Mark Quinn, ATP Tour player Cecil Mamiit and
Clash D Jamie Clark appear in the ads (BRANDWEEK, 11/22).
DEALS & DOLLARS: Since its acquisition of Chicago-based
Ameritech, SBC Communications is "significantly downsizing
its once-sizable sports marketing department," and about 35
employees involved in sports marketing at both entities are
"expected to lose their jobs." The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's
John Lombardo reports that the telecom firm is shifting its
focus from sponsorships of pro sports to the collegiate
level. Dir of Ameritech's Sports Marketing Division Brian
Fitzgerald, noting the fragmented telecom category in pro
sports: "You buy at a premium, but you're not getting
exclusivity" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/22 issue)....TX-
based Team Mouse has signed its second licensing agreement
with the NFL this year in becoming a Super Bowl licensee.
The Super Bowl deal extends through the first quarter of
2000 and includes mouse pads, wrist pads, screensavers,
computer carrying case, CD wallets, coasters and kitchen
accessories (Team Mouse).....KY-based Hallway Feeds has
become the Official Feed Supplier of the NTRA (NTRA).
...Asimba, a Web site "for people pursuing an 'active
lifestyle,' is still looking for its first full-service ad
agency to handle" its $20-30M account. Former Fox Sports
Net VP/Marketing Kurt Schneider was named President & CEO of
Asimba in October (AD AGE, 11/22 issue).
