Redskins merchandise sales have "hit a new peak in
recent days," and "longtime" DC-area retailers say that
"spending on Redskins gear is now higher than at any time in
team history," according to Eric Fisher of the WASHINGTON
TIMES. NFLP says that Redskins sales are up 25% nationally
from the '98 season and that the team "may soon crack into"
the NFL's top ten selling teams. Retailer Jim Halsey, on
Redskins merchandise sales: "This is as good as it's ever
been, and maybe as good as it ever will be." Fisher reports
that while team jerseys and hats "remain the top sellers,
... tailgating gear like chairs, grills and car flags have
posted mammoth increases in sales locally." Retailer Margie
Day said, "The tailgating stuff is what's really driving the
difference for us" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/11).
GOD-FEARING FELINES: In Jacksonville, Bruce Bryant-
Friedland reports that in a "promotional effort combining
Bible Belt piety with Jacksonville's football mania,"
Jaguars DE Joel Smeenge is "lending his name" to a T-shirt -
- which features the slogan "God Fearing Soldiers" -- that
"seeks to brand his team with his religious imprimatur."
MD-based Xcellent Ventures exec Fred Fillah, who originated
the T-shirt phrase, said, "Hopefully, it is a nickname we
can get this team to adopt and get this country to adopt."
Bryant-Friedland notes that, in addition to Smeenge, a
"number of the Jaguars high-profile players," including QB
Mark Brunell and OT Tony Boselli, are "devout Christians."
Part of the proceeds from the T-shirt sales will support The
Lorenz-Smeenge Foundation for Pediatric Facial Disorders.
The T-shirt, which will retail for about $18, does not
include the Jaguars logo (FL TIMES-UNION, 1/11).
