Schick announced its first-ever Rookie SpokesTeam as
part of its NBA partnership, which this year expands to
include the Schick Rookie Challenge and the Schick Rookie
Report. Hornets G Baron Davis, Bulls F Elton Brand,
Clippers F Lamar Odom, T'Wolves F Wally Szczerbiak and
Cavaliers G Andre Miller will all be campaign spokespersons.
Schick will make the Rookie Report, which will include
player info to appear in SI and on TNT's "Inside the NBA"
post-game show, the "centerpiece" of its effort (Schick).
NAMES: In Newark, David Schwab reports that NJ-based
telecom company IDT Corp. has introduced Pete Rose as its
new spokesperson. While the sponsorship is a "limited one,"
IDT "hopes to sign" Rose to a "longer-term deal" (Newark
STAR-LEDGER, 1/13)....GOLF WORLD's Geoff Russell cites "one
industry insider" who said that Nike "would like to have
more than a dozen" PGA Tour players using its ball this year
and "to get them it is offering well above the going market
rate." Paul Azinger, a "longtime Titleist staff member,"
has been offered $250,000 by Nike to play its ball (GOLF
WORLD, 1/14 issue)....In Chicago, Philip Hersh reports that
U.S. middle-distance runner Regina Jacobs, who is "coming
off her best season, ... entered this Olympic year without a
shoe contract." Jacobs, whose recently-expired seven-year
deal with Japan-based Mizuno was not renewed, is entered in
all five meets on USAT&F's Golden Spike Tour (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 1/13)....NBC's Jay Leno, on Braves P John Rocker:
"Even though he was forced to undergo psychological
treatment, he picked up an endorsement. I'm in the market,
and I saw this: John Rocker Special KKK Cereal" (NBC, 1/12).
CALENDAR BOYS: On ESPN's "NHL Cool Shots," Dan
Moriarity reported that artist Ron Boyd has created a
cartoon "superheroes' calendar" around Maple Leafs hockey
players. Among the players portrayed are Dimitri Yushkevich
as "The Tank," Tie Domi as "The Hulk," Steve Thomas as "The
Stump," Curtis Joseph as "Cujo," Mats Sundin as "Sunstar"
and Pat Quinn as "Mentor." Most of the proceeds from the
sale of the calendars is going to charity (ESPN, 1/12).
