Facing "criticism" from Coors distributors who felt the
company's "sole reliance" on John Elway in Original Coors
ads was "too limiting," Coors Brewing Senior VP/Marketing
Bill Weintraub unveiled new TV spots via Foote, Cone &
Belding, Chicago, featuring Bill Russell, Bobby Hull, Willie
Mays and Joe Montana, "with Ahmad Rashad subbing for
narrator Dan Patrick in the Montana ad" (BRANDWEEK 3/13).
HE'S A ROCKETMAN? In Houston, Jonathan Feigen reports
that Rockets G Steve Francis, along with his "advisor and
confidant" Rock Newman and Rockets Dir of Media Services Tim
Frank, met with NBA Commissioner David Stern and other
league execs Wednesday. The group "spoke of Francis'
potential to represent the NBA around the world." Francis
promised "to be an ambassador for the league." Newman
noted Francis is "going to take a national tour with Reebok
in May" to launch his new shoe and the NBA "liked that. And
they loved that he's going to do an Asian tour. ... It's a
win-win situation for everybody" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/16).
HEROES' ENCORE: The 76ers will offer two giveaways
during upcoming games "related" to the team's comic book
giveaway last month (see THE DAILY, 2/17). The first 5,000
children attending tomorrow night's game against the Jazz
will receive an Alien All-Star Meanie Baby, a promo around G
Allen Iverson, and the team will run a "Matt Tiger" beanie
toy giveaway around C Matt Geiger at next Friday's game
against the Celtics (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 3/16).
BRING BACK THE 21ST CENTURY UNIS? Century 21 Senior
VP/Marketing Steve Savino told Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK
that the company, currently in the second year of its MLB
partnership, is "in the process of extending the deal by at
least another three years." Lefton reports that the
company-sponsored HR Derby "will be reprised" on ESPN and
Century 21 will also title sponsor the "going, going, gone"
segment on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight," which chronicles the
day's HRs. Additionally, Century 21's NHRA sponsorship
"will be leveraged with a contest offering the circuit's
official pace car as grand prize." The company will also
"revisit" its LPGA tie with a promo offering a trip for two
to the Solheim Cup in Scotland (BRANDWEEK, 3/13 issue).
