MICKELSON DEAL: GOLF WORLD's Rosaforte & Sirak cite
sources as saying that Phil Mickelson is "about to sign a
five-year extension" to have Gaylord Sports Management
represent him. Under the deal, Mickelson would "become a
minority investor" in Gaylord Event Television, formerly
Jack Nicklaus Productions (GOLF WORLD, 4/14).
BASEBALL: An AD AGE editorial comments on MLB's
marketing strategy and states the league's "other 'pitchers'
-- in its marketing departments and at MLB and club
advertising agencies -- know they have their work cut out.
... Marketers who spoke out in our season opener review of
baseball's prospects last week were united on priority No.
1: the need to turn more young kids into recreational
players -- and fans" (AD AGE, 4/10 issue)....D'Backs P Brian
Anderson, on the Padres "sporting camouflage jerseys as a
salute to the Armed Forces" during today's game against the
D'Backs: "It's a nice gesture, I guess, in this day and age
of marketing." The move "marks the first time the Padres
will wear the specially designed jerseys as a twist to their
fifth annual Military Opening Day" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/13).
TENNIS: TENNIS WEEK's Richard Evans writes that while
"we were promised a new look" by ISL when it re-branded the
ATP Tour's Tennis Masters Series, "we haven't got it." The
Indian Wells event "looked a little different because it was
[played in] a brand new stadium," but the Ericsson Open "was
the same old drab faded green court with a faintly different
hue of green as a backdrop. ... Millions of dollars and a
zillion meetings later, all we have come up with is a bent
banana for a logo and the virtual absence of any signage for
the ATP Tour. ... When is someone going to stand up and do
something bold and exciting in our sport?" (TENNIS WEEK,
4/13)....Andre Agassi extended his endorsement deal with
Head racquets and will also endorse Penn balls. Agassi's
deal with Head/Penn is effective through 2003 and makes Penn
the official ball of the Agassi Foundation (T. WEEK, 4/13).
AGENCY NEWS: CGN Marketing & Creative Services was
named as agency of record for the Basketball Hall of Fame
(ADWEEK, 4/10 issue)....Sports and fitness Web site Asimba
named Omnicom Group's TBWA/Chiat/Day to handle its estimated
$20M marketing and ad campaign (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/13).
