While the off-the-field trouble incurred by several NFL
players this off-season "pecks away at the public's
perception of the country's most popular sport, it doesn't
seem to have dissuaded fans or companies in the business of
marketing" the league's personalities, according to USA
TODAY's Larry Weisman. Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports
President Ty Ballou, whose company markets signature lines
of food products endorsed by athletes, said players' legal
problems haven't "diminished our efforts with the NFL.
We'll tread a little bit more cautiously, but it's not going
to diminish what we do." Ballou added when he meets with
vendors, he finds "zero resistance. There hasn't been
anything negative." Campbell's Chunky Soup "plans to
continue" ads featuring NFL players and its Tackling Hunger
initiative. Campbell's Brand Communications Manager Marc
Boston: "Going forward? Certainly. Any concern is
overridden by the good that gets done" (USA TODAY, 5/16).
KNIGHT FALL? In Indianapolis, Barb Albert reports that
the "controversy" around alleged abuse by IN Univ. men's
basketball coach Bobby Knight has had "mixed results for
vendors." Treasure Me Dolls co-Owner Tom Alberts, who in
'96 began selling 29-inch porcelain Knight dolls that cost
$545, said, "During the last 10 days or so, the interest in
the doll has rapidly picked up. There still is a tremendous
number of loyalists out there" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/16).
