Many observers "claim the cash paid by sportswear
companies and broadcasters has given them unprecedented
influence" over top int'l soccer players and teams,
according to CNNfn's Charles Hodson, who noted that Nike,
which paid $250M to sponsor the Brazilian national team,
"faced criticism" at the '98 World Cup in France "over its
alleged control over team selection, an accusation Nike
denies." Nike UK's Yvonne Iwaniuk: "It's a perception that
companies, such as Nike, have tremendous control over
athletes and players. We really do not. We sign a general
contract with them, and ... it's always up to them ... to
determine whether they want to make [appearances on behalf
of Nike]." But Four Four Two Editor Michael Hamm said, "Say
there's a club in Italy whose kit is manufactured by one of
the big kit manufacturers, Nike or adidas. Then Nike or
adidas will hold a lot of influence in that club. There's
no doubt that they can talk to those clubs about where they
might be going. I wouldn't ... suggest that Nike or adidas
can get players transferred, but I think the kit
manufacturers can place ideas in the heads of both players
and the clubs" ("Biz Buzz," CNNfn, 6/9).
THE BARE FACTS: In Miami, Cynthia Corzo reported that a
new 30-second FedEx TV spot, via BBDO, Miami, features World
Cup soccer players "in the buff." The ad, which uses the
tag, "The World on Time. Guaranteed," will air through July
15 in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and shows a
group of "ill-fated players helplessly squaring off against
their competitors" without uniforms, as their uniforms were
not shipped via FedEx. TV viewers will see the spots on "10
to 12 of the top-rated local TV and cable stations in each
of the four markets targeted" (MIAMI HERALD, 6/12).
