BASKETBALL: New Univ. of Memphis men's basketball coach
John Calipari signed a multiyear endorsement contract with
GA-based wireless phone company Powertel for an "undisclosed
sum." The deal marks the "first such endorsement deal
signed by" Calipari, who said that he "would limit his local
endorsements to between 'three and four.'" Calipari:
"You're not going to see me (on TV) painting houses or
sitting in a hot tub" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/28).
...While "leadership" of SAG and AFTRA "may have forgiven"
Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal for appearing in a Disney
commercial during their strike, "many of the unions' members
have not," according to David Robb of the HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER. During a meeting Tuesday of voice-over performers,
"several union members expressed their desire to speak about
the O'Neal affair, but the moderator said there would be no
discussion of the matter" because O'Neal has "'apologized'
and the case was closed" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/29).
NASCAR: ESPN2's John Kernan reported Robert Yates
Racing and UPS will announce today that UPS is "joining the
28 team as an associate sponsor for the rest of this
season." UPS decals will be on Ricky Rudd's car starting
with practice Thursday for the Pepsi 400 at the Daytona
Int'l Speedway. Kernan added that "speculation " is that
the UPS sponsorship will "move over to Yates No. 88 car next
season as Dale Jarrett's primary sponsor" ("RPM 2Night,"
6/28)....Universal Pictures will have its Rocky and
Bullwinkle characters on the No. 13 Ford of driver Robby
Gordon for Saturday's Pepsi 400 to coincide with tomorrow's
release of "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle." The
villainous characters Boris and Natasha will also be
featured on the car this weekend (Universal Studios).
JAMES' TOWN: Colts RB Edgerrin James was at Reebok
headquarters in Canton, MA, yesterday, "testing out" the
company's new sneakers and clothes (BOSTON HERALD, 6/29).
