COMING OF AGE: SOME SAY COMPANIES WILL FLOCK TO WILLIAMSES

          Venus and Serena Williams "figure to make a quantum
     leap in their endorsement opportunities very shortly,"
     according to Edward Moran of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS,
     who writes that "now that [the sisters] are adults," many of
     the companies that are "attracted to tennis players" will be
     "hoping to sign them."  Previously, some marketers felt the
     sisters were "too young to represent" certain companies, but 
     Burns Sports President Bob Williams said the Williams
     sisters "have the potential to market a wide variety of
     services and products.  If they continue going at this pace
     and win a major here and there, they will have a lot of
     opportunities to chose from.  The question is what they will
     do, will they be open to deals?  Up until now they have been
     very selective.  Now that they have both won major
     championships, marketers will be coming at them with
     individual opportunities and opportunities to work
     together."  The Bonham Group Dir of Creative Services Don
     Hinchey: "This is a very attractive story line, one that
     shows that hard work channeled in the right direction can
     pay off.  The opportunities for them are endless."  Moran
     writes "another possible turnoff for companies in the past"
     could have been the girls' father, Richard.  But Hinchey
     said, "No matter how you feel about Richard Williams, you
     have to admire the fact that he has two daughters who have
     appeared in the finals at Wimbledon" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY
     NEWS, 7/11).  But CNNSI.com's Jon Wertheim wrote that
     Richard Williams is "well on his way to becoming tennis'
     answer to Dennis Rodman" (CNNSI./com, 7/10).
          A MAJOR JUMP START: In St. Paul, Bob Sansevere calls
     the Williams sisters "young, attractive, charismatic. ...
     The success of a couple of African-American sisters could
     help the sport's popularity return to the peak levels it
     reached in the early 1970s" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/11). 
          NEW CAMPAIGN: In Chicago, Elliott Harris reports that
     the "Got Milk?" campaign has "updated the text" of the ad
     featuring the Williams sisters (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/11). 
     The ad now reads, "Make ours doubles.  What's the best way
     to toast my sister's victory?  With Milk" (THE DAILY).