Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras was a guest on the
"Today" show this morning and was interviewed by (and later
played tennis with) NBC's Katie Couric. Couric unveiled to
Sampras and viewers the latest Wheaties box with his picture
on it, and she said that he is the first active tennis
player to be featured on the box since Chris Evert 13 years
ago. Sampras: "It's cool. I can show my kids this one day.
Chris Evert, Arnold Palmer and Tiger Woods have been on
there, and now I'm on there" ("Today," 7/11). Sampras is
featured in a Q&A in the N.Y. TIMES and says he still plays
with a Wilson Pro Staff, which is no longer made. Sampras,
on the model: "I have enough. I think Wilson has maybe
about 100 or so [models left]" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/11).
NO NEED TO BE COY, ROY: Tennis great Roy Emerson is
featured in a new Nike spot congratulating Sampras on
breaking Emerson's record of 12 Grand Slam titles by winning
Wimbledon on Sunday: "Pete, congratulations on breaking the
all-time Grand Slam record. For 32 years, I held that
record. Of course, that life for me is over. Pride: gone.
Reason to live: gone. Some say if I had your graphite
racket and fancy shoes, I'd have kicked your butt. Still,
there is one thing that gets me out of bed in the morning:
When you hit the Senior Circuit, you're mine." The 30-
second spot ran four times during the 2:20 broadcast of the
"Home Run Derby" on ESPN last night (THE DAILY).
CLARIFICATION: Nike's three- to five- year deal with
men's tennis player Lleyton Hewitt reported in yesterday's
issue is worth $1.5-2M annually (THE DAILY).
