Former athletes, who "haven't been heard from in
years," are now "jumping onto the Web," according to David
Sweet of the WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE, who reported
that cyberspace "lets them sell memorabilia, promote their
business ties, reminisce about their careers and remind
people they're alive." Broadband Sports has created
LegendsDirect.com, which has introduced more than two dozen
Web sites for retired players. Broadband execs said revenue
from memorabilia sales on site "is split" between Broadband
and the athletes (WALL STREET JOURNAL INTERACTIVE, 7/13).
WEBBING OUT: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Bill King
writes in a front-page report that "many highly skilled
professionals" in the sports industry have "abandoned the
world of sports for the lure of the high-tech world, with
its start-up spirit and its stock options. And even though,
for some, the leap into the future may have been premature,
the impact on the industry has been significant." King
notes that the NFL, NBA and NHL "all have lost senior staff
members" to dot.coms, and while MLB has "been left virtually
unscathed at the league level," its teams have been
"targets" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/10 issue).
NOTES: Boston-based StarGames and Chicago-based
Thunderbolt Capital have officially launched
www.sportsinstruction.com (See THE DAILY, 7/5). Users can
currently register for the site and preview a list of the
site's contributors (Sportsinstruction.com)....WNBA.com is
currently hosting the first ever WNBA online auction, with
proceeds benefiting the National Alliance of Breast Cancer
Organizations. Among the prizes up for bid through July 21
are games of HORSE with WNBA players; Meet and Greet passes
to an upcoming Christina Aguilera concert; and a 2000 WNBA
All-Star Game VIP package (WNBA.com).
