The Brazilian Federal Senate "approved a plan to create
a parliamentary commission that will investigate fraud
involving [soccer] clubs and their transfer of players to
foreign teams." As part of the investigation, the
commission "will look into" the ten-year sponsorship deal
offered by Nike to the Brazilian national soccer team.
Brazilian Senator Alvaro Dias: "There is information that
Nike has ... played a role in determining future opponents
for the Brazilian team" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/17)....The PGA
Tour's TX Open is "seeking a title sponsor for the fifth
time in 12 years, as Westin Resort & Hotels, which has been
the title sponsor since '98, will not renew its deal when it
expires after this year's tournament, being played this
weekend (S.A. EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/16)....A customer complaint
about the cereal in a box of Wheaties "caused" Cincinnati
Kroger stores to remove from shelves Wheaties boxes
featuring Reds CF Ken Griffey Jr. Kroger Group VP/Corporate
Affairs Lynn Marmer said that the complaint "did not involve
illness" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/17).
UNDER THE HELMET: NEWSDAY's Bob Glauber wrote that a
new helmet by Bike Athletic, which is being promoted as a
"lighter, more comfortable alternative" and is endorsed by
the NFLPA, has raised "serious concerns among some NFL
doctors and trainers who believe the helmet might contribute
to a greater incidence of concussions than conventional
helmets currently in use." Bike execs "are confident they
have created a safe and effective product," while some NFL
execs "counter that they believe the union may have a
financial relationship with Bike" (NEWSDAY, 9/17). FSN's
Chris Myers noted the helmets: "The league [is] telling us
... that their doctors have no evidence to suggest that the
new helmet will prevent concussions. We may have to take
issue with that" ("NFL This Morning," FSN, 9/17).
