England Basketball has signed a deal with the NBA
allowing its merchandising division to sell NBA- and WNBA-
branded uniforms to basketball clubs and schools throughout
the U.K. via its mail-order catalogue. The deal marks the
first-ever commercial marketing partnership between the NBA
and a European basketball federation (England Basketball).
NAMES & FACES: In Rochester, Bob Matthews wrote that
'98 Playboy Playmate of the Year Karen McDougal "reportedly
has been hired as an XFL cheerleader" and will be featured
in ads for the league airing on NBC beginning this month
(ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/12)....U.S. Gold medal-
winning swimmer Tom Dolan has joined STEPonline.com, a new
nationwide online drug abuse prevention program, and will
help with the launch of the Everyone Has Their Own Everest
campaign. The campaign centers on Ben Webster's May 2001
Mt. Everest climb (STEPonline.com).
RACIN': In CA, Evan Tuchinsky writes that TBS' "No
Brakes" coverage of the NASCAR Winston Cup UAW-GM Quality
500 last Sunday "struck a positive chord, with Turner
getting an approval rating of nearly" 91%, between surveys
on NASCAR.com and its own phone line and Web site. One
change "viewers requested is an update graphic including
more than the top three drivers" (Riverside PRESS-
ENTERPRISE, 10/13)....NHRA driver Mike Dunn, on the new
Daryll Gwynn/George Steinbrenner Racing Team: "It kind of
surprised me when we got the call -- just the fact they
knew who Daryll and I were and were such big fans of the
NHRA. I think it's great for the sport. Steinbrenner
obviously sees something here. NHRA has done a great job in
the last year trying to put the package together with the
new rules changes and the TV package" (ESPN2, 10/12).
NHL TEAM DEALS: The Blue Jackets have signed a multi-
year marketing deal with Wendy's and Tim Hortons
restaurants. Wendy's gets exclusive rights in the hamburger
and chicken categories, while Tim Hortons gets rights in the
coffee and donut categories (Blue Jackets)....Maple Leaf
Sports & Entertainment has named Thornley Fallis
Communications as its PR agency of record (Thornley
Fallis)....iPrint has signed on to provide promotional
printing for the Red Wings (iPrint).
