Golfer David Duval has been wearing Nike golf shoes
"with the Swoosh logos scratched out, even though" he is a
Titleist/FootJoy endorser, according to Geoff Russell of
GOLF WORLD. But a FootJoy spokesperson said that the
"change was only temporary" while the company "attempted to
build Duval a shoe more to his liking." The spokesperson:
"We were trying to fit him into a $200-300 pair of shoes,
and he wanted a $50 pair" (GOLF WORLD, 10/27 issue)....
Australian golfer Aaron Baddeley, who is "expected" to play
his first event as a pro at next month's Visa-Taiheiyo
Masters in Japan, is "reportedly negotiating" an endorsement
deal with Nike (GOLF WORLD, 10/27 issue).
ONLINE SKATING: Russian-language Internet portal,
Port.ru, has signed a multi-year deal to sponsor Russian
tennis player Marat Safin. Under the deal, Safin will wear
a Port.ru patch on his sleeve, as well as make personal
appearances at the company's corporate events and serve as a
spokesperson for it in Russia (Port.ru).
HAS THE WELLS RUN DRY? ESPN2's John Kernan reported
this week's CART race, the Marlboro 500 presented by Toyota,
will "be the last for the PPI Motorsports team" in the
series. Kernan: "Sources say owner Cal Wells has decided to
close up shop after this season because the team has failed
to secure sponsorship for next year." Kernan called it a
"shame the team is going away because it was slowly but
surely working its way up the ladder to become one of the
Series' top teams" (ESPN2, 10/25).
