In Orlando, Tim Povtak reports that Magic G and Sprite
endorser Grant Hill "did a quick cover-up when he saw a
television camera in the locker room before the game filming
him as he walked past with a Gatorade in his hand." Hill
"quipped": "Wait for me to get my Sprite" (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
11/30)....In N.Y., Richard Sandomir looks at the marketing
potential for new Saints starting QB Aaron Brooks, who won
his first NFL game for the 8-4 Saints last week against the
Rams. On Monday, his agent Andre Colona was "talking to
companies in the New Orleans region" about signing Brooks.
On eBay auctions from November 9-19, Brooks' rookie trading
card was sold anywhere from $0.30 to $8.50. In the week
after he replaced QB Jeff Blake in mid game, one card sold
for $73. Since then, the cards have broken the $100
"barrier" four times, peaking at $162. Colona: "We mention
[to companies] that he's gone up from $2 to $150 to
substantiate that he's the hot guy" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/30).
...The Cubs will feature some of the team's greatest players
ever in a new exclusive set of Cubs cards celebrating the
50th anniversary of Topps. The cards will be handed out to
the first 30,000 Wrigley Field patrons on designated dates
and will not "be available elsewhere." Cubs VP/Marketing &
Broadcasting John McDonough: "We think the reaction will be
huge. The collector buzz has been enormous" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 11/29)....Magna Entertainment Chair Frank Stronach
took out a two-page ad in Saturday's Daily Racing Form
outlining his position on the NTRA. In the ad, Stronach
stated, "A properly constituted national organization could
help the thoroughbred industry develop a healthier economic
and regulatory environment" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 11/29).
