Names In The News

Former IOC Marketing Dir MICHAEL PAYNE has penned “OLYMPIC TURNAROUND,” in which he reviews Nike’s ambush marketing during the ’96 Atlanta Olympics and the IOC’s response (THE DAILY).

MEETING OF THE MINDS: Microsoft co-Founder BILL GATES, Walt Disney CEO MICHAEL EISNER, Disney CEO-elect ROBERT IGER, News Corp. Chair & CEO RUPERT MURDOCH, NBA Commissioner DAVID STERN and Nike Chair PHIL KNIGHT are among those who attended Allen & Co.’s five-day media conference at Sun Valley Lodge in Sun Valley, Idaho (IDAHO MOUNTAIN EXPRESS, 7/8). Time Warner CEO DICK PARSONS, Viacom co-President & co-COO LES MOONVES and Microsoft co-Founder and Seahawks & Trail Blazers Owner PAUL ALLEN were also in attendance (AP, 7/9).

SWIMMING TO SUCCESS: Close to 75,000 tickets worth about C$5M have been sold for the two-week FINA WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS in Montreal, which opens Saturday, “less than halfway to the [C$11M] target.” However, organizers are counting on “heavy final week and walk-up sales.” Also, a FINA spokesperson said that C$8.5M in sponsorships has been collected, “just short of the [C$9M] goal.” The event was originally cancelled in January, but was reinstated February 10 after Montreal Mayor GERALD TREMBLAY guaranteed financing (CP, 7/12).

AWARD WINNERS: Steelers RB JEROME BETTIS was named the inaugural GOOD GUY AWARD winner at the PRO FOOTBALL WRITERS AWARDS. The award is given to someone with the NFL or a club for cooperation with writers. Panthers LB MARK FIELDS won the GEORGE HALAS AWARD, given for performance despite injury or off-field personal problems; Falcons GM RICH MCKAY won the HORRIGAN AWARD, given to a league or club official for professionalism with writers; and the Eagles PR department won the PETE ROZELLE AWARD for excellence (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/12).

HEALING: Washington Sports & Entertainment Chair ABE POLLIN underwent heart bypass surgery last Thursday in Cleveland. A spokesperson said that no complications arose from the surgery, and that he is currently recovering (WASHINGTON POST, 7/12).

PASSING: Former Stokely-Van Camp President & Chair ALFRED JEHU STOKELY died Sunday at the age of 89. Stokely began selling Gatorade as part of his family’s company in ’67 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 7/12).