Names & Faces: Artest Landing On Covers Across The U.S.

Artest Garnering National Attention

In Indianapolis, Mark Montieth noted that Pacers F Ron Artest has appeared recently on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Penthouse. Artest was also teased on GQ’s cover last spring. Since last November’s brawl in Detroit, Artest has been interviewed by “newspapers from all over the country,” including USA Today, and he has been featured on several national TV programs with a profile on HBO’s “Real Sports” airing tonight. Artest “rarely turns down requests” for interviews (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/30). SI’s Jon Wertheim reports the shoe company with which Artest “is currently negotiating is an obscure German outfit called Kix” (SI, 10/24 issue). LA Gear voided its contract with Artest after the brawl (THE DAILY).

BOOTED: Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall, after losing his Reebok contract for wearing Nike shoes on ABC’s “MNF,” said that his agent, Joel Segal, “has had conversations with Nike about an endorsement deal, but nothing is final.” Hall is currently wearing Reebok shoes during practice (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/1).

ACTION HEROES: BRANDWEEK’s Barry Janoff reports the $100 Tony Hawk HelmetCam from Digital Blue will be available later this month. The half-pound digital video camera, which can be strapped to any safety helmet and “allows easy access to controls while in motion,” will “target teens and young- adult skateboarders, BMXers, snowboarders and others who want to shoot their own action videos.” Hawk will be featured in a TV spot this week with footage he shot using the camera (BRANDWEEK, 10/31 issue).