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PGA Tour Honors Arnold Palmer With Full-Page Ad As Tributes Continue To Roll In

The PGA Tour today took out a full-page ad in USA Today to honor Arnold Palmer, who died Sunday at the age of 87. The ad shows a black-and-white photo of Palmer from his playing days with the words "Thank You" posted at the bottom. The logos for the PGA Tour and the Arnie's Army Charitable Foundation also appear in black and white. Meanwhile, Palmer will appear on the national cover of next week's SI (Red Sox DH David Ortiz will appear on a regional cover) under the header, "King Of Kings." This will mark the 12th time Palmer will grace the magazine's cover (THE DAILY). 

MARKETING PIONEER: Remembrances continue to pour in, with the N.Y. TIMES' David Gelles writing for "all his success on the golf course," Palmer’s most enduring influence "may be on the multibillion-dollar sports marketing industry." Palmer "created the template for the modern entrepreneurial athlete." A "ubiquitous pitchman for more than a half-century, he hawked nearly 50 products and services, from Johnston & Murphy shoes to Ketel One vodka, transforming the celebrity endorsement from a novelty to an industry." At the same time, Palmer "carefully cultivated his personal brand, forming his own company, creating a logo, selling products and equipment adorned with his signature, and paving the way for modern stars with diverse business interests." IMG Vice Chair and Palmer's longtime agent Alastair Johnston said, "He established the sports marketing industry as we knew it. It became a much more sophisticated exercise. It became a real business with real money" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27). CBS' Jim Axelrod noted Palmer "had a royal touch in business, building a $700 million fortune" ("Evening News," CBS, 9/26). On Long Island, Jeff Willliams notes through late IMG Founder Mark McCormack and the "founding of his own corporation, Palmer established himself as the ultimate brand in sports." Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky said, "I can tell you Arnold Palmer is the man who created the market for athletes to endorse cars, clothes, hockey sticks, whatever" (NEWSDAY, 9/27). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said, "He not only started modern golf as we know it, but the modern celebrity athlete endorser" ("PTI," ESPN, 9/26). Golf Channel's George Savaricas said after Palmer's playing days were over, he was able to be as "profitable and successful as he was, or even more so, than when he was an A-list golfer." Savaricas: "It’s something that the modern players, A, have to be thankful for and, B, can still learn lessons from" ("NewsHour," PBS, 9/26). The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone called Palmer one of the "most important athletes of all-time," as his brand will "live in perpetuity." Blackistone: "He begat Michael Jordan, and Michael Jordan begat someone like LeBron James" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 9/26). 

DETAILS ON PUBLIC CEREMONY: In Pittsburgh, Elizabeth Bloom reports a public commemoration will be held at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn., on Oct. 4, and a private funeral and cremation will take place this Thursday. Palmer's representatives are "still arranging details about the public ceremony." The schedule "will allow the Ryder Cup to go ahead this weekend without interruption" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/27). In Orlando, Iliana Romero notes the two teams at the Ryder Cup are "expected to salute to Palmer during the event" at Hazeltine National Golf Club (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/27).

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