CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED AROUND FRANCIS; WILL IT CHANGE "TV IMAGE"?
The Grizzlies launched a newspaper ad campaign Sunday
around G Steve Francis, the team's No.1 draft pick, with the
theme, "Hold on to your seats," according to Grant Kerr of
the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The "nearly full-page ad" claims
that Francis is "an Allen Iverson-type player who
electrified every college arena he played in." Kerr noted
that Francis "reacted poorly" when the Grizzlies selected
him in last Wednesday's NBA Draft, and the "television image
of unhappy Francis is fresh in everyone's mind and the
Grizzlies are in the business of selling season tickets" for
the upcoming season. The ad also reads: "And just like his
new partner [G Mike Bibby], he'll soon discover what a
beautiful city he'll live in, what wild, roaring fans he'll
play for" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/5). Kerr writes that
Francis was "whisked in and out of" Vancouver for a visit
with the team last weekend, as club officials were
"concerned Francis would blow his cover and become a public-
relations nightmare" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/6).
|
