The relationship between golf equipment manufacturers and
collegiate golf programs is examined in the latest GOLF SHOP
OPERATIONS PRO REPORT. While manufacturers cannot provide
equipment directly to players, they often heavily discount, or
give equipment to coaches, who then distribute it among players.
Manufacturers hope to get collegiate players hooked on their
equipment as a way to keep them outfitted once they join the PGA
Tour (Pete McDaniel, PRO REPORT, 10/13 issue)....Martina
Navratilova, on her endorsement clout: "You've got football
players who beat their wives or get caught drunk driving and they
still get endorsements, and I don't get them because I love
women" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/17)....The Magic has signed a long-
term deal with Entry Media to continue to provide Turnstile
Advertising at the Orlando Arena (Entry Media)....Black
Enterprise Magazine is pulling its golf and tennis tournament
from CA in response to recent state legislation opposing
affirmative action. The 1996 Black Enterprise/ Pepsi Golf &
Tennis Challenge will be moved from LaQuinta, CA, to Miami's
Doral Resort and Country Club. The event is estimated to
generate $2M for local business (Black Enterprise)....Terry
Cashman, the "Balladeer of Baseball" has released "Passin' it On:
America's Baseball Heritage in Song" on Sony Music's Legacy
Records. The album includes Cashman classics such as "Talkin'
Baseball (Willie, Mickey & the Duke)." (Sony Music)....Rawlings
will manufacture an official game ball for the World Series,
which will be available through Henway Sports & Specialties
(Henway Sports)....The CBA Chicago Rockers are using the tagline
"Excuse me Mr. Nicholson, that's my seat" in ads in Chicago print
media (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/18)....Nokia has introduced the
official limited-edition Cowboys Cellular phone, available
through Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems. Ads in the DALLAS
MORNING NEWS feature the tagline "Just think, in 4 months, it'll
have a Super Bowl ring" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/18)....The
Sports Authority "is apparently on the verge" of opening stores
in Canada (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 10/19)....Sega and Tokyo distributor
Softbank announced yesterday that a 50-50 venture between the two
companies will be based in Hayward, CA. The new company will
take over distribution responsibilities for Sega. A Japanese
business newspaper reported that Softbank is attempting to
purchase Ziff-Davis Publishing (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/19)....
Marketing havoc from David Letterman: A faux "Warning Labels"
segment on last night's "Late Show" said Gatorade has a warning
label that states the product "contains up to 5% alligator urine"
("Late Show," CBS, 10/18).
CLARFICATION: Business Week is the presenting sponsor of
the new Senior PGA Tour event scheduled for next February at the
TPC at Prestancia in Sarasota, FL. Advantage Int'l Marketing
reports the title sponsorship is still available.
