Dream Teamer/Nike endorser Scottie Pippen, on being required
to sign a code of conduct containing a pledge not to hide any
logos on official Olympic uniforms (which are made by Champion):
"As players, it's just something that we're going to have to
evaluate. We have to do the right thing to protect ourself.
This is a business and we endorse big companies, so we have to
honor our contracts" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 4/24)....The deli-
style restaurant chain, Tommy Lasorda's Dugout, has signed a
letter of intent to merge with Food Concepts Inc., formerly known
as Savon Coffee Lover's Coffee of Ft. Lauderdale (Tommy Lasorda's
Dugout)....Among the NHL's 26 teams, the Lightning rank 17th in
merchandise sales, but Lightning Dir of Merchandise Kevin Murphy
notes sales for April have quadrupled compared with April and
March '95 (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/25). An NHL release notes USA Hockey
reports ice hockey participation in FL is up 173% from '91-92 to
'94-95 (NHL)....The Gazelle Group has announced the sale of
rotating signage to Villanova and Rutgers. Units at both schools
(8'x8' at Villanova and 7'x7' at Rutgers) will be attached to
auxiliary scoreboards (Gazelle)....Fueled by record beer sales
and strong theme park attendance, Anheuser-Busch achieved record
sales and earnings for the first quarter '96. Gross sales
increased $62M and net sales increased $54M compared to the same
period in '95 (A-B). A-B stock was up 1 3/4 to 69 yesterday on
the news ("Moneyline," CNN, 4/24). A-B Chair August Busch III
told shareholders Wednesday the brewer's goal is to seize 60% of
the U.S. beer market by 2005 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH,
4/25)....Dick's Clothing and Sporting Goods Inc., a Pittsburgh-
based chain of 43 sports superstores, will open four stores in
metro Detroit this August (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/25)....Olympic
ski champion Alberto Tomba will throw out the first pitch at
Yankee Stadium tonight as part of his promotional tour for
Barilla Pasta (WASHINGTON POST, 4/25). Tomba appeared live on
"CBS This Morning" today. He would not say whether or not he is
retiring. He promised an announcement within a month (CBS,
4/25)....The Gatorade Guru -- who asks Michael Jordan "What is
the meaning of life?" in their ad -- will be at Orlando's Church
Street Market prior to the Magic's first game of the playoffs as
part of a Gatorade promotion. From Gatorade Shoe Relays to
"Sweat It Out" shooting contests, Magic Fans will have an
opportunity to win playoff tickets (Magic)....Disney stock was
down 1 1/8 to 60 5/8 yesterday after being downgraded from a
strong buy to neutral by Alex Brown brokerage ("NBR," PBS, 4/24).
