Nike is "looking to cash in on" its $40M investment in
Tiger Woods "by putting its increasingly ubiquitous mark on
a Tiger-branded CD-ROM golf game," according to Terry Lefton
of BRANDWEEK. It would be the first time Nike "would extend
its swoosh into software." Woods' agent, Hughes Norton,
"wouldn't comment on the deal, but insiders said Nike would
pass through the rights to a third party, likely Microsoft,"
with the game "due out for holidays." In other news, AmEx
"will break its first" Woods TV ads later this month, likely
during" the U.S. Open on CBS. One spot features Tiger's
father, Earl, for AmEx's Financial Advisors plan. Among
recent "rejected" deals by Woods were a $1M-annual pact to
play with a graphite shaft on his driver; and a multi-
million dollar Jockey underwear deal (BRANDWEEK, 8/18).
TIGER'S TRAINER: IMG's Norton was profiled by David
Adams in Sunday's AKRON BEACON JOURNAL. Adams: "Norton is a
fast talker in an industry of fast talkers. He is bright,
intense, straightforward, ultracompetitive and always
working the phone." Norton: "As Tiger said to me the other
day, he said 'You know, we're a great team, Hughes, because
we're both the best in the world at what we do.' ... I
certainly am, there's no question" (BEACON JOURNAL, 8/17).
