DEALS: The NHL introduced Northern Telecom (Nortel) as
the official telecom equipment provider of the NHL and
NHLPA. Nortel and the NHL will utilize a marketing program
called "Powerplay" to introduce the company's 1-Meg modem to
key cities (NHL)....Clean Shower was named the title sponsor
of the '98 Senior PGA Tour event at Park Meadows Country
Club in UT, held July 31-August 2 (Clean Shower). In Salt
Lake, Kurt Kragthorpe reported that Clean Shower paid around
$500,000 for the rights and three days of ESPN commercial
time (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/30)....Ford and the NFL will co-
sponsor the NFL C.I.T.Y. Football Junior Player Development
Program, a series of free instructional football clinics
offered to inner-city boys in nine cities (NFL).
NOTES: SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Andy Bernstein reports
that Advantage Int'l "now has its own in-house research arm
after merging with The Marment Group." TMG will remain a
distinct business unit. Terms were not disclosed (SBJ, 6/29)
....Nike is restructuring its women's business, "promising a
new approach to product lines and presentation." Nike VP &
GM/U.S. Apparel Larry Miller said Nike has hired "a number
of designers exclusively for women's divisions and has
dedicated a sales force of 26 sales reps" to the assignment
(SGB, 6/22 issue)....In Chicago, George Lazarus reports that
Fila has narrowed its ad agency search to Leo Burnett or
Cliff Freeman & Partners (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/1).
