In N.Y., Stuart Elliot reports that GM is "sustaining"
losses of "more than" $75M a day during its labor dispute,
which has led it to "significantly curtail ad spending
across the board during June and July to save money." GM VP
& GM/Marketing & Advertising Philip Guarascio said that
those cuts "have been extended through August," and added
that the media "have been super-cooperative" as the company
has pulled-back ad plans (N.Y. TIMES, 7/21)....NJ-based
Fleer named Nets F Keith Van Horn as the official
spokesperson for its Fleer NBA Trading Cards through the
'99-2000 season (Fleer)....CT-based Lincoln Financial Group
has signed a two-year deal as title sponsor of the Lincoln
Financial Group Connecticut Classic, an NBA-sanctioned
charity game which benefits Bucks F Ray Allen's Ray of Hope
Foundation. Support sponsors for this year's game,
scheduled for August 15, include Coca-Cola, Farmington
Savings Bank, Fleer/SkyBox and Schick (LFGCC).
PUMA'S ZEITZ IN SGB: Puma AG CEO Jochen Zeitz was
interviewed by SPORTING GOODS BUSINESS. Zeitz, who also
serves as CEO of Puma North America, asked if Puma's
alliance with New Regency means the brand's off-field
presence in films and other programming will increase: "It
does, although product placement is something that we don't
want to force on anybody. ... Leonardo DiCaprio is one
perfect example. He loves Puma, he loves our hats, and he
is wearing our product. There is no financial engagement
whatsoever." On Puma's first TV campaign in a decade: "This
year the emphasis is on basketball and soccer. Hopefully
we'll be able to expand in the future" (SGB, 7/10).
