NBA DEALS: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Langdon
Brockinton reports that AT&T "cut a new multiyear NBA ad
deal" with Turner to title sponsor the NBA halftime report
on TNT/TBS' NBA telecasts, replacing Nike. Sources say AT&T
signed a four-year deal, "two years firm plus two option
years."...Also in SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, Josh Gotthelf
reports that Nike has signed Grizzlies' first-round pick
Mike Bibby and Pistons' first-round pick Bonzi Wells to
endorse Nike's Jordan Brand (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/28).
WILSON WANTS TO BE....YOUR SLEDGEHAMMER: In N.Y.,
Kimberly Stevens examined Wilson's new Hyper Sledge Hammer
tennis racquet made from Hyper Carbon. Stevens wrote that
the Hyper Sledge, the "lightest racquet ever" at 8.3 ounces,
"promises to blast past titanium models and become the power
racquet for weekend hackers." Tennis Magazine Equipment
Editor Bill Gray: "I recently had a senior player test it,
and he compared it to Viagra" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27)....EA
Sports outfitted Lennox Lewis with boxing shorts and his
corner men with shirts and hats during Lewis' successful
defense of his WBC title on Saturday (EA Sports).
