AFTER QUARTER LOSS, CONVERSE REACHES FOR MORE THAN ALL-STARS

          After reporting a third-quarter loss of $4.3M, Converse
     said that it will broaden its product line, "adding sneakers
     for skateboarders and more shoes for women," according to
     USA TODAY's Melanie Wells.  Sales of Converse basketball
     shoes were off 60.6% and net sales were off 35.8% from the
     same quarter last year.  Although Converse said that the NBA
     lockout is not to blame for the sales drop, "product
     diversification" will make it "less dependent" on basketball
     shoes.  Converse "cites a glut of sneakers on the market"
     for the declining sales.  Sporting Goods Intelligence Editor
     John Horan said, "They've actually done some things with
     their product that are interesting and creative, but they
     still have hung their hat on a category [basketball] that's
     under a lot of pressure" (USA TODAY, 11/10).