Pittsburgh-based PLB Sports, marketer of Flutie Flakes,
has "redesigned" the cereal's package, according to Sharon
Linstedt of the BUFFALO NEWS. The new "bright blue box"
features an "action shot" of Bills QB Doug Flutie and
includes a picture of Flutie's wife and children on the side
panels. PLB Sports Dir of Marketing Melissa Heher said the
original red box was labeled as a limited edition: "After
selling 1.1 million boxes, we decided to bring out a second
version to keep the momentum going." Flutie appeared on the
"The Rosie O'Donnell Show" yesterday, and O'Donnell had
requested "several hundred boxes of the cereal" to hand out
to audience members and donate to a N.Y. charity "in
connection" with Flutie's appearance (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/21).
GORE-Y DETAILS: After Vice President Al Gore delivered
a "fire-and-brimstone defense" of President Clinton at
Marine Midland Arena on Wednesday, even Clinton "couldn't
help but notice." Clinton, on Gore's enthusiasm: "I'll tell
you that in the room backstage, he had a quick hit of
chicken wings and Flutie Flakes" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/21).
COLLECTING ON CALLS: BUSINESS FIRST's Rick Maloney
reports that Flutie's "TV pitch" for MCI "will result in a
substantial gain" for the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for
Autism. Flutie's deal with MCI calls for 1% of the income
from the program to be donated to the foundation, with a
maximum donation of $300,000. But not only will the maximum
be met, meaning that MCI "would need to generate" $30M from
the program, the company "offered to extend the deal by up
to another" $100,000 (BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST, 1/18 issue).
