CHAMPION CITES NBA LOCKOUT IN JOB LAYOFFS AND OTHER CUTS

          NC-based Champion Products, a division of Sara Lee,
     "has laid off 12 people" in Winston-Salem, NC, and "will cut
     48 more jobs" there over the next several months, according
     to Eleni Chamis of the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL.  The company,
     which blamed "soft sales and increased competition" for the
     layoffs, said that it "hopes to find work" for some of the
     employees in other Sara Lee divisions.  Chamis writes that
     the company, an official supplier to the NBA, "was also
     hurt" by the lockout.  After announcing the cuts, Champion
     spokesperson Peggy Carter said that the company will "focus
     on its core athletic business of fleece, jersey and mesh
     products and will cut back on the number of products it
     offers in outerwear" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 2/12).