SPONSORS DROP SCHNYDER: Three Swiss-based companies --
car distributor AMAG, airline Crossair and IT firm Asetra --
are "cancelling" their endorsement deals with WTA Tour
player Patty Schnyder with "immediate effect," due to the
20-year-old Swiss' involvement with German fitness trainer
Rainer Harnecker (AP, 4/15).
MADISON AVENUE IS NOT QUITE ALLENTOWN: Univ. of OR
Warsaw Sports Marketing Center Exec Dir Rick Burton, on the
lack of endorsement deals for 76ers G Allen Iverson:
"Madison Avenue isn't ready for cornrows. That's racist,
but that's the way Madison Avenue tends to be, because they
have to sell to a broader audience" (AP, 4/16).
DEALS: MacGregor will produce a sand wedge
commemorating Jose Maria Olazabal's win at The Masters (USA
TODAY, 4/16)....Boxer Roy Jones, Jr., who was announced as a
Jordan Brand endorser yesterday, will wear boxing shoes
bearing the "Jumpman" logo, as well as Jordan Brand apparel
for his June 5 fight in Biloxi, MS (Jordan Brand).
RAPTORS CAMPAIGN A HIT: In Toronto, John Montesano
compliments the Raptors' new ad campaign, which deals "head-
on with their playing second-class citizens" to the Maple
Leafs in Toronto. He calls them, "effective commercials,
but their message did more than just encourage me to
consider a trip to the arena to catch a game for the very
first time. It allowed me to rethink the players on this
team and their place in our community" (TORONTO STAR, 4/16).
NOTE: Dodge will sponsor the Comcast SportsNet Flyers'
PostGame Live show throughout the team's playoff run. Volvo
will sponsor CSN-76ers' PostGame Live show through the
regular season with an option for the playoffs (CSN).
NO FROM NADER: Consumer advocate Ralph Nader writes an
op-ed in the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS on MLB's proposal to
place ads on team uniforms: "If baseball takes this reckless
step and embraces ads on uniforms, there will be
considerable fan resentment, and some of it will be
organized. ... [MLB Commissioner Bud] Selig is making a
choice between integrity and greed. He can defend baseball
or sell it out to the big-buck advertisers" (4/16).
