Sportspage: News That Reaches From The Playing Field To The Sales Floor

EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY: NBA AND HARD ROCK CAF…
Basketball continues to be en vogue and will soon be the plat du jour when the National Basketball Association and Hard Rock Cafe, International open the first NBA-themed restaurant, NBA City, this summer in Orlando, FL.
This past April, NBA Commissioner David J. Stern and Hard Rock Cafe president and CEO Jim Berk celebrated with basketball greats Dolph Schayes, John Havlicek, James Worthy, Chuck Daly, Ike Austin and WNBA star Nykesha Sales at the unveiling of NBA City at Orlandoís Citywalk entertainment district, at Universal Studios Escape.
The move into the troubled theme restaurant business marks the leagueís first into that channel. It also follows the NBAís series of successful brand extensions, including the NBA Store on 5th Avenue in New York, the WNBA and the leagueís web site nba.com.
ìNBA City is the perfect setting for fans to experience the excitement of the NBA and to enjoy a great meal,î said Stern. ìHard Rock provides the management expertise necessary to deliver consistently high-quality food and service worldwide.î
Staying true to the tastes of Americana food, the NBA City menu features a variety of American dishes. Grilled salmon with bow-tie pasta, Italian Sausage and fire roasted bell pepper pizza and maple mustard glazed double pork chops are some of the meals that NBA fans can look forward to at the new restaurant.
In addition to fine food, the NBA restaurant will have a shop a la Hard Rock and an NBA City Club where guests can watch live NBA and WNBA games or view classic games from its NBA library. The main NBA City dining room will have large video screen projections of NBA and WNBA moments and stories from Wilt Chamberlain, Grant Hill and Kobe Bryant.
According to the NBA and Hard Rock Cafe, International agreement, NBA City restaurants will eventually land in major cities throughout the globe. ìThe NBA brand is globally recognized and represents the fastest-growing sport in the World,î said Berk. The restaurant marks the chainís first new concept in its 28-year history. ìThe marketing strength and massive broadcast reach of the NBA [199 countries in 40 languages] will help ensure the long-term success of NBA City, both in Orlando and in many other locations around the world.î
POINT AND CLICK ALL-STARS
Who says that baseball is an old timerís sport?
Major League Baseball has once again resumed its online All-Star balloting program for its fans who will be able to cast votes for eight of the 30 positions of the All-Star game over the internet until June 27th. With over 500, 000 votes cast in 1998, the MLBís All-Star online balloting is the largest balloting program in professional sports, perhaps proving that MLBís fan base is a little hipper than given credit. Two primary sponsors of the game, CompUSA and Pepsi, will also host the balloting on their websitesóas will MLB and SportsLine USA (publisher of CBS Sportsline). According to the MLB, online balloting allows fans to more actively participate with the league. ìOnline balloting has grown dramatically every year. We expect more and more fans to take advantage of this quick and easy way to vote,î said Alex Kam, Director of New Media for the MLB.
Fox will televise the 70th anniversary game on July, 13, live from Bostonís Fenway Park.
UP, UP AND AWAY!
It was not too long ago that Charles Barkley proclaimed that professional athletes are not role models. How about superheroes?
Ultimate Sports Entertainment Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment company with operations in licensing and comic book publishing, has released a new comic book called ìComic Slam,î the first installment of the companyís licensing deal with the Major League Baseball Players Association. The comic stars Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Jeff Bagwell and David Justice as superheroes.
Comic Slam is the first of four slated titles featuring baseball superstars as superheroes. It will retail for $3.95 and be sold as select ballparks throughout Major League Baseball.
ìI think Comic Slam will create a fantastic buzz especially in the markets we are targetingócomics, sports collectibles and baseball fans,î said Rick Licht, president of Ultimate Sports Entertainment, Inc.
CLEVELAND BROWNS DAWG UNLEASED
Following a precedent set by many pro sports teams today, the born-again Cleveland Browns have already added a secondóalbeit off-fieldólogo to its offering, before even playing a down since re-entering the league.
Unlike the Houston Oilers-turned-Tennessee Titans name and logo, which were chosen by the teamís new fans a year ago, the Cleveland Brownsí new Dawg Pound logo serves as a sign of recognition to its storied Dawg Pound fan base.
The Dawg Pound came to fame during the Brownsí first go íround in the league, as one of the most passionate fan groups in all of sports. The Cleveland fansóboth in the city and throughout the countryóheld steady waiting for the NFL to bring the Browns back to Cleveland. Theyíre being rewarded this season. The new logo features a mastiff dog wearing a Browns helmet, with a football in its mouth.
Logo Athletic and VF Corp. have the NFL Properties licenses to manufacture Dawg Pound logos on a wide variety of apparel, collectibles and other hard goods. Though the logo will mark its territory on apparel and merchandise, it will not tread on playersí helmets or jerseys.
Browns fans will get their first taste of the power of the Dawg Pound in a few weeks as the Browns gear-up for its first regular season home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on ESPN, Sunday, September 12.
DREAM ON
As the 2000 Olympics approach, the USA Basketball Menís Senior National Team is assembling its team. Already, the group consists of top young talents such as Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd and Tim Duncan and six othersóall of whom have past USA or Olympic team experience. Future appointments of three non-NBA players are expected to round out the roster.
However, some question the excitement and attention the USA Basketball Menís Senior National Team can draw, as insiders fear that the shine of an overly-dominant USA team and a lackluster team roster could lead to fan apathy. Past and current players like Michael Jordan and Alan Iverson are hard acts to follow.
ìIt is the third time around, so there will be a little less excitement,î said David Riley, president of Pro Image, of the latest rendition of the Dream Team. ìIt would also be a little more exciting, retail-wise, if Kobe [Bryant], Alan [Iverson] or Jayson Williams were on the team. Still, they have five or six of our top sellers. There will be some kind of buzz about it.î (Football, Licensing)