Feature: US Sports Biz - November 2004  

In the first edition of US Sports Biz, S&T's US correspondent Mark J Jeffers, takes a look at the wild and wacky world of the movers and shakers in sports across the other side of the pond…

CBS was hit with a hefty fine for all the controversy surrounding the halftime show at this year's Super Bowl, apparently, the world has become quite familiar with Janet Jackson's unknown brother; as TiVo Jackson was a big hit in many TV homes.
A new cable sports startup, the Ice Channel has had a slow launch, I guess we shouldn't be surprised, we all know how long it takes glaciers to form…
Did you know…before 1850, golf balls were made of leather and were stuffed with feathers…do you suppose that's where the term "Birdee" came from?
In a $30m dollar agreement, Bank of America will become title sponsor of the PGA Tour's Colonial event in Fort Worth, Texas.  While we're taking a swing at golf news, Kemper Insurance has renewed its title sponsorship of the Kemper Open through 2006.
Proctor and Gamble have added Crest and Bounce to its sponsorship deal with the WNBA.  We all know how bright teeth and a good bounce is important to any hoop player…
According to boxing promoter Don King, 55-year old George Foreman has tentatively agreed to a $20m deal to return to the ring.  At this point, there is no truth to the rumor that the fight will be sponsored by Geritol and held in a retirement home.
USA Cycling is 'wheeling' and dealing, as they have reached an agreement with VoiceStream Wireless to sponsor the USA Cycling Elite Women's Team through 2004.
It may have been a 'close shave,' but long-time Major League Baseball sponsor Gillette has signed on for 2 more years.
My feet feel better all ready…in what appears to be a perfect match…Odor Eaters' first sponsorship deal is with the Professional Bowlers Association. Now we can be sure those sporty bowling shoes will at least smell okay.  The deal runs through 2004-05 season.
Did you know that for every National Football League game, the home team must provide the referee with 36 footballs? Now that's a lot of pigskin.
Sunoco has a new 10-year sponsorship deal with NASCAR, making Sunoco the official fuel of NASCAR.  Now you don't suppose it's a barter deal…that sure would be a lot of gas to pump out.
Speaking of NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr's car was going so fast as he won this year' Daytona 500, that on-car sponsors Oreo and Ritz slid together to form the sweetest tasting cracker on the market…
Anheuser Busch 'hooked' a multi-year sponsorship deal to become the official beer of Bass.  We didn't even know fish drank beer.
And in other beverage news…Coors has become the NFL's official beer in an exclusive five-year deal worth around $300m dollars.  I wonder if I could become the official beer drinker for the NFL???
And finally, did you know that, Pope John Paul II is an 'Honorary Harlem Globetrotter,' it's a great tribute, but we wonder about his jump shot!!!
And on that holy note, that will wrap it up for this edition of US Sports Biz, folks.

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