Feature: US Sports Biz - July 2005  

S&T's US correspondent Mark J Jeffers, takes another look at the wild and wacky world of the movers and shakers in sports across the other side of the pond...

In the spirit of the world of sports business, we are seeking offers for the naming rights to this column. We see nothing wrong with the ‘Heineken US Sports Biz’ or ‘Nike News’. Please send all offers to the attention of our beloved editor…
AVP Pro Beach Volleyball and McDonalds have inked a two-year renewal agreement that makes the burger maker the official sponsor of the AVP through 2006. McDonald's began its sponsorship of the event in 2002. Well, as long as the players lay off the Big Macs and fries, it sounds like a good deal.
NBA free agent Kendall Gill intends to box this summer and if the boxing goes well, he may return to the ring after the NBA…the way some of the games have gone this year, why wait, you could box and shoot at the same time.
Now that the proposed New York Olympic Westside sports stadium has been defeated…there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that the NY Football Jets will play their home games at the Olympic stadium in Paris.
Phil Jackson has returned as head coach for the NBA’s LA Lakers, I guess practicing Zen doesn’t pay as well…
Ford Motor Company has renewed its title sponsorship of the Professional Bull Riders’ (PBR) elite series in a two-year, $8M deal. With its slogan “Built Ford Tough” its looks like a deal made in heaven.
Just so you know, I don’t make this stuff up. The NY Post reported that Alka-Seltzer will sponsor the US Open of Competitive Eating, which will award more than $40,000 in prize money to be held in Las Vegas and televised on ESPN. The president of the International Federation of Competitive Eating (I never knew there was an eating president) was quoted as saying: “This is the Super Bowl, the World Series and the Talladega 500 all rolled into a three-day, five-event eat-a-thon.”
Brooks Brothers has signed deals with PGA golfers Scott Verplank and James Driscoll. You will certainly notice a three piece suit on a golf course, but the outfit may inhibit one’s swing…
Augusta National announced that six holes would be lengthened for the 2006 Masters, extending the course yardage from 7,290 to 7,445. In related news, they added a windmill to my favorite miniature golf course.
Forty surfers at South Carlsbad State Beach, CA unofficially broke the Guinness Book of Records mark by standing simultaneously on one wave. The old record of 38 was set in Australia in 2002. All I can say is “Cowabunga” dudes!!!
That wraps it up for this edition of “Sports Biz.”

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