Feature: US Sports Biz - February 2006  

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...

It looks like it’s a wrap for ‘ESPN Hollywood’, as ESPN has cancelled the showbiz and entertainment programme.
Guess what the official salty snack of the Dew Action Sports Tour is, no it’s not saltine crackers, but good old Slim Jim. Slim Jim starts its new role this season.
One US deal is all “washed up,” as Proctor & Gamble has decided not to renew its sponsorship agreement with the WNBA.
If LA businessman Marc Stern ever offers you tickets to a basketball game…grab them. Back in 1962, Stern had tickets to the Philadelphia Warriors versus NY Knicks game, in that contest Wilt ‘The Stilt’ Chamberlain scored 100 points being the most ever in NBA history. Then just last month, Stern, now 61, gave his seventh row season ticket for the Lakers game against Toronto to a friend. In that game, Kobe Bryant poured in the second most points in one game with 81.
New NY Yankee centerfielder Johnny Damon will be running down fly balls in Puma shoes, as he has signed a four-year extension with the foot wear company.
Speaking of Puma…professional golfer Erica Blasberg has signed an endorsement deal with Puma and will wear the company’s shoes during this season’s LPGA tour.
Super jockey Jerry Bailey is riding off into the sunset, but not before winning over $296m in purses. Bailey now plans to tell people about the world of horse racing, as he will enter the broadcast booth.
Here’s a ‘can’ miss new show from Fox…’Skating with the Stars’. One team has paired former Olympic decathlon gold medalist Bruce Jenner with ice pro Tai Babilonia. Tai still has it, but Jenner skates like Lurch from the Addams family [Note from the Editor: “Allegedly.”]
Budweiser and Bud Light have signed a 10-year deal to be the exclusive beer sponsor for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Blackhawks and the United Center where both teams play. Now that’s a deal I can drink to…
Arena Football is off and running with the theme ‘Drive to ArenaBowl XX’. Now how many of you knew Arena Football has been around for 20 years? The Arena Bowl will once again be played in sin city, Las Vegas, where the belief is that folks in Vegas will bet on anything…
Now here’s a ‘heavenly deal’…Constellation Energy has signed a five-year deal through 2011 to title sponsor the Champions Tour Senior Players Golf Championship. Let’s hope they don’t get star struck!
That wraps it up for this edition of ‘US Sports Biz’ folks.

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