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A Nike no-no
Nike would rather that Bob Dole just forget it.
The athletic shoe giant is not pleased that the Republican presidential candidate’s “Just Don’t Do It” anti-drug slogan borrows heavily from Nike’s “Just Do It” ad campaign.
Dole used the phrase over and over during a campaign stop in Chico, Calif., urging the young crowd to chant it with him.
Christina Martin, spokeswoman for the Dole campaign in Washington, D.C., characterized the slogan as “a little modification of Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just Say No”’ campaign of the 1980s.
In this case, Nike spokesman Jim Small said, imitation is no form of flattery.
“We’re a sports and fitness company and we’re uncomfortable about being brought into the political arena,” Small said. “While we support the senator’s goal of keeping kids away from drugs, our slogan is based in sports, and we would have preferred him to use a slogan that is more relevant to this issue.”
“Say no to Dole” works.
Lunch of champions
Wayne Gretzky’s marketability becomes a little greater this week when he becomes the first person ever to appear on a Campbell soup label.
The new Chunky soup label - which hits supermarket shelves this week - shows the New York Rangers forward in uniform with a hockey stick. It also bears “The Great One’s” signature and his number 99.
It was no easy change for Campbell.
“We don’t like people playing with the label,” Campbell Soup Co. spokesman Kevin Lowery. “That’s a big jump.”
The Camden-based food-maker will formally unveil the new label at a news conference today at the All-Star Cafe in New York.
Gretzky will appear on 50 million labels on 20 Chunky varieties.
If Andy Warhol only knew, he’d be rolling over in his Chunky sirloin burger.
Dude, where’s ya learn how to spell?
Since last season’s Stanley Cup Finals, more and more Colorado Avalanche fans have taken to wearing “Grateful Deadmarsh” T-shirts to honor forward Adam Deadmarsh.
At least, his name is spelled correctly.
Deadmarsh was misspelled on the coveted Stanley Cup trophy, something NHL historians say never happened before. Engraved on the cup was “Deadmarch,” which Cup caretaker Pat Plunkett said was to be corrected this week.
Said Deadmarsh, “It was kind of funny at first, then I didn’t think it was funny after that.”
Keep ‘em coming
In the National League division playoffs, the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing three starting pitchers who will have accounted for six consecutive Cy Young awards, counting the one John Smoltz seems certain to win this year. Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine are the others.
Of which Tim Tucker of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asks: “So, which Brave do you think will win the Cy Young next year? Denny Neagle?”
The last word …
“I would be interested, though, in seeing Deion (Sanders) take a shot at doing the Macarena. The Peppermint Twist is dead, Deion. So is your current dancing performance.”
Denne H. Freeman, the Associated Press
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo