Mario Bros. and Pac-Man, move aside. NBA Jam, an arcade video game introduced by Chicago’s Midway Manufacturing Co., has become the highest earner in the industry’s history despite being on the market just 11 months. It already was named “Most Played Video Game for 1993” from the Amusement & Music Operators Association.
Another Michael Jordan residual for the league? Not at all. The video game’s format gives players a chance to use two stars from each NBA club and, from the start when the game was introduced last January, the Bulls’ choices have been Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. Jordan’s stringent contractual situation, which has kept him outside regular NBA licensing arrangements, precluded his image from being used. Roger Sharpe, director of marketing support services for Williams/Bally-Midway, said a new version of NBA Jam is arriving soon in which three players from each team will be available and B.J. Armstrong will be the next Bull added to the lineup.
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Going to school: Does Heath Shuler’s announcement that he’s leaving Tennessee to turn pro impact the Bears, who’re seeking more quarterback help? Probably not. Several NFL insiders say there remains a huge QB shortage in the draft. The Bears still would have to pull off a big “trade-up” deal to get one of the two best players at the position: Fresno State’s Trent Dilfer or Shuler, who is expected to go first. The Redskins and Rams are said to be hottest to select a QB in the draft, though Washington’s status could change in the wake of Rich Petitbon’s firing. Both pick ahead of the Bears. Right now, a lot of NFL clubs are having trouble getting a handle on Florida State’s Charlie Ward, a popular choice with many fans. The scouts doubt his listed size (6-2, 195) and there’s always that new complication: Ward’s a multi-sport man.
Gummed shoe: Nike and Apex One are locked in an ugly trademark-infringement suit. Nike is charging false advertising against the New Jersey shoe company, saying it’s provided some NFL players with Apex One logo stickers to tape over the trademarks of non-Apex shoes-Nike, in many cases-they may be wearing during games. Nike says it’s got a briefcase full of photos taken during games to prove its point. The most incriminating picture? Probably the one that shows ex-Bear William Perry, who’s wearing shoes with an upside-down Apex logo affixed to his shoes.
Old home week: Edmonton, with ex-Blackhawk Dave Manson, just left the Stadium. Ex-Hawk Dominik Hasek, off to a record-setting pace in the nets for Buffalo, checks in Tuesday with fellow former Chicago players Craig Muni and Wayne Presley. Then Sunday when the Rangers come to Chicago, Mike Keenan, Steve Larmer and Greg Gilbert challenge Darryl Sutter’s club. For Larmer, it will be his first appearance in the Stadium with an opposing team after 12 years with the franchise.
Business as usual: After watching his client take a pounding Sunday in the NFC playoffs, Chicago agent Steve Zucker called Jim McMahon later that night and reports: “He’s fine. What a beating he took, but he was sharp as ever when we talked. He’s already talking about next year with the Vikings.” In fact, Zucker said any physical problems the QB may have suffered in the loss to the Giants won’t prevent him from filming a White Sox commercial later this week with Frank Thomas and Michael Jordan. “I just hope Dan Hampton was watching the game,” Zucker said, referring to the ex-Bear lineman’s recent comments about McMahon playing “soft” while in a Chicago uniform.
Show biz: Promoters-namely WLUP-FM’s Jonathan Brandmeier-of a Donny Osmond-Danny Bonaduce charity boxing exhibition Jan. 17 in the China Club have been scouting the Golden Gloves’ ranks for women to fight in an undercard bout. “We haven’t come up with anything yet, but we’re looking,” said a Brandmeier spokeswoman. Osmond, starring in “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” here, and Bonaduce, former Partridge Family actor and WLUP-FM evening host, have scheduled a three-rounder. Donny’s designated charity is the Children’s Miracle Network. Danny’s picked the Roseanne and Tom Arnold Foundation. Seriously.
Pack mentality: Packer fans in the Chicago area looking for a good place to watch the next playoff game with Dallas have two good options in Chicago: Cubby Bear Lounge or Deacon Brodie’s. Both pubs are official, designated “America’s Pack” gathering spots for Green Bay fans. In fact, Emily Norton of the Packer fan organization, says the Chicago area is the second largest area for membership outside Wisconsin. There are just over 1,100 members here in the 10,500-person club, which is a division of the club’s marketing department.
And finally: Whew. Figure skating’s getting rugged. At about the same time Nancy Kerrigan was whacked by an unknown attacker in Detroit, former Olympic star Dorothy Hamill was sidelined after aggravating an old rib injury during a rehearsal for her new show. Dorothy, who plays Cinderella, got hurt in a routine when her prince, Andrew Naylor, squeezed too tight.