Tere will be a new chapter written soon in the continuing saga of who’s the Blackhawks’ No. 1 star? Jeremy Roenick wants to be, but Chris Chelios, coach Darryl Sutter’s choice, reaches a new level next month when he’s the main man in a national print and broadcast advertising campaign for Logo Athletic. Chelios will take the spot of Dallas QB Troy Aikman, who, when last seen, was putting on a Logo hat as he was taken from Texas Stadium in an ambulance.
A spokesman for Logo Athletic, which will begin its campaign during the Winter Olympics, said the Hawks’ defenseman will be the first American-born hockey player to be featured in a national advertising blitz. “He was picked because he’s a familiar figure both in Canada and the U.S.,” said the rep. “He played for a Stanley Cup team in Montreal and he played for an NCAA championship team at the University of Wisconsin.”
This figures to be the biggest endorsement deal for any active Hawks player. A native of Chicago, Chelios shot the company’s TV spot about a month ago in the Pavilion. Several teammates were used-but not identified-in a recreation of a game. The commercials question the All-Star defenseman’s toughness-something that’s never been questioned by Chicago fans.
Super connection: Chicago’s strongest tie to this week’s may-be-Super Bowl is Regency Productions-Hyatt. The Chicago company’s producing the sanctioned corporate hospitality venues for the NFL for the fourth straight year. “There’s been unbelieveable response in this Super Bowl from our aspect,” said general manager Anne Hanch. “We find that kind of surprising. Atlanta’s really sort of a medium climate city and there was some thought that might be a turnoff.” According to Hanch, corporate hosts will spend more than $1.2 million on guests (probably more if you add what comes out of company slush funds). Hanch said there’s a unique twist to this year’s Super Bowl: The Olympics. Right after the football carnival, city officials and thousands of volunteers, who’ve been working on Sunday’s event, shift into preparation for the ’96 Summer Games.
Ice capades: Some random thoughts about figure skating, which used to be a non-contact sport:
– If Tonya Harding had defeated Nancy Kerrigan fair and square, you can bet CBS-TV would be working on a special telling us Harding’s a sweetheart. (Those who’ve worked with Kerrigan say she’s no sweetie, either.)
– Just how serious is Kerrigan’s injury? Inquiring minds want to know. A couple of months before she scored her perfect 10 in the Olympics, Mary Lou Retton had to overcome what apparently was a more serious knee problem.
– Which brings us to Michelle Kwan. I don’t know about you, but I’m rooting for her to get into the Olympics and win the gold. She’s 13 and, as far as anyone knows, doesn’t ride a Harley or have bodyguards who carry crowbars.
Mav-wrecks: You look at Dallas in the NBA and it’s hard to believe that Dick Motta won 55 games there as recently as 1986-87, his last season. The ex-Bulls coach told this to John Hillyer of the San Francisco Examiner: “I don’t think I would’ve left when I did had I not seen the holocaust on the horizon. I basically knew what was happening, but I didn’t think it would get this bad. They’ll never rebuild. I know their history and I know their people.”
Cheese patrol: In Wisconsin, sports and politics definitely mix. Two samples:
– U.S. Congressman Scott Klug, upset over the ripoffs that took place for Badgers fans buying Rose Bowl tickets, plans to introduce legislation that will force charter operators to gain approval from the U.S. Dept. of Transportation to sell package deals.
– State Rep. Judy Robson plans to introduce a bill this week that will provide financial assistance-a one-time $300,000 grant-to the state’s minor-league baseball teams. Robson’s from Beloit, where one is located (and that’s a big surprise).
Keeping `Score’: More proof you should keep your radio dial on 820 after WSCR-AM goes off the air at sunset: Jimmy Johnson’s controversial “we will win” remark came on the Ft. Worth station, WBAP-AM, that replaces the local sports talker. . . . Speaking of sunset, Illinois officials say they’re resigned the remainder of their basketball games at night will be aired in Chicago on suburban WCBR-FM instead of WSCR-AM, which had signed to follow Lou Henson’s team. The station’s now not expected to get its 24-hour license at least until April, according to insiders.
Pain threshold 1: After watching Joe Montana wobble to the sideline in the AFC championship game, you’re left with this inescapable conclusion: Joe’d still be in the hospital if he took any of the dozen or so hits Jim Harbaugh got from the Vikings this season in Soldier Field.
Pain threshold 2: Southern Cal basketball player Karleen Shields, the mother of two kids, is going through rehabilitation for an injured knee. “I can take the pain,” she said. “Try labor a couple of times.”
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