"\ P "\':l , ' "-.', ,'" "'\, IF'" ... 6 * * NEW YORK POST, MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 L C019-----=-'=-=HE=- : S=::....::~Y:...=.(D-=-=N=.cE ;Y=__( O-=--.:' L=-=-Y-=-=-M=-=--P-=--=IC~S --- co<o')~ ADVERTISERS PRAY FOR: By MICHAEL GILTZ The folks at NBC aren't the only ones crossing their fingers during t I", Olympics, Aclvc'I'tiH('I'H IHlvP Hoping to cash in on that one special hero RIGHT & WRONG: Advertisers prefer Olympic momenls such as wounded gym nasi Kerri Strug being carried to Ihe medals platlorm 10 the image of Richard Jewell (insel), the "ccurily guard wrongly accused of planting the Olympic Park bomb, NY 1'(1":1 Ch,ulM VltwoltJOfg, nCul()fS (in!'.Ol) $flllll llIillion riding on the Sydn('y U""H'~ , nnd they're nil hopinl': for a hero -onc 1If' t hu~c stirring, Ilcnl'twnnnillg stories that makes the athletes human and the comm('rcin l~ efTcc tive, The O1;lr;Jthon er who Rtumbles bef()re the finish line, the lung jumper whu ;lchie\'(l~ a pl'r~()nal besl, or thc ~\\'il11mcr who snares n record nUlllbpr of golds, Jfldel'd, thm':l' ullpn'dkt able moments nrc golden for advertise r!" as well. "That's the l'Ill0t ional connecliun tn the (;aI1H !~." explains TUIlI i\kUovcrn , director or ~pUl1s markct ing at ad agency Oi\lD USA, ·"J'iwC. really wily you do it:' Tho~(' ~tll' i"", nh\:I,\"~ dc-\'('Iop, hut lint nlwaYR the wny the IIclwurk!i ur thc :lch'cl'list'r~ wnnt.</p><p> Thc 1972 hnstngc crisis in Mu nich, ohviotlsly, w/lsn't till' itlcul envirunment fnr ped dling sort. drinks or ncw cars.</p><p> More refently. (~\'CI'yOI1C' who 11m. their' mc'rnor'y prodded about the '96 G"I11CS cnn recall U.S. gymnast I{crri Stnlg: heing carricd to the awards cercmony, But what's the first il11:1gc th:1t pop~ into their minds :1ho\1t the Atlrmln (:nlllcs'! The Ulympic Park homuing and security gUilrd Ilicharc.l Jewell. "You wilnt it to bc ahout th(' :1thll'les," says McGov ern. "That's why Jewell may have been cleared of wrongdoing but still hasn't received any prod IIC't· ... nrlun..;:('lIlcnt ofJ<-l's." Unliku those evclltA, GOING TO THE MATT: If MaH Lindland, who sued 10 gel on the U,S, wrestling learn, wins a medal, advertisers mighl get one of those big momenls they prize, Ro,,!c" sllmC' Olympic highlight-.: call he anticipated. "Think b:u.:k tn tlw Tony" H:lI'ding:-NoJ1(,'Y )\I'I'I'igan l"htl\\'d(IWIl," says t\tcl:o\'ern, "We knew Ihat was going to get vcry big ratings." Also certain to get big ratin~ s this ycar in Syd· : ncy arc stars-;n-thc-mak ing, such as Jcnny Thomp f;on, thc swimnH'!' who could garner an unprece dented number or III 'dais, and Dlaine Wilson, the gymna~t who has" long !'lhot chance at an illdivid till I llll'c.ini nnd hClPI '~ Itl captain thc men's tcalll to ot lcast a bronze, Tennis' Williams sisters should bring ,their char isma and talent to Sydney -probably overshadow ing the higher.mnked Lindsay Dm'cnport, just as they do on tour.</p><p> Ami l'VCI)'OI1C'f\ IIlIl'il1l: the U$, \\'(lI1H'II'''' ~II(TI'" tC'am will hll\'{' UII nounccrs t!'.ying to l'OIlH' up with ncw twists on 'Du you believe in miracl e~? Again?" More ofT-l>eat po~sil>i li ties to capture Amcl'ica's attentiun -and "dn'rlis ers gratitude -include Cheryl Haworth, the stout , female weightlinel' who's I such ;l novelty thnt virtu ally every wrap-up stor,\' about the Olympics in cludes her picture.</p><p> Another pos~ib ility : Wrestler ~Iott Lindtatid ~hould get a lot of atten tion for his tortured. !iti gation·hcnvy route 10 tilt' Olympic~ -he sued :dler losing during thc Olympic trials.</p><p> Can he live up In thc prcssure or pcrforming when somc would :1fgUl' he didn't C:1rn thc right In cven b(~ in Sydncy? CUllt r()ve l'~y "'t'lIs, hilI ('VI'II t.he musl CHili I'll' iUII~ of figUl'l'l'( will SPt'1I1 ht'lIi'~1I with the pa~sagt' (If t iUII' -and H lew triulllJ1h ~ 1111 the field, Muhamm ad Ali was once thought too contro\'er sinl to tourh, but no'\.' hc's n~ wholesome 3S 1110111 and apple pie.</p><p> Hence, the ador ing documentary about Ali thot servcs as thc center piece of NBC's toped seg' ! ments. "Whot \\'3S once cOI1~id cred a risky propo$itiun has changcd:' says McGovern, "He's an Amer· ican hero." Still, the best storie~ at the Olympics scem to por out of nowhere .</p><p> NEW YORK POST.</p><p> MONDAY .</p><p> SEPTEMBER 18. 2000 cQ)'l,0--_ -_ -_ -_ -_ -_ --,=,-='-H=.::.</p><p> E~, ---,--S=-:....::;Y-=={D~_N~E-Y-=-r~O~l- :Y..:::c:..::.-, M;:=---=P---:-I=--=-C-=-=S;: .; ~~~~~_( A 'GOLDEN' MOMENT "Sturies develop," S3yS McGovern. "I would h"UCSS the producer:" at NBC arc sil.ling there ,·jg:hl now Ihinkill/.! tlwy kl1fJW what IIH' slflr-ips :tn'.</p><p> Bill 1 hat. :dways l·h:IIII~I·S." I 111 I h~'II' 1111 ill.·:.! ()lVIII pit' IIltll'lI'lIr ~ NIII n'III1~;.</p><p> I "y"" 11""" I" ,.,.11 1t'1I11",,', ! thl' OI,\'lllpi(:s rl':lch C\'C'ly· (1111',- ~:I\':o' 1\1d;on'tn. "TIU'\' n·;'u:h :.11 dt'IlIO' gr:aphics: kids.</p><p> WUIII(' I1, "lell, upscale. middle-in ('IIIlIC. luwcr-incOl11l· ... , Vurl.hcnwln', thl' ndv('r t isel's on the OIYlllpic !-i an.'ld tr,villl! to ,'c;\ch nny particubr nidlC, such as • Full coverage / SpOtts: Pages 75-84 KEEP AN EYE ON THESE ONTENDERS She's the world's fastest woman and, if Marion Jones makes good on her boast that she'll take home five golds in this summer's Games, she'll become an Olympic legend.</p><p> She's after medals in the 100 and 200 meters, the long jump and the 400-and GOO-meter relays -a feat that has not been accomplished . since 1924.</p><p> For latest news And result, (hun Sydll('Y, go to WWW.I1.ypost.(.OIl1. \\'11 11 It'll frulll I ~ III :1·1.</p><p> Tllt'.v'n' tryill '~ tn 1'1':11'" Iht' world. "If:;; 1)I':ll'til':llly lilt' I1l1ly wllrhlwicll";lUdil' IH'l' splII·l· ing e\'ent." says I\kt;fI\·· ern. "World Cup StllTl'r i!-' not big in the U.S., and ~ the SllP~~ Bowl i:O:ll't hi/.! uvt:.' r~l'a !-'.</p><p> And onl.\' til(' hiJ! ho)'s gl'l to play in tllat :u.ln.'rlising arl'n;!. "Ifyuu luok :tl tht, nth'l'!"' ti~t,,,~ th:lt :II'l' ill I Ill' OI~·'l1pie:o:. thl'," t,'ntl to h,' llIarkd 1t':Hit-rs.</p><p> I hl' Australia's Ian Thorpe swims so fast, they call him "Thorpe do." He's the youngest male swimmer ever to set three world records during the Olympic trials, but, in every other regard, he's a typical 17 -year-old -except for those size-18 fee\.</p><p> He thrives on lasagna, Dr.</p><p> Pepper and spending time wilh his mates. strong{'st ill thl'ir calt-· gllr.\·...</p><p> S:lyS l\lel;m·l'rn. "Tile up-and·rullll't·S dllll't have that uppurtullil.", "'" utht,!, words, I\ldlull aid's hll."s Ill(' ('xdllsin' ril:ltls In IIII' (:UII1I' S -so 1111 :111 ... 1'1'11111 \VI'llIh,' ...</p><p> III' ""1'1:1'1' 1,,11/: \\"'1'\1"1'1'111' up." WII"1\ tll:11 slilTing, IIn cxpct:lt'd. gutta-t'-Il1:til·IIlY fril'nds Illllltll'ni ('1('('111':-:, tht,,\' l'xJ.>t'd let hl'llt'fil fnllll thilt warm glow, I\lId iL dOl'","'t ('\'('11 h;1\'(' to lit' lilt' f1l1:-:h fir excite IIlI'lll 1','0111 hl·illg Ill(' hl':-:I. "TIH'n' \\;IS :l WIII11:11l whl) WOII tlu.' I'lIlitzt'" Prizl.' fill' ht'r phutograp h of'tlH' Nigt'riall traek rl'la," tl':11Il as t"l'Y l'('Il'hr:ll<.'d \\'jllning till' i)l'Ull7.c:' sa.'· .... i\h-t;t\\'j'llI "It's Illlt ;11· \\ :lY'" :Il1oul IIII' g"ld " Lance Armstrong staged one of the most heroic comebacks in sports his tory by beating cancer - then returning to his cho sen sport to lift its most coveted prize.</p><p> Armstrong won back-to-back Tours de France in 1999 and 2000, and wants to cap it off with his lifelong dream -an Olympic gold medal.
