August 18, 2003- [IBM's] deal with the NFL, much cheaper [than their deal with the Olympics] at three years and a reported $6 million annually to be the league's official information technology provider, is a chief example that IBM's strategy is based on refocusing assets, not on withdrawing from sports altogether, according to Mike Reisman, principal at Velocity Sports & Entertainment, IBM's longtime sports sponsorship agency.

"If you look at [spending] without the Olympics, it hasn't changed much," said Reisman of IBM, which also recently extended its 12-year partnership as the official technology solution provider for the U.S. Tennis Association.

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