Executives on Track

Benefitting, perhaps, from its participation in the “Battle of the Network Stars” television show, NBC won the Battle of the Corporate Stars competition last week, defeating workers from 10 other companies in contests held here to raise money for the Special Olympics.

Co-sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and Chrysler, last week’s event was one of 15 held around the country in which fast-track executives from companies such as Nissan Motor Corp., ABC and Miller Brewing, got to really test the cinders.

There were 11 teams of 26 men and women that showed up at Cal State Long Beach. Yet, few top-level corporate officials showed up at the Los Angeles competition, with only one person as high as executive vice president competing in the two days of track and field, swimming events and other less orthodox contests, said Anheuser-Busch spokesman Russell Bell.

Money raised from the Battle of the Corporate Stars helps support the Special Olympics programs of sports training for mentally handicapped children and adults. This year the contest raised about $60,000 in Los Angeles from the $5,500 entry fee each company paid to participate in the competition.

The local winners go on to the national finals next month at Padre Island, Tex. That event will be televised by the ESPN cable network.

A team captain for NBC, which has won all four previous local contests only to come in second place during the national competition, predicted that the final outcome will be different this year.

“Being on ESPN will be an added incentive to win,” said John Secunda, NBC team co-captain and director of purchasing services for the network. “We’re all frustrated actors and actresses.”