CPSC, LIFETIME PRODUCTS AND ESCALADE SPORTS ANNOUNCE RECALL TO REPAIR PORTABLE BASKETBALL HOOPS

March 28, 2002

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Children nationwide are heading outdoors to practice their shots with portable basketball hoops. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lifetime Products Inc., of Clearfield, Utah, and Escalade Sports, of Evansville, Ind. are voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million portable basketball hoops. There are about 1.7 million Lifetime portable basketball hoops and about 16,000 Escalade Sports basketball hoops being recalled. The basketball hoops may have a sharp protruding bolt on the players' side of the pole that can cause serious leg or body lacerations to consumers when the bolt is exposed.

CPSC and Lifetime Products Inc. have received 27 reports of injuries and Escalade Sports has received one report of injury from the basketball hoop bolt. Injuries include scrapes, deep lacerations and bruises. Several consumers required stitches for their injuries. Players have been cut when they bump into the pole as they drive toward the basket.

All Lifetime portable basketball system models, except the "Quick Court" are included in the recall. The Escalade Sports basketball hoop models included in the recall are the Harvard, The Big Easy, B3100, B3301, B3302, B3303, B3304, B3305, B3306, B3403, B3500, Spalding, The Big Easy B3402 and Apex B9995, Mini Court, Alley Court.

These portable basketball hoops come unassembled with a flat plastic base that is weighted down by either sand or water that is added during assembly. The basketball poles are made of black metal. The brand names or model names may appear on the backboard, main pole or the flat plastic base of the basketball hoops.

Sporting good, department and toy stores including Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target and Toys R Us nationwide sold the Lifetime basketball hoops between January 1994 and July 2000 and the Escalade Sports basketball hoops between March 1994 and December 2001 for between $80 and $500.

Consumers should stop using the basketball hoops immediately and contact Lifetime Products or Escalade Sports to receive free cap nuts to cover the bolts. Consumers should call and get a cap nut regardless of whether their bolt protrudes or not.

Consumers can contact Lifetime Products Inc. at (800) 225-3865 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT or 9 a.m and 6 p.m CT Monday through Friday or the firm's web site at www.lifetime.com.

Escalade Sports can be reached at (800) 467-1397 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or the firm's web site at www.escaladesports.com.