Russell Corporation Completes Acquisition of Brooks Sports, Inc.

Russell Corporation Completes Acquisition of Brooks Sports, Inc.



ATLANTA, Dec. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Corporation (NYSE:RML)
announced today that it has completed the acquisition, announced earlier this
month, of Brooks Sports, Inc. for approximately $115 million cash.  Fiscal-
year 2004 sales for Brooks, which will operate as a subsidiary of Russell, are
expected to be approximately $95 million.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030630/RMLCORPLOGO )

"This is a continuation of our strategy to expand our position as a leading,
authentic sporting goods company," said Jack Ward, chairman and CEO. "The
addition of athletic performance footwear strengthens Russell's position in the
sporting goods business.  We believe that this acquisition, just as our other
recent acquisitions, is an investment in our future growth."

About Brooks

Brooks Sports, Inc. is a leading running company that designs and markets a
line of performance footwear, apparel, and accessories in more than 26
countries worldwide.  Brooks was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in
Bothell, Wash., near Seattle.  The company's mission is to inspire people to
run and be active by creating innovative gear that keeps them running longer,
farther, and faster.

About Russell Corporation

Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company
with over a century of success in marketing athletic uniforms, apparel and
equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities. The
Company's brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R), AAI(R),
Huffy Sports(R), Mossy Oak(R), Bike(R), Moving Comfort(R), Dudley(R),
Sherrin(R), Cross Creek(R) and Discus(R).  The Company's common stock is listed
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RML and its website address is
http://www.russellcorp.com/ . 

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DATASOURCE: Russell Corporation



CONTACT:  Financial, Roger Holliday, [phone], or Media, Nancy

Young, [phone], both of Russell Corporation



Web site:  http://www.russellcorp.com/ 

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