The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, September 21, 2001
4:00pm ET
ESPN TO STAY WITH SPORTS PROGRAMMING INSTEAD OF TRIBUTE
The AP reports that while the charity event, "America: A Tribute to Heroes," will be seen across the broadcast spectrum tonight, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic and ESPNews "will stick with regular programming." ESPN’s Chris LaPlaca: "Sports has resumed and we're trying to get back to some degree of normalcy, putting it back in its proper context" (AP, 9/21).
ECHL BOG APPROVES SALE OF EXPRESS
The ROANOKE TIMES reports that "the ECHL Board of Governors approved the sale of the Express this week." In July, Mike Lonchar, Ashby Coleman and Chris Pollock agreed in principal to acquire the hockey club, subject to ECHL approval. Lonchar received word Thursday from ECHL President Rick Adams that the sale had gone through (ROANOKE TIMES, 9/21).
AIRLINE DROPS HORSE RACING SPONSORSHIP DUE TO WOES
The AP reports that Emirates Airline "will end its sponsorship of horse racing’s World Series because of problems in the airline industry following the recent terrorism." All 11 races in the series will still be run, and organizers hope to find another sponsor. Emirates’ "contract runs through the end of the year" (AP, 9/21).
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR VICTIMS CONTINUE THIS WEEKEND
The Steelers will open Heinz Field Sunday – during the team’s bye week -- from noon-4:00pm ET as part of a fundraising effort for the recent tragedies. The team will show the Titans-Jaguars game on the Jumbotron, including the pregame tributes planned by the league and two special presentations of "America the Beautiful." Admission to the event is a donation to the United Way September 11th Fund (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/21).
The NHL Wild will host a fundraiser during their preseason game against the Flames Sunday. Fans will make cash contributions when entering the arena, with all proceeds going to the New York Firefighters 9-11 Relief Fund (THE DAILY).
THIS WEEKEND’S EVENTS:
The Patriots will honor the brothers of G Joe Andruzzi during Sunday's home opener against the Jets for their rescue efforts at the World Trade Center. N.Y. firefighters Jimmy, Bill and Marc Andruzzi, and their father, Bill, a retired N.Y. policeman, have been named honorary captains. The family will participate in the coin flip (THE DAILY).
John Elway and Joe Montana will play a flag football game as "the last game ever to be played at" Mile High Stadium tomorrow at 9:00pm ET. There will also be a one hour autograph session before the game and a post-game 50-minute fireworks show. Opening ceremonies will feature representatives from all branches of the military (DENVER POST, 9/21)
The A’s will host the third Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Day tomorrow. As part of the event, presented by Longs Drug Stores, fans who mention "breast cancer" when purchasing tickets for Saturday’s A’s-Mariners game will have half of their ticket proceeds directed to breast cancer research and prevention (THE DAILY).
Regular season tickets for the Mighty Ducks begin to go on sale Saturday at 1:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The late Derrick Thomas will have his name added to the Chiefs’ "Ring of Fame" on the facade of Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
Browns Owner Al Lerner, who is also MBNA Chair, said that the company has "already contributed $2.5 million to $3 million to the American Red Cross." Lerner: "This is a time for the corporate world to stand up" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/21)….When asked what his first job was, NBA Commissioner David Stern said, "My dad owned Stern’s Delicatessen in Manhattan. I mopped, packed, did whatever you had to do to keep it running. The worst part was trying to meet my father’s standards" (FORTUNE, 10/1 issue)....The three Padres-Dodgers games this past week on Channel 4 San Diego averaged an 8.4/13 Nielsen rating, 25% higher than the season average of 6.7/13. Monday’s 9.2 rating was the best for a Padres game since July 23 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 9/21)….Padres RF Tony Gwynn – a San Diego St. Univ. alum – will take over as the school’s baseball coach following the ’02 NCAA season. Gwynn: "The contract is for three years. Hopefully I’ll be here a lot longer." Gwynn’s annual base salary will be $100,000 (SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 9/21)….Fox Sports Exec Producer Ed Goren "wouldn’t commit to airing" the national anthem on NFL game broadcasts "beyond this weekend." Goren: "We’re taking it one week at a time. At what point do things return to normal?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/21).
IN OTHER NEWS……
Northwest Airlines announced Friday "it will shed 10,000 jobs, nearly a fifth of its work force, joining other major airlines making cuts in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington" (AP, 9/21).
THE DAILY STATS
The following lists the attendance at Tuesday’s MLB games, with home teams listed second. Also provided is the average attendance for each home team through September 10. % +/- compares Thursday’s attendance to the home team’s average through September 10 (THE DAILY).
| —— Attendance —— | |
| Game | 9/20 | 9/19 | 9/18 | 9/17 | Ave. Through
9/10 | % =/- |
| Orioles-Blue Jays | 21,895 | 31,303 | 18,604 | N/A | 23,526 | -7% |
| Royals-Indians | 33,912 | 31,357 | 34,795 | N/A | 40,042 | -15% |
| Devil Rays-Red Sox | 29,530 | 29,627 | 30,909 | N/A | 32,648 | -10% |
| Tigers-Twins | 9,754 | 10,157 | 10,878 | N/A | 22,955 | -58% |
| Yankees-White Sox | 22,284 | 18,465 | 22,785 | N/A | 22,610 | -1% |
| A’s-Rangers | 22,219 | 25,013 | 21,517 | N/A | 35,785 | -38% |
| Angels-Mariners | 44,768 | 45,459 | 45,294 | N/A | 43,010 | 4% |
| Cubs-Reds | 19,947 | 18,417 | 21,304 | N/A | 24,193 | -18% |
| Astros-Giants | 40,470 | 40,322 | 40,901 | N/A | 40,795 | -1% |
| Rockies-Expos | 3,037 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7,923 | -62% |
| Braves-Phillies | 26,863 | 24,036 | 23,653 | 27,910 | 22,672 | 18% |
| Cardinals-Pirates | 21,678 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 31,573 | -31% |
| Diamondbacks-Dodgers | 31,776 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 36,939 | -14% |
CHANNEL SURFING
FRIDAY
ESPN’s second round coverage of the Marconi Pennsylvania Classic began at 3:00pm ET.
TBS will air Braves-Mets at 7:00pm ET.
SATURDAY
College Football
| Game | Network | Time |
| Louisville-Illinois | ESPN | Noon ET |
| Wisconsin-Penn St. (regional) | ABC | Noon ET |
| Florida St.-North Carolina (regional) | ABC | Noon ET |
| Michigan St.-Notre Dame | NBC | 2:30pm ET |
| Ohio St.-UCLA (national) | ABC | 3:30pm ET |
| Arkansas-Alabama | CBS | 3:30pm ET |
| San Diego St.-Colorado St. (West Coast) | ABC | 7:00pm ET |
| Virginia-Clemson | ESPN2 | 5:45pm ET |
| Auburn-Syracuse | ESPN | 7:45pm ET |
| Texas-Houston | ESPN2 | 9:00pm ET |
ESPN will air the CART Rockingham 500 at 7:30am ET.
Royals 1B Mike Sweeney will host "This Week in Baseball."
Fox will air regional coverage of Yankees-Orioles at 1:00pm ET (60% Cov. Area) or Indians-Twins (12%). Fox will air regional coverage of Diamondbacks-Dodgers (17%) or Mariners-A’s (9%) at 4:00pm ET.
TNT will air the NASCAR BGN MBNA.com 200 at 1:00pm ET.
ESPN’s third round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Marconi Pennsylvania Classic begins at 4:00pm ET.
FX will air Padres-Giants at 7:00pm ET.
SUNDAY
NFL
| Game | Network | Time | Coverage Area |
| Giants-Chiefs | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 53% |
| Vikings-Bears | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 18% |
| Lions-Browns | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 9% |
| Panthers-Falcons | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 11% |
| Ravens-Bengals | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 11% |
| Bills-Colts | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 5% |
| Raiders-Dolphins | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 32% |
| Jets-Patriots | CBS | 4:15pm ET | 28% |
| Chargers-Cowboys | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 13% |
| Titans-Jaguars | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 11% |
| Rams-49ers | Fox | 4:15pm ET | 70% |
| Eagles-Seahawks | Fox | 4:15pm ET | 26% |
| Broncos-Cardinals | ESPN | 8:30pm ET | National |
ESPN will air the F1 Budweiser Grand Prix of Indianapolis at 1:00pm ET.
NBC will air the NASCAR Winston Cup MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 at 1:00pm ET.
ESPN will air final round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Marconi Pennsylvania Classic at 2:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the Fire-Burn MLS playoff match at 5:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Giants-Padres at 4:00pm ET and Yankees-Orioles at 7:00pm ET.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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