| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, March 26, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | MLB Owners Agree To Lock Out-Free Season |
| • | NJ Governor Seeks To Halve Subsidy To Sports Authority |
| • | Manchester United Warns Against Second Half Surge |
| • | Kentucky Derby Officials Increase Security Practices For May Race |
| • | Insider Book Addresses Williams Sister Exploits |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
MLB OWNERS VOW NO LOCK OUT THROUGH WORLD SERIES
The AP reports that MLB owners today pledged "not to lock out players through the 2002 World Series." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig had said for months that a lockout was not "on my radar screen," but refused to rule one out (AP, 3/26).
Meanwhile, during his town meeting on MLB.com this afternoon, Selig was asked if the MN House of Representatives yesterday passing a $330M ballpark funding bill changes the contraction situation in regard to the Twins. Selig: "I'm hopeful that the Legislature and the governor will come up with and agree on a comprehensive plan. Right now, they have different plans. … I'm hopeful that between the sale of the club to local investors – and that is very critical, it's critical there, and it's critical everywhere else – and a new stadium, which they desperately need, and I think that everybody understands that today, hopefully that will change the outlook in Minnesota. I am very hopeful of that, and monitor the situation now on a daily basis" (THE DAILY).
NJ GOVERNOR AIMS TO CUT STATE SUBSIDY TO NJSEA IN HALF
The AP reports NJ Gov. James McGreevey, declaring a "first step towards getting our state government out of the sports business," said today he would more than halve the state subsidy to the NJ Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA). The $6M cut to the NJSEA is a small part of the $23.6B budget, but "signals a new attitude toward the authority." McGreevey told a joint session of the Legislature, "The system is not working for the teams, and it's certainly not working for New Jersey's taxpayers." McGreevey also pledged to retain the professional teams that play at the complex (AP, 3/26).
MANCHESTER UNITED COUNTERS RECORD HALF WITH WARNING
Manchester United this afternoon warned that a strong financial performance in the first half of the year "would not be matched in the second half, when rising player costs and the [termination] of a sponsorship deal were expected to take their toll." The club announced that a team-uniform sponsorship deal with Umbro "was due to expire in April and would not be replaced until August," when its $432.2M deal with Nike was due to start" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 3/26). BBC.com adds that ManU earned a record $44M before tax during the half-year, while revenue also surged by 14% to $115.5M (BBC.com, 3/26).
ESPN MLB COMMENTATOR TEAMS ANNOUNCED
ESPN released the commentator teams for the network's '02 MLB telecasts. Jon Miller and Joe Morgan will work Monday games, with Dave O'Brien and Rick Sutcliffe scheduled to work Tuesday games. Dan Shulman or Dave Barnett will alternate working with Jeff Brantley for Wednesday afternoon telecasts, while Chris Berman will join O'Brien, Sutcliffe or Morgan for early Wednesday telecasts. Late games on Wednesday will be handled by Shulman or O'Brien, joining Morgan or Tony Gwynn. ESPN and ESPN2 will increase their MLB coverage to five games per week, up from three, with the addition of contests on Monday nights and Wednesday afternoons (THE DAILY).
DERBY ATTENDEES FACE INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES
The AP reports that fans attending this year's Kentucky Derby "will be screened with magnetic wands when they enter Churchill Downs under beefed-up security in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks." Track and law enforcement officials also announced today that there will be "more restrictions on what the fans can bring into the track for the May 4 race" (AP, 3/26).
TESH SWIPES BACK AT COSTAS FOR OLYMPIC INSULTS
The AP reports that John Tesh is "still bitter about comments he said [Bob] Costas made about his much-panned stint as a gymnastics commentator during the 1996 Summer Olympics on NBC." Tesh: "I think Bob Costas needs a spanking. I have nothing nasty to say about most people, but just the unbridled drubbing that he drummed up for me, it was just unnecessary. ... I'm not a big fan" (AP, 3/26).
BUZZER BEATERS
The Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL reports that Venus and Serena Williams' former hitting coach Dave Rineberg "is out with an insider book" entitled "Venus & Serena: My Seven Years As Hitting Coach For The Williams" that weighs in on the "alleged fix" at the '99 Lipton final, when Venus topped Serena in the final round, and other details about the girls' lives (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 3/26).
Bradford Race, a former top aide to NY Gov. George Pataki, has become a special adviser to YES Network Chair & CEO Leo Hindery Jr. (AP, 3/26).
The Red Sox today announced that they will debut several new fan amenities on Opening Day. The team will offer new seats in various price ranges, more locations for food and beverage and reconstituted venues for fans, including a new sports bar on Lansdowne Street and a new restaurant/club for season ticket holders (THE DAILY).
Insight Sports, Video Service Corp. and the CHA today released to retail outlets "Gold Rush 2002," chronicling the Canadian Olympic Hockey Gold Medal-winning run through Salt Lake City (THE DAILY).
Fantasy Sports has developed the "Fantasy Drag Racing Challenge" game, the first fantasy sports game for hot rod fans. Fantasy will have a branded link on the front page of NHRA.com, as well as banner ads that will drive fans into the "Fantasy Drag Racing Challenge" (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES' David Adams on the state of soccer prior to the World Cup.
The N.Y. TIMES' Edmund Andrews on Kirch Group's financial troubles and the effect they'll have on broadcasting this year's World Cup.
CABLEWORLD's Staci Kramer profiles eight regional networks competing for cable-subscribing sports fans.
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION's Bill Husted on technological products aimed at improving golf swings.
The N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE's David Shields profiles Sonics Owner Howard Schultz.
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
Loews Astor Plaza in N.Y. will host the premiere of Walt Disney Pictures' "The Rookie" at 6:30pm ET. A reception will be held following the screening at the ESPN Zone, with ESPN anchor Chris Berman as host (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
REUTERS reports that Robert De Niro and British rockers Queen today pledged "We Will Rock You," with a new musical packed with the band's greatest hits. De Niro's Tribeca Productions will back the musical, described as a "futuristic musical about a world where globalization rules – everyone watches the same movies, wears the same clothes and listens to computerized music" (REUTERS, 3/26).
The AP reports that Hare Krishnas "are planning a garden in eastern India in the memory of former Beatle George Harrison, a longtime devotee of Hinduism who died last year" (AP, 3/26).
THE DAILY STAT: DUKE BREAKS SEVERAL MADNESS BRACKETS
The following presents the percentage of ESPN.com 2002 Tournament Challenge Participants that picked these teams to win the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (ESPN.com):
| RK | | SCHOOL | % |
| 1) | | Duke | 39.5% |
| 2) | | Kansas | 23.8% |
| 3) | | Maryland | 20.0% |
| 4) | | Cincinnati | 4.0% |
| 5) | | Oklahoma | 3.8% |
| 6) | | Arizona | 1.3% |
| 7) | | Conneticut | 1.2% |
| 8) | | Gonzaga | 1.1% |
| 9) | | Oregon | 1.0% |
| 10) | | Illinois | 0.8% |
| |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air the NIT semifinals: Temple-Memphis at 7:00pm ET and Syracuse-South Carolina at 9:00pm ET.
TBS will air Mavericks-Bucks at 8:00pm ET and Clippers-Kings at 10:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air tennis' Nasdaq 100 Open at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Stars-Sharks at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Willie Mays at 8:00pm ET.
Oklahoma men's basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and San Diego St. men's basketball coach Steve Fisher will be on ESPN's "Unscripted."
Kansas men's basketball coach Roy Williams and Cincinnati men's basketball coach Bob Huggins will be on FSN's "The Last Word."
Steelers QB Kordell Stewart, Mets 1B Mo Vaughn and comedian Tommy Davidson will be on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile the TV show "Beverly Hills 90210" at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Barbara Walters |
| "The Tonight Show" | Jodie Foster |
| "The Late Late Show" | John Cleese |
| "Late Night" | Tom Green |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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