| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, April 5, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | IOC Says That Athens Is On The Right Track For '04 |
| • | AFL-CIO Reportedly Telling MLB To Dump New Era Cap Company |
| • | AFL Inks Tyco's ADT Security As Its Latest Sponsor |
| • | Donald Watkins Confirms Bid For Angles For An Estimated $250M |
| • | L.A. TIMES Examines The Tension Between Network And Creative Executives |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
IOC GIVES ATHENS SOME OF ITS HIGHEST MARKS TO DATE
The AP reports that the IOC "gave its most encouraging update" on the '04 Olympic Games "since mismanagement and missed deadlines put the Athens Games in jeopardy two years ago." IOC Athens Commission Dir Denis Oswald concluded a three-day inspection of the venues and said today, "The situation has changed tremendously." Oswald "was pleased with work in two key areas – construction projects and hotel space." But he added, "I think everything is still feasible. We just have a tight schedule and have to follow very closely the progress of the work" (AP, 4/5).
AFL-CIO PUTTING PRESSURE ON MLB TO DROP NEW ERA CAP CO.
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that "major colleges around the country, including Georgetown and George Washington universities, are canceling contracts" with New Era Cap Co. in "response to reports of unfair labor practices at its plants." In addition, the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions "are leaning on [MLB] not to renew its contract with" New Era "when it expires next year, a potentially major blow to the company" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/5).
But New Era is responding to "sweatshop" charges as a "campaign of misinformation" and wants colleges and universities to "take an objective look at the 82-year old cap maker" (BUSINESS FIRST OF BUFFALO ,4/5).
SPENCER TABS BUSCH DRIVER TO ASSIST ON ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN
At Texas Motor Speedway today, NASCAR's Jimmy Spencer and Spencer Motor Ventures unveiled a new Busch Series car to be driven by rookie Stuart Kirby. The #34 Chevrolet is sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and features an anti-drug message, as Kirby joins Spencer in being part of the White House Office Of National Drug Control Policy's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign. In addition, Kirby plans to join an effort Spencer initiated earlier this year by promoting anti-drug messages to NASCAR fans and youth across the U.S. (THE DAILY).
WITH KIRCH IN PERIL, CAR GROUPS ACCELERATE PLANS ON F1 DEAL
The London GUARDIAN reports that the threat to the future of Formula One racing has "intensified after a group of key car manufacturers shifted their plans for their own breakaway championship up a gear." Five manufacturers, including BMW and Mercedes-Benz owner, Daimler-Chrysler, "have contacted racetrack owners and promoters around the world in the hope of forging strong links and challenging the might of Bernie Ecclestone" (London GUARDIAN, 4/5).
AFL INKS TYCO'S ADT SECURITY AS ITS LATEST SPONSOR
The AFL today announced that ADT Security Services, Inc., a unit of Tyco Fire and Security Services, has signed a multi-year agreement to become the leading sponsor of both the AFL and the af2. As part of the deal, ADT will sponsor the "Defensive Player of the Year Award" in both leagues. ADT will also receive on-site promotional opportunities in all 16 AFL and 34 af2 venues and will be featured on the league's Web site and in game-day programs. In addition, the company will receive advertising opportunities in '02 with media partners, including The Sporting News, TNN, ESPN and ABC (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
The BIRMINGHAM NEWS confirmed that Donald Watkins "has made an offer to purchase" the Angels for close to $250M, "contingent on a review of the club's finances" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 4/5).
For more on Watkins, see Friday's section of Weekend Events.
The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that Hawley-Cooke Booksellers have sold 1,358 copies of TX Tech Univ. coach Bob Knight's new book, "Knight: My Story," at their two Louisville stores. The former Univ. of IN coach will be at the Shelbyville Road Plaza store for a book signing today, beginning at 6:00pm CT (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 4/5).
The Royals today named Midwest Express Airlines its official team airline. Midwest will provide the team's charter transportation through '04 (THE DAILY).
MLBP will debut the first issue of this year's "Major League Baseball en Espanol" on Sunday. The bilingual magazine targeted toward the Latino community features 24 pages of original editorial content (THE DAILY).
The L.A. TIMES reports that the LPGA Office Depot Championship begins today at El Cabellero Country Club in Tarzana, CA, "continuing a frustrating trend where the tour bounces from course to course yearly." El Cabellero is the "fourth different golf course in as many years and the [L.A.] stop has also had four different names in the last six years. It's no wonder attendance at the event has been dwindling annually" (L.A. TIMES, 4/5).
IN OTHER NEWS…..
The N.Y. POST reports that the "strangest story to appear in the English press of late is that strange old rocker Ozzy Osbourne has been invited to a White House dinner." People say President Bush "is a huge fan of the MTV miniseries about Ozzy and his dysfunctional family" (N.Y. POST, 4/5).
The Aspen Skiing Co. and 18 Aspen-area restaurants started a boycott this week "after learning something was fishy with Chilean sea bass." The restaurants and Aspen Skiing Co. "are banning the fish from their menus to make a statement against their exploitation." The National Environmental Trust says that sea bass "are being poached into near-extinction" (ASPEN TIMES, 4/4).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The SACRAMENTO BEE's Ailene Voisin on why a new downtown arena "is a must for the city."
The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM's Ginger Richardson on the economic impact of the Texas Motor Speedway.
The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM's Lila LaHood on RadioShack's marketing efforts around NASCAR and other sports.
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's Rick Bonnell says bringing Michael Jordan to Charlotte in '99 would have made all the difference to the Hornets' future.
The DENVER POST's John Meyer on the "adversity" hitting the skiing community of Steamboat Springs.
The L.A. TIMES' Diane Pucin wonders if an athlete's looks really do matter in sports.
The L.A. TIMES' Brian Lowry on the tensions between creative personnel and network executives over who really controls the creative process – and he uses ESPN's "A Season On The Brink" as an example.
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday
AL business exec and potential MLB team owner Donald Watkins will keynote the National Association of Black Journalists conference at the Sheraton Birmingham through Sunday (BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/29).
Foot Locker will make a slide presentation reviewing the company's year-end financial highlights and earnings per share growth strategies on its corporate Web site beginning today (THE DAILY).
"Win a Day with Scott Walker" grand prize-winner Vinson Dill and 20 runners-up will participate in a 6:00pm ET on-ice hockey clinic at the Gaylord Entertainment Center hosted by Predators RW Walker (THE DAILY).
The Sabres will hold their annual Fan Appreciation Night for the 7:00pm ET home game against the Panthers (THE DAILY).
The Steelers will participate in the seventh annual "Hoops For A Cure" charity tripleheader at Chartiers Valley High School in Pittsburgh at 8:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The Grizzlies will give away an Elvis Presley bobblehead to the first 3,000 fans at the team's game against the Rockets (Memphis COMMERCIAL-APPEAL, 4/5).
Saturday
NASCAR's Junior Johnson and Geoffrey Bodine will sign autographs from 11:00am-2:00pm ET during the Food Lion AutoFair at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, NC (THE DAILY).
The Astros Tour Department will host its fourth teachers' workshop at Astros Field from 12:30-3:30pm CT (THE DAILY).
The MLS Crew's "Excellence in Ohio" series will continue at the team's match against the MetroStars at 7:30pm. At halftime, four amateur Ohio athletes will be honored. Olympic Silver Medal-winning skeleton slider Lee Ann Parsley was honored at the Crew's home opener two weeks ago (THE DAILY).
The MLS Burn will host a "Support the Lance Armstrong Foundation Night" when they take on DC United at the Cotton Bowl at 7:30pm CT. A portion of all the $16 reserve tickets sold will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Fund. Additionally, a pregame parade will be held for all cancer survivors (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/5).
A groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the new "Dodger Field" at Algin Sutton Recreation Center, located near the Univ. of Southern CA campus, to celebrate a renovation project for the athletic fields. The "Dodger Dream Foundation" contributed nearly $500,000 to the project (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/5).
Sunday
NHL Panthers G Roberto Luongo will be at Incredible Ice in Coral Springs, FL, at 1:00pm ET, to drop the puck for the final game of the USA Hockey National Tournament (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S DAILY STAT: EARLY RETURNS FROM MLB ATTENDANCE
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The following details MLB attendance for the first five days of the season. Attendance is compared to the same number of games last year. Data was compiled from MLB box scores:
|
| SERIES | Sun. | Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thur. | '02
TOTAL | AVG. | '01
TOTAL | AVG. | % +/- |
| Rangers-A's | | 43,908 | 10,267 | 23,259 | 15,081 | 92,515 | 23,129 | 105,315 | 26,329 | -12.2% |
| Indians-Angels | 42,697 | | 20,055 | 18,194 | | 80,946 | 26,982 | 77,193 | 25,731 | 4.9% |
| Brewers-Astros | | | 42,262 | 23,381 | 21,528 | 87,171 | 29,057 | 85,673 | 28,558 | 1.7% |
| Twins-Blue Jays | | | | | 47,469 | 47,469 | 47,469 | 48,115 | 48,115 | -1.3% |
| Phillies-Braves | | 51,638 | | 23,865 | 24,640 | 100,143 | 33,381 | 104,260 | 34,753 | -3.9% |
| Rockies-Cardinals | | 48,397 | | 26,557 | 27,691 | 102,645 | 34,215 | 113,944 | 37,981 | -9.9% |
| Padres-D'Backs | | 47,025 | 48,042 | 36,201 | | 131,268 | 43,756 | 117,197 | 39,066 | 12.0% |
| Marlins-Expos | | | 34,351 | 4,779 | 4,551 | 43,681 | 14,560 | 71,821 | 23,940 | -39.2% |
| Dodgers-Giants | | | 53,356 | 36,374 | 32,064 | 121,794 | 40,598 | 112,790 | 37,597 | 8.0% |
| White Sox-Mariners | | 46,036 | 40,805 | 31,082 | | 117,923 | 39,308 | 104,528 | 34,843 | 12.8% |
| Pirates-Mets | | 53,734 | | 25,952 | 33,785 | 113,471 | 37,824 | 117,382 | 39,127 | -3.3% |
Blue Jays-
Red Sox | | 33,520 | | Postponed | | 33,520 | 33,520 | 33,525 | 33,525 | 0.0% |
| Cubs-Reds | | 41,913 | | 19,745 | 16,448 | 78,106 | 26,035 | 81,015 | 27,005 | -3.6% |
| Twins-Royals | | 40,605 | | 10,856 | | 51,461 | 25,731 | 56,837 | 28,419 | -9.5% |
| Devil Rays-Tigers | | | 38,142 | 15,186 | 14,204 | 67,532 | 22,511 | 76,579 | 25,526 | -11.8% |
| Yankees-Orioles | | 48,058 | | 32,142 | 33,317 | 113,517 | 37,839 | 115,618 | 38,539 | -1.8% |
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CRITICS WEIGH IN: “BIG TROUBLE” “HIGH CRIMES” & “VAN WILDER”
Tim Allen gets himself in deep "Trouble," Ashley Judd helps Morgan Freeman prosecute "High Crimes," and National Lampoon makes college life a little bit "Wilder":
| Movie
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| Big Trouble | High Crimes | Van Wilder |
| Chicago Sun-Times |  | 
|  |
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| L.A. Times | | | |
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| N.Y. Times | | | |
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| USA Today | | | |
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| Washington Post | | | |
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CHANNEL SURFING
FRIDAY
ESPN will air Avalanche-Stars at 7:00pm ET.
TBS will air Mets-Braves at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile NBA HOFer Jerry Lucas at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air "Friday Night Fights" at 9:00pm ET.
A&E will air Stars On Ice 2002 at 9:00pm ET.
SATURDAY
ESPN will air tennis' '02 Davis Cup, U.S.-Spain, at 2:00pm ET.
NBC will air the PGA Tour BellSouth Classic, third round, at 2:00pm ET.
Fox will air the NASCAR BGN O'Reilly 300 at 2:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air MLS Revolution-Earthquakes at 3:00pm ET.
CNN will air "Pinnacle," and Willow Bay interviews Magic Johnson at 4:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the LPGA Tour Office Depot Championship at 5:00pm ET.
NBC will air Mavericks-Spurs at 5:30pm ET.
TBS will air Mets-Braves at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Red Wings-Sharks at 10:30pm ET.
SUNDAY
NBC airs Bucks-76ers at 12:30pm ET and Lakers-Heat at 5:30pm ET.
Fox will air the NASCAR Winston Cup Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at 12:30pm ET.
NBC will air the PGA Tour BellSouth Classic, final round, at 2:00pm ET.
TBS will air Mets-Braves at 2:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the '02 McDonald's High School All-American Game at 3:00pm ET.
ESPN will air tennis' '02 Davis Cup, U.S.-Spain, at 3:00pm ET.
TNN will air ASA Racing Series at 3:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the LPGA Tour Office Depot Championship at 5:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Avalanche-Blues at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN will air A's-Mariners at 8:00pm ET.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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