| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, April 18, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | CFL Extends “Official Hamburger” Deal With Wendy's |
| • | FIFA Gives Sign Of Approval After South Korean Stadium Tours |
| • | Dodgers To Honor Retired Numbers With Prime Outfield Placement |
| • | Gordon's Talladega Car To Reflect The Choice Of A New Generation |
| • | More Legal Problems For Former NBAer Jayson Williams |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
CFL BIGGIE-SIZES ITS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH WENDY'S
The CFL has reached an agreement with Wendy's Restaurants of Canada to continue as the "Official Hamburger" of the league. The sponsorship provides Wendy's exclusive use of the CFL trademarks, including the recently launched Grey Cup '02 mark (THE DAILY).
FIFA ACKNOWLEDGES SOUTH KOREA'S WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS
The AP reports that FIFA "praised South Korea's preparation and security readiness" for the upcoming World Cup after touring stadiums and host cities. South Korea and Japan will co-host the May 31-June 30 World Cup. FIFA Coordinator Peter Velappan said the Korean organizing committee's preparations were "excellent" (AP, 4/18).
GOVERNING BODY CALLS FOR SOCCER SALARY CAP
UEFA, European soccer's governing body, "wants a salary cap, despite objections from top clubs." Speaking at a European Union hearing today, UEFA, Deputy Secretary General Markus Studer said that the 15-nation EU "should prepare the political groundwork for such a move" (AP, 4/18).
DODGERS HONOR RETIREES WITH OUTFIELD DISPLAYS TODAY
The L.A. TIMES reports that "a permanent display of the Dodgers' 10 retired numbers will be unveiled [today] when the team returns to Dodger Stadium." The Dodgers with retired numbers are manager Walter Alston (#24), C Roy Campanella (#39), P Don Drysdale (#53), 2B Jim Gilliam (#19), P Sandy Koufax (#32), manager Tom Lasorda (#2), SS Pee Wee Reese (#1), 2B Jackie Robinson (#42), OF Duke Snider (#4) and P Don Sutton (#20). The numbers will hang in the outfield pavilions and will be "displayed in blue letters with a white background in a circular pattern." However, Robinson's #42, retired by MLB in '97, will be in white letters with a blue background (L.A. TIMES, 4/17).
THREE CANDIDATES NAMED FINALISTS FOR BASKETBALL HOF
Former Bradley Univ. men's basketball coach Forrest Anderson, sporting goods exec Grady Lewis – who helped develop the canvas basketball shoe and market basketball specific shoes throughout the country – and former NBAer Earl Lloyd were named by the Veteran's Screening Committee as finalists today for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Anderson is a first time finalist, though Lewis and Lloyd have been finalists before. The Basketball HOF class of '02 will be announced on June 5 at the Biltmore Hotel in L.A. (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
PAINT BOOTH: During Sunday's Winston Cup Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, Jeff Gordon's No. 24 DuPont Chevy will prominently feature the Pepsi logo on the hood (THE DAILY).
Meanwhile, Kerry Earnhardt, driving a car co-owned by Terry Bradshaw, will "start in the Winston Cup race at Talladega in October." Earnhardt will race the No. 83 car in the EA Sports 500 (AP, 4/18).
The AP reports that NBA announcers Marv Albert and Mike Fratello will miss their opening playoff broadcast after their limousine struck a van on a N.J. highway last night (AP, 4/18).
Former Net Jayson Williams "has been fined $300 for pushing a police officer after an argument at a bar last year." Williams "pleaded guilty Wednesday … to an obstruction charge," and admitted pushing an officer on November 22 when the cop "responded to a disturbance call" (AP, 4/18).
Chargers team photographer Mike Nowak won the Dave Boss Award of Excellence for Photograph of the Year in the 34th annual pro football HOF photo contest (THE DAILY). Check out the top photos in the Feature category, as well as the Action category.
IL Dept. of Labor officials "have told the Darien Youth Club baseball league to stop paying umpires who are not yet 14 years old – a move they say protects the youngsters." The state ruling means 36 young umpires "have been fired before the season's first pitch" (AP, 4/18).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
MEDIA LIFE MAGAZINE's Kevin Downey on the shift of broadcasting rights for pro leagues to cable networks.
The MIAMI HERALD profiles ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. prior to the NFL Draft.
SALON.com's Peter Flax on ESPN's reality show, "Down Low: Life in the D-League."
The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL's Don Walker on the "disturbing pattern of design errors" found in Miller Park.
The FINANCIAL TIMES' Meg Carter on market research geared towards "The Reality Generation," Europe's new breed of young consumers.
The TORONTO STAR's Jim Rankin on cyberscalpers asking top dollar for Maple Leafs playoff tickets.
The GRAND RAPIDS PRESS' Bob Becker on MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's claims of league losses as player salaries continue to climb.
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
The TORONTO SUN reports that the Maple Leafs "have made plans to use their third 'vintage' jersey" during the team's first round series against the Islanders, and test its "undefeated record" in '01-02. When wearing the jersey throughout the season, the Maple Leafs were 5-0-2 (TORONTO SUN, 4/18).
IN OTHER NEWS….
REUTERS reports that stocks "cut losses in early afternoon trading" today after a plane crash into a Milan skyscraper "appeared to be an accident, but the market was trapped on negative ground as rattled traders refused to make big bets." Airline stocks "recovered part of their losses later in the day, but remained under pressure" (REUTERS, 4/18).
Fleet Capital Corporation today announced that it provided Russell Corporation with a $325M senior secured revolving credit facility. The facility, which includes a five-year $300M revolving credit facility and a five-year $25M term loan, will be used to refinance existing debt and provide for ongoing working capital (THE DAILY).
The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reported that an attempt by Abercrombie & Fitch to "appeal to more Asian-Americans with a new line of T-shirts with stereotypical portrayals of Asians has backfired, eliciting angry complaints and e-mail campaigns to boycott" the retailer. The T-shirts "depict Asians with slanted eyes and conical hats" who work for "Wong Brothers Laundry Service," using the tagline "Two Wongs Can Make It White" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/17).
A photograph of John Lennon's spectacles, "bloodstained from when he was fatally shot outside his New York apartment building," sold at auction at Bonham's in London on Wednesday for "about $13,000" (AP, 4/18).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending April 18 (BILLBOARD, 4/27):
| RK | | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | | Ashanti | Ashanti | Murder Inc./Def Jam |
| 2) | | A New Day Has Come | Celine Dion | Epic |
| 3) | | Now 9 | Various | Universal/EMI/Zomba/Sony |
| 4) | | Gutterflower | Goo Goo Dolls | Warner Bros. |
| 5) | | Southern Hummingbird | Tweet | The Gold Mind/Elektra |
| 6) | | O Brother, Where Art Thou? | Soundtrack | Lost Highway/Mercury |
| 7) | | The Scorpion King | Soundtrack | Universal |
| 8) | | Laundry Service | Shakira | Epic |
| 9) | | M!ssundaztood | Pink | Arista |
| 10) | | Are You Passionate? | Neil Young | Reprise |
| |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air NHL Conference Quarterfinals, Blackhawks-Blues, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NHL Conference Quarterfinals: Canadiens-Bruins at 7:00pm ET, and Kings-Avalanche at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Larry Bird at 8:00pm ET.
Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, Padres 1B Phil Nevin and Padres CF Mark Kotsay will be on ESPN's "Unscripted."
Texans Owner Bob McNair will be on FSN's "The Last Word."
NFL prospect Quentin Jammer will appear on MTV's "TRL" this afternoon.
Jammer, NFL prospect Roy Williams and former NFL WR Andre Rison will be on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
HBO's "On The Record" with Bob Costas will feature Charles Barkley and Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban.
A&E's "Biography" will profile clothing store founder J.C. Penney at 8:00pm ET.
E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile the TV show "The Beverly Hillbillies" at 8:00pm ET, followed by the TV show "Andy of Mayberry" at 10:00pm ET.
NFL prospects Jammer, Bryant McKinnie, Julius Peppers and Mike Williams will be on CBS' "The Early Show" tomorrow morning.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Martin Short (r) |
| "The Tonight Show" | Richard Gere |
| "The Late Late Show" | Josh Hartnett (r) |
| "Late Night" | Tim Robbins |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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