| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Monday, April 22, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | U.S. Olympians Trade Gold Medals For Black Ties At D.C. Event |
| • | Nintendo Agrees To Sponsor World Cup Korea/Japan Web Site |
| • | Youbet.com Inks Co-Marketing Agreement With Churchill Downs |
| • | Hartford Mayor To Urge Travelers To Drop Sponsorship Of Biased Masters |
| • | IBM Tallies Tim Duncan As Team's Most Valuable Component |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight's Events/Daily Stat/In Other News/Channel Surfing |
WHITE HOUSE INVITES GOLD MEDALISTS TO BLACK-TIE AFFAIR
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that the U.S. Olympic team "will be feted at a black-tie dinner in Washington tonight, then visit President Bush at the White House tomorrow afternoon." Gold Medalists expected to be in attendance are figure skater Sarah Hughes, speedskaters Apolo Anton Ohno, Derek Parra, and Casey FitzRandolph, snowboarders Ross Powers and Kelly Clark, bobsledders Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers, and skeleton sliders Jim Shea Jr. and Tristan Gale (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/22). The ceremony, entitled "The Korbel Celebration of U.S. Olympic Champions," will be taped to air on NBC on May 18 (THE DAILY).
GAME, BOY: NINTENDO TO SPONSOR WORLD CUP WEB SITE
Nintendo will sponsor FIFAworldcup.com, the official Web site of the '02 World Cup Korea/Japan. The Nintendo-sponsored sections of the site will promote the European launch of Nintendo GameCube on May 3, and run throughout the World Cup tournament. Nintendo also will sponsor the Entertainment section of the Web site, which includes an interactive Game Zone, the Mascot Zone, Download Central and the official music of the World Cup (THE DAILY).
YOUBET.COM WAGES ON CHURCHILL DOWNS PARTNERSHIP
Youbet.com today announced that it has entered into a one-year co-marketing agreement with Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) that designates Youbet.com as an official online wagering platform of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby. Youbet.com will participate in several direct mail programs to Churchill Downs customers, and will place graphic links on the Web sites of Churchill Downs and other CDI racetracks (THE DAILY).
HARTFORD MAYOR WANTS TRAVELERS TO WALK OUT ON MASTERS
The HARTFORD COURANT reports that Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez "will ask the city council tonight to join him in asking the Travelers [Citigroup] to end its long sponsorship of golf's premier tournament, the Masters," because the event "is played at the Augusta National Golf Club, an all-male club." According to the mayor's chief of staff, Perez "was responding to an opinion piece in The Courant … [that] described how corporate America shrugs at the continuing discrimination against women by golf clubs" (HARTFORD COURANT, 4/22).
HUDSON, A'S BOARD AUCTION BANDWAGON WITH USED ITEMS
The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that A's radio announcer Robert Baun "suggested to A's [pitcher] Tim Hudson that he provide some used items for a charity auction," and is currently "accepting bids at radio@oaklandathletics.com on these treasures: authentic game-chewed gum; game-used socks; ankle tape; cleat dirt and the stick; a Hudson-used comb; a towel from a postgame shower; a game-used dugout towel; utensils from the postgame spread; clippings from Hudson's goatee and an opportunity to take a picture drinking beers with Hudson." All donations are tax deductible (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/22).
Meanwhile, ESPN Auctions will offer fans the chance to bid on the ESPN The Magazine Experience in N.Y., as well as autographed issues of the publication. The auction ends Thursday, with proceeds from certain items benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
FIFA President Sepp Blatter "criticized his No. 2 official on Monday but stopped short of calling for the resignation" of General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen. Blatter, on Zen-Ruffinen accusing the president of "mismanagement and impropriety": "What has happened here at FIFA in the last few days is intolerable. I don't want him to resign, but I do want him to do his job" (AP, 4/22). Meanwhile, the AP reports that FIFA's exec committee "will discuss an Arab request to suspend Israel because of its treatment of Palestinians" when the group meets May 3 (AP, 4/22).
The AP reports that Spurs F Tim Duncan "won the NBA's IBM Award, a computer-calculated measure of a player's contribution to his team." Duncan defeated Pistons F Ben Wallace and Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett (AP, 4/22).
The 76ers' "Shirts-Off-Their-Backs" auction at www.sixers.com raised $22,760 for Sixers Charities. Bidding ran from April 4-18 for all 15 of the 76ers' game-worn, autographed home jerseys. 76ers G Allen Iverson's jersey received the highest bid, closing at $4,350 (THE DAILY).
News Corp.'s Australian arm, News Ltd., announced today that it has "sold its 50 per cent stake in the Canberra Raiders National Rugby League club" (FINANCIAL REVIEW, 4/22).
SportsTicker announced today that it will provide sports news and information to the YES Network. SportsTicker will offer in-progress score updates, standings, schedules, statistics and team reports to the YES Network's broadcast and Internet operations (THE DAILY).
Sports Illustrated Women is asking fans to vote on the question "Who are the sexiest men in sports?" Votes can be submitted online. The editors' picks will appear in the magazine's swimsuit issue (PEOPLE.com, 4/22).
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
U.S. coach Bruce Arena is expected to announce which MLS players will be part of the '02 World Cup roster during the 6:00pm ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter." The final World Cup roster must be submitted to FIFA by May 21 (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The BOSTON HERALD's Greg Gatlin on the FCC's push to get broadcasters and cable operators up to speed with HDTV technology.
The N.Y. TIMES' Jim Rutenberg on the Oxygen network's struggle for ratings.
In an Op-Ed in the N.Y. TIMES, Thomas Friedman gives ten reasons why The Golf Channel is the "perfect antidote" to CNN and MSNBC's coverage of fighting in the Middle East.
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Michael O'Keeffe on the rise in professional athletes' gambling in Las Vegas.
The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Martin, Ford & Cohen on public costs for Soldier Field renovations being higher than expected.
USA TODAY's Bruce Horovitz on marketing to Gen-Y.
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS' Rich Cimini follows Jets GM Terry Bradway for one week leading up to the NFL Draft.
The COLUMBUS DISPATCH's Michael Arace conducts a Q&A with Blue Jackets President & GM Doug MacLean.
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Microsoft Chair Bill Gates took the stand today "for the first time in his company's epic antitrust case," testifying the penalties being sought by nine states would "undermine the Windows software used by millions of Americans" (AP, 4/22).
The BOSTON HERALD reported that Boston's major TV stations "have been unanimous in their reaction" to Nielsen's People Meter, the company's new monitoring system. Every one has "canceled its contract" with Nielsen Media Research. Only NECN, NESN and AT&T Broadband, "along with some local advertising firms, have agreed to play ball." WCVB Research Director Adrienne Lotoski: "The numbers are kind of all over the place" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/22).
The WASHINGTON POST lists 10 things you can do to celebrate Earth Day (WASHINGTON POST, 4/22).
Backstreet Boy Nick Carter "will sing the national anthem before the American Power Boat Association Super Vee race in Daytona Beach." The race will also be the debut of Nick Carter racing, as he is "entering his new 43-foot powerboat in the contest" (AP, 4/22).
THE DAILY STAT: N.Y. TIMES BEST SELLING NONFICTION
The following presents best selling nonfiction books from the N.Y. Times the week ending April 13 (N.Y. TIMES).
| THIS
WEEK | | HARDCOVER NONFICTION |
| 1) | | LUCKY MAN, Michael J. Fox (Hyperion) |
| 2) | | A MIND AT A TIME, Mel Levine (Simon & Schuster) |
| 3) | | KNIGHT: MY STORY, Bob Knight with Bob Hammel (Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's) |
| 4) | | STUPID WHITE MEN, Michael Moore (ReganBooks/HarperCollins) |
| 5) | | A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN, Maya Angelou (ReganBooks/HarperCollins) |
| 6) | | REPORT FROM GROUND ZERO, Dennis Smith (Viking) |
| 7) | | BLINDED BY THE RIGHT, David Brock (Crown) |
| 8) | | STILL WOMAN ENOUGH, Loretta Lynn with Patsi Bale Cox (Hyperion) |
| 9) | | DRIVER #8, Dale Earnhardt Jr. with Jade Gurss (Warner) |
| 10) | | BIAS, Bernard Goldberg (Regnery) |
| |
CHANNEL SURFING
"Wheel of Fortune" will host "NASCAR Week" tonight through Friday. A number of NASCAR drivers – including Bobby Labonte, Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace – will be featured in show segments shot on location with Vanna White at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March (THE DAILY).
ESPN will air NHL Conference Quarterfinals, Flyers-Senators, at 7:00pm ET.
TNT will air NBA Conference Quarterfinals: Pacers-Nets at 7:00pm ET and Sonics-Spurs at 9:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air White Sox-Indians at 7:00pm ET.
TBS will air Marlins-Braves at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NHL Conference Quarterfinals, Avalanche-Kings, at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Pete Rose at 8:00pm ET.
Hornets coach Paul Silas and Yankees 3B Robin Ventura will be on ESPN's "Unscripted."
Sparky Anderson, LPGA player Jill McGill and former NBAer Scott Hastings will be on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
A&E's "Biography" will profile the year 1975 at 8:00pm ET, followed by the "Biography Close-Up" of "Saturday Night Live" at 9:00pm ET.
E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile Robert Blake at 8:00pm ET.
HBO will air "Real Sports" with Bryant Gumbel at 10:00pm ET. The L.A. TIMES writes that Gumbel's interview with former Univ. of AR men's basketball coach Nolan Richardson "is even-handed and thorough," but the school's AD Frank Broyles and all other school officials "declined to be interviewed," so the show only offers Richardson's side (L.A. TIMES, 4/22).
49ers QB Jeff Garcia will be on ESPN's "Mohr Sports" at 12:30am ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Ashton Kutcher |
| "The Tonight Show" | Val Kilmer |
| "The Late Late Show" | Michael Clarke Duncan |
| "Late Night" | Kevin Spacey (r) |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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