| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, June 6, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | Legal Settlement Guarantees Twins Will Play In MN Through ’03 Season |
| • | ESPN2 Announces “Street Ball” Tour And Planned TV Series |
| • | NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Available For Interviews Tonight |
| • | Boise Courtroom Agrees To Hear FieldTurf Legal Argument Today |
| • | Celebriducks To Become An Official NBA Licensee Next Season |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
MN SETTLEMENT ACCEPTANCE SPARES TWINS THROUGH ’03 SEASON
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that Metrodome landlord The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission voted unanimously this afternoon “to accept a lawsuit settlement with Major League Baseball that keeps the Twins in the Dome through the 2003 season.” The settlement includes a provision for the Twins to reserve the right to sue again, if necessary. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement that the league “looks forward to working with the Twin Cities and all of Minnesota and their efforts to build a new ballpark and create an operating climate for the Twins that will ensure the continuation of baseball in Minnesota” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/6).
AND 1 “STREET BALL” TOUR TO CROSS NATION, AIR IN SEPTEMBER
ESPN2 today announced it will debut “Street Ball: The AND 1 Mix Tape Tour” in September, an eight-week series showcasing playground basketball. Produced by ESPN Original Entertainment, “Street Ball” will focus on the playground basketball scene, with half-hour programs based on the tour airing on Tuesdays starting September 3 (THE DAILY).
| ‘02 AND 1 Mix Tape Tour |
| SITE | DATE | | SITE | DATE |
| Philadelphia | June 15 | | Birmingham | July 18 |
| Boston | June 17 | | Atlanta | July 20 |
| Cleveland | June 19 | | Charlotte | July 22 |
| Cincinnati | June 20 | | Virginia Beach | July 24 |
| Louisville | June 21 | | Baltimore – DC | July 25 |
| St. Louis | June 22 | | N.Y. | July 27 |
| Indianapolis | June 24 | | Seattle | July 31 |
| Chicago | June 26 | | Portland | August 1 |
| Detroit | June 29 | | Sacramento | August 3 |
| Dallas | July 11 | | Oakland | August 5 |
| Houston | July 14 | | Fresno | August 6 |
| New Orleans | July 16 | | L.A. | August 10 |
MEET THE PRESS: BETTMAN TO SIT FOR INTERVIEWS TONIGHT
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will be available to the media beginning at 5:00pm ET at Joe Louis Arena prior to tonight’s Stanley Cup Finals Game Two between the Red Wings and Hurricanes (THE DAILY).
TURF TALK: BOISE COURTROOM TO HEAR FIELDTURF CASE TODAY
The ID STATESMAN reports that FieldTurf “takes its case back into a Boise courtroom today,” hoping to halt installation of AstroPlay in Bronco Stadium. FieldTurf is suing the state of ID, the Dept. of Administration and the Division of Public Works, saying the bid process “violated state laws.” The state eventually awarded the contract to AstroPlay for $648,000, even though FieldTurf´s bid was lower by $105,000 (ID STATESMAN, 6/6).
DODGE KEYS INTO PRESENTING SPONSORSHIP OF GRAVITY GAMES
The Gravity Games formally announced that Dodge will be the presenting sponsor and Official Vehicle of the ’02 event, scheduled July 27-August 4 at Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor behind the Rock & Roll HOF (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
YES Network Chair & CEO Leo Hindery participated in a telephone conference call at 1:15pm ET today discussing Cablevision request for a 660-day period to submit material to the court before any trial on YES’ lawsuit could begin (THE DAILY).
The NBA announced today that Celebriducks will return next season and become an official NBA licensee. In addition, Celebriducks will begin being sold nationwide at retailers in August, featuring the likenesses of Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, Vince Carter and more (THE DAILY).
According to an article in the latest issue of Dime Magazine, Nets F Kenyon Martin suggests that racism has contributed to his reputation as a “thug.” Martin said, “Maybe because I’m black, some people say I’m a thug or I’m a hoodlum or something like that. They don’t look at a lot of white young men as thugs or hoodlums, you know?” (THE DAILY).
Meanwhile, the Bergen RECORD reports that Nets C Jason Collins is “a member of the Screen Actors Guild.” Collins explains, “In high school and in college, I was an extra, background talent” (Bergen RECORD, 6/6).
The Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE reports that Bills QB Drew Bledsoe’s first official Bills’ trading card, part of the NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick series, “features an action shot of Bledsoe – as a Patriot.” NFL spokesperson Dan Masonson: “It’s a collector’s item, really” (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 6/6).
Canadian Welterweight Champion Hercules Kyvelos has signed a three-year promotional contract with Don King Productions. The contract guarantees Kyvelos four fights per year (THE DAILY).
The International Ski Federation decided today that Aare, Sweden, “will have the Alpine World Skiing Championships and Sapporo, Japan gets the Nordic skiing world championships” in ’07 (AP, 6/6).
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The DETROIT NEWS’ Angelique Chengelis on the normally divided fan base of the Raleigh, NC-area rallying together around the Hurricanes.
The BOSTON GLOBE’s Bob Ryan on the Red Sox’ continuing support of the Action for Boston Community Development by allowing a charity softball fundraiser for the organization to be held at Fenway Park.
The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL’s Barbara Bradley profiles urban sportswear company and Lennox Lewis outfitter FUBU.
The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Gordon Marino on the unsympathetic treatment Mike Tyson receives from the media.
See The Daily Insider’s Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT’S EVENT
The WNBA Fire welcome Portland native and “Survivor: Marquesas” winner Vecepia Towery to their 7:00pm PT game against the Monarchs (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS…….
The AP reports that ABC admitted it “edited the word ‘Jesus’ out of a recent broadcast so viewers wouldn't be offended,” but for many, it had “the opposite effect.” The bleeped Jesus on "The View" has “drawn the ire” of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, conservative media watchdogs and “even the women whose on-air conversation was altered” (AP, 6/6).
REUTERS reports that “in a sign the depressed U.S. job market is gaining some steam, claims for state unemployment benefits fell last week to their the lowest level in more than a year” (REUTERS, 6/6).
A judge fined R.J. Reynolds Co. $20M today for “violating the terms of the 1998 national tobacco settlement by running magazine ads aimed at teen-agers.” The CA attorney general's office “asked the judge to fine Reynolds $25 million and ban it from advertising in 50 magazines read by teens” (AP, 6/6).
Conde Nast Publications said today that it “expects to launch a teen-age version of its flagship Vogue magazine next year” (REUTERS, 6/6).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending June 6 (BILLBOARD, 6/15):
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | The Eminem Show | Eminem | Web/Aftermath |
| 2) | P. Diddy & Bad Boy: We Invented the Remix | Various Artists | Bad Boy |
| 3) | Ashanti | Ashanti | Murder Inc./Def Jam |
| 4) | Come Home With Me | Cam'ron | Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam |
| 5) | A New Day Has Come | Celine Dion | Epic |
| 6) | Mended | Marc Anthony | Columbia |
| 7) | C'mon, C'mon | Sheryl Crow | A&M |
| 8) | No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems | Kenny Chesney | BNA |
| 9) | Now 9 | Various Artists | Universal/EMI/Zomba/Sony |
| 10) | Juslisen (Just Listen) | Musiq | Def Soul |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN2 will replay ’02 French Open tennis, V. Williams-Fernandez and Capriati-S. Williams, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN will air Stanley Cup Final Game Two, Hurricanes-Red Wings, at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Richard Petty at 8:00pm ET.
HBO’s “On The Record” with Bob Costas will feature boxer Oscar De La Hoya, Chris Rock and Jamie Foxx at 10:30pm ET.
Meanwhile, Costas will appear on ABC’s “Politically Incorrect.”
ESPN2 will air “Mohr Sports” at 11:00pm ET.
NBA Commissioner David Stern, former boxer Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, horse trainer Bob Baffert and Wizards F Richard Hamilton will be on FSN’s "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
A&E’s “Biography” will profile actor Andy Griffith at 8:00pm ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Paula Poundstone at 8:00pm ET and Mike Tyson & Robin Givens at 9:00pm ET.
CBS will air a second “Price Is Right” primetime special at 8:00pm ET, this time with members of the U.S. Coast Guard as contestants.
Fox will air “The 2002 Essence Awards” at 8:00pm ET.
MTV will air the “‘02 Movie Awards” at 9:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “The Late Show” | Nicolas Cage |
| “The Tonight Show” | Matt Damon |
| “The Late Late Show” | Denise Richards |
| “Late Night” | Chris Rock |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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