| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, July 19, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| • | New Reality/Sports Program “Street Skillz” To Tape Pilot On N.Y. Courts |
| • | Seahawks Fans Get First Glance At New Facility With Two Open Houses |
| • | Vans To Halt Operations In Argentina, Brazil After Dismal Quarter & Year |
| • | With Hearing On Hold, Iverson Keeps Weekend Charity Events On Calendar |
| • | Critics Weigh In: “Eight Legged Freaks” Hopes To Catch Audiences In Its Web |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/ Daily Stat/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing |
“SKILLZ” TO PAY THE BILLS: NEW HOOPS SHOW TO TAPE PILOT
"Street Skillz," an original reality/sports entertainment basketball TV show written by Todd Ehrlich of T-LINE TV, will shoot its pilot live on Saturday at Dyckman Park in N.Y. Admission is free to the public, and the basketball exhibition games and events start at noon. In addition, Foot Locker has partnered with T-LINE TV, agreeing to sponsor the pilot production and to air its "Street Skillz" N.Y. pilot in their 1,475 locations nationally (THE DAILY).
SEAHAWKS TO OPEN NEW NEST TO FANS THIS WEEKEND
The Seahawks will permit fans to take self-guided tours of Seahawk Stadium, the team's new facility, from noon-7:00pm PT on Saturday and Sunday. The free open house will include live entertainment, NFL Experience interactive games, clinics and autograph signings (THE DAILY). Meanwhile, the SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER features a six-part series on the new facility today, which includes:
VANS SLAMS BRAKES ON TWO INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER reports that "struggling skateboard-shoe manufacturer Vans Inc. is closing operations in Argentina and Brazil, re-evaluating its skate-park strategy, writing off slow-moving merchandise, and changing its retail management after a dismal quarter and year." The company lost $14.9M for the quarter ending May 31 after a $10.5M charge, compared with a profit of $2.7M in the same period last year. Sales dropped $21.4M to $63.8M, with U.S. wholesale revenue dropping 46.7%. For the year, Vans lost $2.6M, compared with a $15.4M profit the previous year. Sales declined $8.8M to $332.4M, with U.S. wholesale revenue down 11% (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/19).
IVERSON CHARITY EVENTS ARE ON; WEB SITE LOBBIES FOR FREEDOM
The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that despite awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges of threatening two men, 76ers G Allen Iverson's "Dream Day at the Park" and "Celebrity Softball Game" scheduled for Saturday are on, and Iverson "plans to be in the lineup." Celebrities expected to attend include Bow Wow, Pat Croce and Timberwolves F Kevin Garnett. The events raise money for Iverson's Sixers Charities, his 9/11 relief fund and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and Camden (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/19).
Meanwhile, a new Web site located at http://www.freealleniverson.com has been established by the Coalition to Free Allen Iverson. The site, which lists charges brought against the NBA star, also includes a short Iverson bio, a petition for visitors to sign, a "How Can I Help?" section and an "Upcoming Events" section that lists a mass march and rally, though no further details are posted (THE DAILY).
CALLAWAY CHAIR & CEO TALKS INDUSTRY; NEW WARBIRD BRAND
Callaway Chair & CEO Ron Drapeau appeared on CNBC's "Morning Call" to discuss the company's earnings report, which was released yesterday. The company's Q2 net income increased to $37.1M, or $0.55 per share, from $27M, or $0.36 a share, a year earlier, which "exceeded Wall Street analysts' profit estimate of [$0.43] per share." However, net sales fell slightly to $252.2M from $253.7M. The company estimated full-year '02 sales of $810-820M and diluted earnings per share of $1.02 to $1.07, "which is less than the current First Call estimate of $1.14" (REUTERS, 7/18). Drapeau said on "Morning Call": "We've consistently said we will beat (full-year sales from) last year and we continue to say that. The street had us at some different levels that we thought were unrealistic." More Drapeau, on the "factors that have weighed" on the golf industry: "The Japan economy and banking crisis that has not been addressed. That effects the mindset of our consumers in that marketplace. In this country, the meltdown of the net worth and retirement funds of many of our consumers, and the effect on their psyches and then the weather has rounds down" ("Morning Call," CNBC, 7/19).
BUZZER BEATERS
The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that officials at Southern Methodist Univ. are expecting "maybe 6,000 fans" for tonight's exhibition match between Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick at Moody Coliseum. The match "will raise money for the Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation, which provides support for brain tumor patients and their families" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/19).
In DC, Eric Fisher writes on the WUSA, stating that the "second-year league is in trouble." Fisher notes that the league "has lost more than $40 million," TV ratings are "minuscule," and attendance for the Freedom, who "play in a near-empty RFK Stadium, and the WUSA as a whole is down sharply" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/19). In a sidebar, Tom Knott writes that Freedom F Mia Hamm is "possibly the least transcendent superstar ever," and that Hamm's effect on WUSA "has been negligible" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/19).
EarthLink today announced its sponsorship of the Team EarthLink adventure racing program for a third consecutive season (THE DAILY).
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday
The first 8,000 fans through the door for the WNBA Fire-Comets game at the Rose Garden will receive a free bingo card for a chance to win a Jackie Stiles bobblehead doll (THE DAILY).
Saturday
The Pirates will conduct "Animal Planet Day" prior to their home game against the Cardinals. The main attraction will be Animal Planet Expo, where fans can meet Animal Planet host Jeff Corwin (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/19).
The Chiefs and Royals will team up for "Two Teams … One Goal" beginning at 9:30am CT, where the organizations will distribute food to 3,000 families in K.C. (THE DAILY).
The MLS Galaxy's match against the K.C. Wizards at the Rose Bowl will be designated Korean Heritage Night. Meanwhile, the San Jose Earthquakes will host the second annual Hispanic Heritage Night at Spartan Stadium at 7:00pm PT (THE DAILY).
FSN's Jim Rome will host a "tour stop" at the Pepsi Center in Denver from 12:30-2:30pm MT (THE DAILY).
The two-day Core Tour will be held July 20-21 at the South Street Seaport in N.Y., featuring athletes from the sports of BMX dirt jumping, skateboarding, inline skating and mountain board jumping competing against amateur athletes in multiple competitions (THE DAILY).
Sunday
The two-day Core Tour concludes at the South Street Seaport in N.Y. (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S DAILY STAT: LYCOS MOST-SEARCHED ATHLETES
The following are the most-searched athletes by Lycos search engine users for the week ending July 13 (Lycos):
| RK | | ATHLETE |
| 1) | | Anna Kournikova |
| 2) | | Allen Iverson |
| 3) | | Daniela Hantuchova |
| 4) | | David Beckham |
| 5) | | Apolo Anton Ohno |
| 6) | | Serena Williams |
| 7) | | Michael Jordan |
| 8) | | Derek Jeter |
| 9) | | Venus Williams |
| 10) | | Landon Donovan |
| |
CRITICS WEIGH IN: “EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS,” “K-19” & “STUART LITTLE 2”
Three sure bets at the box office this weekend, as "Eight Legged Freaks" frightens, "K-19" floats critics' boats and "Stuart 2" is a little bit better than the original:
| Movie
|
| | Eight Legged
Freaks | K-19: The
Widowmaker | Stuart
Little 2 |
| Chicago Sun-Times | | | |
|
| Hollywood Reporter | | | |
|
| L.A. Times | | | |
|
| N.Y. Times | | | |
|
| USA Today | | | |
| |
CHANNEL SURFING
FRIDAY
MSG Network and NBAE will telecast the July 15 Rucker Park contest featuring NBA stars such as Stephon Marbury, Baron Davis and Jermaine O'Neal at 7:30pm ET.
ARCA driver Deborah Renshaw will be on CNN's "Connie Chung Tonight" to discuss sex discrimination in her sport.
ESPN will re-air coverage of the British Open at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air '02 NBA SummerHoops, Blazers-Jazz, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Chris Webber at 8:00pm ET.
Ted Koppel will be on CBS' "Late Show" with David Letterman at 11:30pm ET.
SATURDAY
MGP & Associates President Mike Paul will discuss Allen Iverson's situation with Neil Cavuto on Fox News at 10:15am ET.
ESPN will air NASCAR Craftsman Truck New England 200 at 1:00pm ET.
Fox will air regional MLB coverage at 1:00pm ET: Red Sox-Yankees, Astros-Cubs or Braves-Phillies.
NBC will air WNBA Sparks-Rockers at 2:00pm ET.
CBS will air "Topspin" at 2:00pm ET, featuring a swimsuit photo shoot with tennis star Marat Safin.
Fox will air regional MLB coverage of Giants-Dodgers at 4:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air MLS Revolution-MetroStars at 4:00pm ET.
ABC will air third-round highlights from the British Open at 5:00pm ET.
ESPN will air The Great Outdoor Games at 9:00pm ET.
SUNDAY
ESPN will air "Off Course with Jack Wagner" at 8:30am ET.
TNT will air NASCAR Winston Cup New England 300 at 200pm ET.
CBS will air the Tour de France at 3:00pm ET.
FSN will air the MLL All-Star Game at 4:00pm ET.
ABC will air final highlights from the British Open at 5:00pm ET.
ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball" will feature Mariners-Angels at 8:00pm ET.
Rangers SS Alex Rodriguez will be the "Sunday Conversation" on ESPN's "SportsCenter" at 11:00pm ET.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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