Closing Bell, October 18, 2002

UPSET AT SCHOOL COLUMN, MOORES DROPS SDSU CONTRIBUTIONS

Sources have told the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE that Padres Owner John Moores, "who has donated tens of millions of dollars" to San Diego State Univ., "has withdrawn further financial support after an opinion piece appeared" in the school newspaper October 10, titled "Athletics should not be the beneficiary of corporate greed." Moores "was infuriated by the article" and told the school that "he is ending ties with the university," and "asked that anything bearing his name be removed from campus," including the plaque at the $4M baseball stadium that Moores helped finance. In total, Moores has given $28.6M to the school. The column in the independent school newspaper by staff writer Lenn Bell cites a recent Fortune magazine report that named Moores as the country's fifth "greediest" exec (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/18).

SPURS SET FOR SOFT-OPENING OF SBC CENTER TONIGHT

The Spurs will officially open the SBC Center tonight with their preseason game against the Knicks, and the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that a "critical issue that could make or break the success of the arena's debut is effectiveness of a traffic plan that the Spurs repeatedly have promoted." Meanwhile, "arena construction and operations workers were working feverishly Thursday to get the building ready for tonight," and fans will "see telltale signs of last-minute touch-up work." There will "be little hoopla, and no festivities prior to tonight's game, aside from an announcement welcoming the fans to the center, and possibly a demonstration of the capabilities of the arena's high-tech scoreboard." The 18,500-seat arena is not yet sold out, as roughly 1,800 seats at $25 and up are available (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 10/18).

BROWNS TO DON ORANGE TOGS FOR FIRST TIME IN FIFTY YEARS

The AP reports that "for the first time since" '54, the Browns will wear orange jerseys "that match their orange helmets" during this Sunday's game against the Titans. The NFL has given teams "the option of wearing an alternate jersey at one home game this season." The jersey can be a "throwback" or "classic" jersey, or teams can introduce a new, third color that already is part of their color scheme. That "didn't leave many options for the Browns, who wear either white or brown tops." Browns WR Dennis Northcutt: "I'm going to look like a pumpkin running downfield" (AP, 10/18).

JOHN DEERE TO HAVE MAJOR PRESENCE AT BELMONT ON SATURDAY

The THOROUGHBRED TIMES reported that John Deere, an NTRA/Breeders' Cup partner, is sponsoring Saturday's $150,000 Mohawk Stakes at Belmont Park. The race is part of the track's New York Showcase, a full card of races for NY-bred horses. As part of the sponsorship, John Deere will present six pedal tractors, toys and coloring books to Belmont's new childcare facility, Anna House, prior to the races. Also, antique John Deere tractors will be displayed at the track (THOROUGHBRED TIMES, 10/16).

ARGOS EYE BIG CROWD FOR SUNDAY'S TRIBUTE TO THE GREATEST

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the halftime show during Sunday's Renegades-Argonauts CFL game at SkyDome will include a "star-studded tribute" to Muhammad Ali as a fundraiser for Canada's Parkinson Society. The event will feature many sports figures, including Warren Moon, Elvis Stojko, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes, and "so far, the Argos said about 15,000 tickets have been sold, in what could be the 60-year-old Ali's last Canadian appearance." Argos marketing consultant Garth Drabinsky is predicting a crowd of 30,000 and said, "It will all depend on the walk-up for the next three days. It's typically huge for these kinds of things. Don't worry, people will be there" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/18). TSN will show the event live, and the TORONTO SUN wonders, "If not for the appearance of Muhammad Ali, who would really care?" But with Ali appearing, the "telecast is expected to garner some pretty impressive ratings, so it's no wonder TSN jumped into the fray and decided to televise the game" (TORONTO SUN, 10/18).

AHL BEARS READY TO CHRISTEN NEW ARENA TONIGHT IN HERSHEY

The AHL Hershey Bears play their first game in the new Giant Center on Saturday night, and the YORK DAILY RECORD reports, "Fans of the American Hockey League's oldest franchise will be treated to air conditioning, a digital sound and video system, 40 luxury boxes, 688 club seats, elevators, an ice cream shop, a coffee bar and alcohol sales, all things that Hersheypark Arena lacked." The 306,000-square foot facility cost $95M and was designed by HOK Sport and constructed by the Hunt Construction Group (YORK DAILY RECORD, 10/18). The facility seats 10,500 for hockey (THE DAILY).

BUZZER BEATERS

Formula One announced today that it "will race in China for the first time" in '04. The circuit said it has signed a seven-year deal beginning that year to hold a grand prix race at a new $244M track in Shanghai. The Shanghai course "will accommodate about 200,000 fans and is to be completed by March 2004. An adjoining theme park is also planned" (AP, 10/18).

To support the release of "NHL 2003," the NHL and EA Sports will bring the EA Sports/NHL Global Championship to nine countries throughout Europe and North America starting this weekend. In North America, retail partner Electronic Boutique will host the tournaments at 600 participating stores on Saturday and Sunday, while in Europe, local tournaments will be held at JRC in the Czech Republic, Soyuz in Russia, Musta Porssi Maailma in Finland and at 576 Kbyte in Hungary (THE DAILY).

Lleyton Hewitt "recently completed filming a new commercial for Sorbent toilet paper." The ad "will air prominently on Australian prime time television during the start of the '03 season Down Under" (TENNISWEEK.com, 10/18).

The SACRAMENTO BEE reports that while the "star-filled, 4-1 Raiders are playing the 5-1 Chargers for first place in the AFC West," the Raiders failed to sell out the game before the NFL's blackout deadline. So "even though CBS has deemed the showdown as its lead game … no one in Northern California without access to satellite television will see it" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/18).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

USOC CEO and alum Lloyd Ward will serve as Grand Marshal of the '02 Michigan State Univ. homecoming parade (THE DAILY).

NBA HOFer Magic Johnson will host the Magic Johnson Foundation Celebrity Golf Invitational in Las Vegas running through Sunday (THE DAILY).

The Head of Charles Regatta, sponsored by Audi of America, will take place through Saturday in Cambridge, MA. Over 400,000 are expected to attend (THE DAILY).

Saturday

The Houston Astros Tours Dept. will hold a free open house, including a tour of the Minute Maid Park Learning Center, for teachers and school administrators noon-3:00pm CT at Minute Maid Park (THE DAILY).

Nazareth Speedway will be featured on The Learning Channel's "Trading Spaces" home design show at 8:00pm ET. Cast and crew visited the speedway on August 20 to tape scenes (THE DAILY).

Sunday

The Packers will hold their fourth annual "Training Camp for Success" in and around Lambeau Field through Tuesday. The program offers business professionals new ways and ideas to deal with contemporary business challenges (THE DAILY).

Pacers President Donnie Walsh will be honored at the Monster Masquerade, co-sponsored by the Pacers Foundation and the Simon Youth Foundation, at Conseco Fieldhouse starting at 6:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

TODAY'S DAILY STAT: WORLD SERIES GAME ONE RATINGS TREND

The following presents a Nielsen ratings trend for Game One of the World Series since '97 (THE DAILY).

CRITICS WEIGH IN:

A decidedly mixed response to this weekend's openings, as "The Ring" gives creepy thrills to some, but shrills to others. While the sordid story of the late "Hogan's Heroes" star Bob Crane gets strong marks, its disturbing subject matter makes for difficult viewing. As the N.Y. TIMES' A.O. Scott writes, "When it was over, I wasn't sure if I needed a drink, a shower or a lifelong vow of chastity." The following open nationally :

Movie
	The Ring	Abandon	Auto Focus
Chicago Sun-Times			Not Reviewed
Hollywood Reporter			Not Reviewed
L.A. Times
N.Y. Times
USA Today

CHANNEL SURFING

FRIDAY

ESPN will air Fresno State-Boise State college football at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Rick Mears at 7:00pm ET.

Fox MLB announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver, Giants CF Kenny Lofton, Bears RB Anthony Thomas and former Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

Giants RF Reggie Sanders and boxer Johnny Tapia are scheduled to be on FSN's "The Last Word."

HEADLINERS

Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:

SATURDAY

NBC's "Weekend Today" will profile the NWFL, and Mass Mutiny QB Karolyn Domini will appear in studio.

ESPN will air "College Gameday" live from CO Springs at 10:30am ET.

BET's "Maad Sports" will feature Cowboys S Roy Williams, Browns WR Andre Davis and Saints OL LeCharles Bentley at 12:00pm ET.

Fox' "NFL Under the Helmet" will feature Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, 49ers QB Jeff Garcia and Jaguars S Donovin Darius.

NBC will air the NASCAR BGN Sam's Town 250 at 2:00pm ET.

Fox will air World Series Game One, Giants-Angels, at 7:30pm ET.

SUNDAY

ESPN will air "Sunday NFL Countdown" at 11:00am ET. Kenny Mayne visits Packers back-up QB Doug Pederson for "The Mayne Event."

NBC will air the NASCAR Winston Cup Old Dominion 500 at 12:30pm ET.

ABC will air MLS Cup 2002, Galaxy-Revolution, at 1:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Capitals-Stars at 7:00pm ET

Fox will air World Series Game Two, Giants-Angels, at 7:30pm ET.

Nickelodeon's "Nick News" will profile the NWFL at 8:30pm ET.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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