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Closing Bell

Closing Bell, October 23, 2002

The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, October 23, 2002
4:00pm ET

Reebok Shares Get Boost With Q3 Earnings Report

Survey Says: How Do The Fans Feel About Sports Post-9/11?

Nike Warns Scottish Brewer About Use Of Slogan And Logo

Closing Arguments Given In Boris Becker's Tax Evasion Trial

Film About Legendary Horse Begins Production Today

Buzzer Beaters/Daily Stat/Articles of Interest/In Other News/Channel Surfing


REEBOK SHARES ON AN UPSWING AFTER POSITIVE Q3 REPORT

Reebok today reported a 27% increase in Q3 earnings "on strong apparel sales despite a difficult retail environment."   The company said net income increased to $53.4M, or $0.81 per share, from $42.2M, or $0.66 a share, a year earlier.  The results beat Wall Street estimates, which ranged from $0.76-$0.80 (REUTERS, 10/23).  Shares of Reebok closed this afternoon up 2.8% to $27.57 (THE DAILY).


STUDY SAYS FANS DON'T FEEL SAFER IN SPORTS VENUES POST-9/11

Deloitte & Touche released a study today showing that NY, NJ and CT sports fans feel that pro sports played a positive role in unifying the U.S. in the weeks following September 11, 2001 and have played a role in helping the country recover from the attacks.  But there is some disagreement over the appropriateness of playing on the first anniversary of the attack.  In addition, the survey revealed that nearly a third of all respondents -- particularly men and those 18-34 -- feel that the enhanced security measures at venues after are an invasion of privacy, and almost half say they don't feel any safer at games.  The study, "Professional Sports and September 11, One Year Later -- The New York Fan's Perspective," was conducted for Deloitte & Touche by NY-based Bayer Consulting.  The survey of 517 pro sports fans in NY, NJ and CT was conducted via the Internet from September 12-16, 2002 (THE DAILY).


NIKE THREATENS BREWER WITH LEGAL ACTION OVER "JUST 'AVE IT"

The London GUARDIAN reports that Nike "is threatening legal action against" brewer Scottish Courage over the company's campaign for its John Smith brew which uses the slogan, "Just 'ave it."  Nike "claims the slogan … is a deliberate rip-off of its world famous 'Just do it' line."  It "also claims John Smith's new horseshoe logo resembles" its "swoosh" logo.  The ad features comic Peter Kay as an "enthusiastic by hopeless football player," and Nike claims the "overweight and apparently unskilled" player Kay portrays hurts its image (London GUARDIAN, 10/23).


BOOM BOOM FACES COURT'S DECISION TOMORROW

The London GUARDIAN reports that closing arguments were given today in the trial where former Wimbledon champion Boris Becker "could be jailed for three-and-a-half years for admitting he dodged paying taxes to the German authorities."  A verdict is expected when the trial resumes tomorrow morning (London GUARDIAN, 10/23).


LOCAL GROUP BUYS UHL TEAM IN ROCKFORD, IL

The United Hockey League's (UHL) BOG unanimously approved today the purchase of the Rockford (IL) IceHogs by Tri-Vision Sports, LLC, a local group lead by Jim McIlroy, Jeff Smith and Dr. Kris Tumilowicz.   The group acquired the team from United Sports Ventures, the previous owners of the Quad City Mallards and Missouri River Otters, who relocated the Rockford club from Thunder Bay, Ontario in November '98 (THE DAILY).


BUZZER BEATERS

This week's cover of Sports Illustrated features No. 1 overall draft pick & Rockets C Yao Ming as part of its NBA preview issue.  SI's prediction: the Kings over the Nets in the NBA Finals (THE DAILY).

FIFA today opened the bidding to host the 2010 World Cup.  Only African nations are allowed to bid as part of the governing body's plan to rotate the event among the continents.  The 53 members of the African soccer federation have until the end of the year to declare their interest (AP, 10/23).

MLB and the MLBPA announced today that their joint disaster Disaster Relief Fund will contribute $2M to "Families of Freedom 2," a scholarship program funded by the Citizens' Scholarship Foundation of America (THE DAILY).

Oakley today reported Q3 profits of $12.3M, or $0.18 per share, compared with $14.4M, or $0.21 per share for the same period in '01 as "sales of its footwear were weak and it lost money on foreign currency contracts" (REUTERS, 10/23).

Cox Sports TV, the new RSN in LA, formally announced a deal with ESPN to gain access to ESPN Regional TV college football and college basketball games of interest in the region, as well as select hours of ESPNews.  Cox Sports TV is set to launch October 28 (THE DAILY).


TONIGHT'S EVENTS

The Thrashers will hold NASCAR Night at tonight's game versus the Devils, beginning at 7:30pm ET at Philips Arena.  Show cars from The Home Depot, UPS and Budweiser will be on display, and Winston Cup driver Dale Jarrett will participate in the UPS Delivery of the Game, shown in-game on the arena video board (THE DAILY).

Dolphins players will take part in the 14th annual Dolphins Smirnoff Super Bowl of Fashion, to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood (FL) (THE DAILY).

LPGA HOFer Nancy Lopez will be the featured speaker at the opening banquet for the 23rd annual Golf For Women National Club Championship (THE DAILY).


TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Neil Milbert profiles Magna Entertainment Chair Frank Stronach, who believes racing must rely on "a network of tracks that work in cooperation with each other" to reverse the "cliquish and clubbish attitudes that racetracks have suffered from."  Chief among Stronach's long-term plans is the idea of bringing racing "into every living room around the world" via satellite TV, the Internet and telephone betting (CHICAGO TRIBUNE). 

The HARTFORD COURANT's Matthew Kauffman examines sponsorships at the '03 Greater Hartford Open, where they are "scrambling to find a new title sponsor" following Canon's decision to pull out.  Part of the problem is that "sports sponsorship in North America is a $6[B] a year enterprise. … With that kind of money at stake, corporate partners have become far more discriminating, demanding carefully tailored sponsorships that can be leveraged" through advertising, sales promotion, online demonstrations, celebrity appearances and public relations (HARTFORD COURANT).

The Columbia STATE's Ken Tysiac looks at the pluses and minuses of Thursday night college football:  Players are "generally enthusiastic" as the games are a chance "to get the full attention of NFL scouts" who aren't distracted by other games. Coaches see the games as "a big recruiting opportunity" on national TV.  Administrators enjoy the national exposure and the games "are part of a lucrative television contract."  Resistance does exist, however, at least in the ACC, as "difficult parking logistics, missed classes and the reluctance of some fans to traveling to the games have made them unpopular in some circles" (Columbia STATE).

See The Daily Insider's Articles of Interest section for these and more sports business-related links.


IN OTHER NEWS…

Universal's "Seabiscuit" began production today in L.A.  Based on the bestseller "Seabiscuit: An American Legend," the movie will film at the Santa Anita racetrack and is scheduled to be released on July 25, 2003 (THE DAILY).


THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS

The following lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten primetime shows for the week of October 14-20.  Also provided are Nielsen ratings averages season-to-date for the nets' primetime coverage (USA TODAY, 10/23).

RK PROGRAM
NET
DAY
RAT/SHR

VIEWERS
(IN MILLIONS)

1) CSI
CBS
Thurs
18.6/29
30.8
2) Friends
NBC
Thurs
16.1/25
25.8
3) ER
NBC
Thurs
16.2/27
25.6
4) Survivor: Thailand
CBS
Thurs
12.8/20
22.7
5) Everybody Loves Raymond
CBS
Mon
13.6/20
20.7
6) Will & Grace
NBC
Thurs
12.6/19
19.5
7) World Series Game Two
Fox
Sun
11.9/20
19.4
8) Law & Order
NBC
Wed
12.8/22
19.3
9) CSI: Miami
CBS
Mon
12.7/20
19.0
10) Scrubs
NBC
Thurs
11.3/17
17.8
 
NET
VIEWERS
CBS
13.3
NBC
12.7
ABC
9.7
Fox
9.1
WB
4.9
UPN
4.2

CHANNEL SURFING

BET's "Rap City" will debut the new Allen Iverson Reebok Iverson VI video at 4:00pm ET.

Fox will air World Series Game Four, Angels-Giants, at 8:00pm ET.

Magic F Grant Hill and Lakers G Derek Fisher are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

Rangers SS Alex Rodriguez and Steelers QB Tommy Maddox are scheduled to appear on FSN's "The Last Word."

A&E's "Biography" will profile Farrah Fawcett at 8:00pm ET.

E!'s "True Hollywood Story" will profile Brandon Lee at 8:00pm ET.

E!'s "Revealed" features Salma Hayek at 10:00pm ET.


HEADLINERS

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

"Late Show" Rose McGowan (r)
"The Tonight Show" Rosie O'Donnell (r)
"The Late Late Show" Vin Diesel (r)
"Late Night" Anthony Hopkins (r)

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

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