| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, November 1, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | USOC To Choose Between N.Y. And S.F. As Candidate City For 2012 Olympics |
| • | $190M SBC Center To Open In San Antonio Tonight |
| • | TNT And ESPN Report Ratings For Opening Night NBA Telecasts |
| • | Penguins Hope Lemieux Promotion Will Lead To First Sellout Of Season |
| • | Critics Weigh In: “I Spy” And “The Santa Clause 2” |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Daily Stat/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing |
USOC TO SELECT U.S. CANDIDATE CITY AT BOD MEETING TOMORROW
The USOC's 123 members tomorrow will choose between N.Y. and S.F. in the competition to become the U.S. bid city for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The candidate is expected to be announced at about 7:00pm ET from CO Springs. In N.Y., a reception hosted by Gov. George Pataki, Empire State Development Corp Chair Charles Gargano and NY State Olympic Games Commission Chair David Cornstein will be held at the World Financial Center Winter Garden at 6:30pm ET (THE DAILY).
Meanwhile, the USOC announced today that it has signed an agreement with Swatch Group to be the official timekeeping sponsor and supplier of the ’04, ’06 and ’08 U.S. Olympic teams, and the ’03 and ’07 Pan American Games teams (THE DAILY).
SBC CENTER OPENING A GRAND EVENT IN SAN ANTONIO
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that tonight’s grand opening of the $190M SBC Center for the Raptors-Spurs game will feature “acrobats falling from the sky, a fireworks-laden rendition of the `1812 Overture’ by the San Antonio Symphony” and an interfaith blessing. A ten-minute pregame introduction of Spurs players will “light up the building's 18,500-seat arena bowl.” The pregame program will include a seven-minute Texas-themed show by “Emmy Award-winning production specialist and puppet designer Michael Curry, whose work was used in opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS NEWS, 11/1).
TNT AND ESPN OPENING NIGHT NIELSEN CABLE RATINGS
TNT's Tuesday opening night exclusive NBA telecasts averaged a 1.7 Nielsen cable rating, a 42% increase over last season's overall average of a 1.2. That night, 76ers-Magic earned a 1.5, and Spurs-Lakers earned a 1.8. Meanwhile, ESPN's opening night NBA coverage of Wizards-Magic earned a 1.5. The following game, Lakers-Trail Blazers, averaged a 1.7 (THE DAILY).
BOBBY JONES MOTION PICTURE TO BEGIN PRODUCTION IN MARCH
A major motion picture based on the life of golfer Bobby Jones will begin production in Atlanta in March ’03. While details have yet to be finalized, BJ Film has reached an agreement with Jonesheirs, Inc., a corporation formed by Jones’ family to protect his name and image. The film, which will be set in 1930, the year Jones achieved the Grand Slam, is budgeted in the $15M range (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports “about 2,500 tickets … remained yesterday” for Saturday’s Lightning-Penguins game, but the fact that both teams are playing well and a Mario Lemieux promotional jersey for children under 14 “could contribute to strong sales” leading up to the game. It would be the Penguins’ first sellout of the ’02-03 season (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 11/1).
The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL reports the Browns will conduct a 12:45pm CT tribute on Sunday to team owner Al Lerner, who died last week of brain cancer. Both the Browns and Steelers will be on the field for the ceremony, which will include “a video, an on-field gun salute from the U.S. Marine Corps and a Marine jet flyover” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/1).
Giants QB Kerry Collins announced that he will donate a minimum of $500,000 over the next three years to fund the complete restoration of the 32-bed Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation within NYU Hospital through his “KC for Kids” fund (THE DAILY).
FSN will premiere “Twins 2002 – A Season to Remember,” an hour-long documentary, hosted by FSN & Twins play-by-play announcer Dick Bremer, at 9:30pm CT (THE DAILY).
The Laredo Entertainment Center opens tonight in TX and will be home of Arena Ventures’ CHL Laredo Bucks. The 178,000 square foot, $36.5M facility seats up to 10,000 for hockey and has 14 luxury suites (THE DAILY).
Bally Total Fitness today entered into a licensing agreement with FranklinCovey to introduce a line of Bally Total Fitness Classic sized and wire-bound weekly planners (THE DAILY).
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday The USOC Exec Committee will meet in a closed session in Colorado Springs at 5:00pm MT. Media will be permitted at the BOG general sessions scheduled for Saturday from 12:30-5:00pm and Sunday from 8:00am-noon (THE DAILY).
Chargers ’02 HOF inductees Bobby Ross and Stan Humphries will attend the second annual Celebration of Hope Dinner at 6:00pm PT (THE DAILY).
Saturday Wives and girlfriends of 49ers and Raiders players will play in an eight-on-eight flag football game at 2:00pm PT at Menlo College, with proceeds benefiting S.F. and Oakland Recreation and Park programs. Kenny Mayne on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” will report on the game (THE DAILY).
The WUSA Power will hold an adult co-ed soccer clinic at SUNY-Purchase from 2:00-4:00pm ET, with a youth clinic scheduled for Sunday from 2:00-4:00pm. Power coaching staff and players will participate (THE DAILY).
Heat C Alonzo Mourning will host a concert featuring Jimmy Buffet and his Coral Reefer Band on South Beach beginning at 6:00pm ET. Proceeds will benefit the Overtown Youth Center (THE DAILY).
Continuing their suspension-themed watching parties, Mavericks GM & coach Don Nelson and President of Basketball Operations & assistant coach Donnie Nelson are inviting fans to "Join The Outlaws" at 7:30pm CT and watch the team's home opener against the Suns at Billy Bob's Texas in Ft. Worth (THE DAILY).
The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series will hold its ’02 championship awards banquet at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville (THE DAILY).
Sunday NHL Legends and Maple Leafs alumni will face-off in the 3rd Annual Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Game at 3:00pm ET at the Air Canada Center in Toronto. The game is part of the ’02 Hockey HOF Induction Weekend (THE DAILY).
The NHL Hurricanes will host a “Skate with the Canes” charity event at the RBC Center from 2:00-4:00pm ET. In addition to skating with fans, players will be available for autographs and locker room photos. All proceeds will benefit the team’s Kids ‘n Community Foundation (THE DAILY).
TODAY’S DAILY STAT: AMERICA’S FAVORITE SPORT IS…
Harris Interactive releases the details from its survey on the top ten favorite sports in '02, with trends for each sport's popularity from '85. The '02 survey was conducted from September 19-23, among 1,011 adults (Harris Interactive).
| RK | SPORT | '02 | '98 | '97 | '94 | '93 | '92 | '89 | '85 | '85-'02
+/- |
| 1) | Pro football | 27% | 26% | 28% | 24% | 24% | 28% | 26% | 24% | 3% |
| 2) | Baseball | 14% | 18% | 17% | 17% | 18% | 21% | 19% | 23% | -9% |
| 3) | Men's pro basketball | 11% | 13% | 13% | 11% | 12% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 5% |
| 4) | Auto racing | 10% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 5% | 4% | 5% | 5% |
| 5) | College football | 9% | 9% | 10% | 7% | 8% | 7% | 6% | 10% | -1% |
| 6) | Men's college basketball | 4% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 8% | 8% | 10% | 6% | -2% |
| 7) | Golf | 4% | 4% | 6% | 5% | 6% | 4% | 4% | 3% | 1% |
| t8) | Women's tennis | 3% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| t8) | Hockey | 3% | 3% | 4% | 5% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 1% |
| t8) | Soccer | 3% | 4% | 3% | 3% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 3% | --- |
CRITICS WEIGH IN: “I SPY” AND “THE SANTA CLAUSE 2”
The critics obviously were not in a festive mood when reviewing the Tim Allen sequel “The Santa Clause 2,” nor did they spy any redeeming qualities in the Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson buddy flick “I Spy.”
| Movie |
| | “I Spy” | “The Santa Clause 2” |
| Chicago Sun-Times | 
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| Hollywood Reporter | Not Reviewed |
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| L.A. Times | 
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| N.Y. Times |
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| USA Today |
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CHANNEL SURFING
FRIDAY ESPN will air Knicks-76ers at 8:00pm ET and Sonics-Warriors at 10:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Mario Andretti at 8:00pm ET.
Angels 1B Scott Spiezio, Saints RB Deuce McAllister and “Fox NFL Sunday” analyst Terry Bradshaw are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period.”
Bradshaw is scheduled to be on FSN’s “The Last Word,” the show’s last original program.
SATURDAY ESPN will air “College GameDay” live from Jacksonville, FL, at 10:30am ET.
BET’s “Maad Sports” will feature Kings F Chris Webber at noon ET.
BET’s “Maad Sports Countdown” will feature Magic F Tracy McGrady’s favorite videos at 12:30pm ET.
Fox’ “NFL Under the Helmet” will feature Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith, Colts QB Peyton Manning, 49ers WR Terrell Owens and Falcons LB Keith Brooking.
TNT will air NASCAR BGN Sam’s Club 200 at 1:00pm ET.
| Game | Network | Time |
| Wisconsin-Iowa | ESPN | noon ET |
| Michigan State-Michigan | ESPN2 | noon ET |
| Clemson-Duke | FSN | noon ET |
| Texas A&M-Oklahoma State | FSN | 1:30pm ET |
| Boston College-Notre Dame | NBC | 2:30pm ET |
| Minnesota-Ohio State | ABC | 3:30pm ET |
| Georgia Tech-North Carolina State | ABC | 3:30pm ET |
| Arizona State-Washington State | ABC | 3:30pm ET |
| Tennessee-South Carolina | CBS | 3:30pm ET |
| Illinois-Penn State | ESPN | 3:30pm ET |
| Eastern Illinois-Tennessee State | FSN | 3:30pm ET |
| Florida State-Wake Forest | ESPN2 | 4:00pm ET |
| UCLA-Washington | TBS | 7:00pm ET |
| Pittsburgh-Virginia Tech | ESPN2 | 7:30pm ET |
| Georgia-Florida | ESPN | 7:45pm ET |
| Texas-Nebraska | FSN | 8:00pm ET |
SUNDAY
ESPN will air “Sunday NFL Countdown” at 11:00am ET. Kenny Mayne reports on the 49ers-Raiders’ wives and girlfriends football game for “The Mayne Event.”
TNT will air NASCAR Winston Cup Pop Secret 400 at 1:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Stars-Red Wings at 7:00pm ET.
FSN’s “Beyond The Glory” will profile Raiders WR Jerry Rice.
| Game | Network | Time | Coverage |
| Ravens-Falcons | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 10% |
| Patriots-Bills | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 30% |
| Steelers-Browns | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 10% |
| Titans-Colts | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 11% |
| Bengals-Texans | CBS | 1:00pm ET | 7% |
| Eagles-Bears | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 61% |
| Cowboys-Lions | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 17% |
| Vikings-Buccaneers | Fox | 1:00pm ET | 13% |
| Jets-Chargers | CBS | 4:05pm ET | 32% |
| Redskins-Seahawks | Fox | 4:15pm ET | 13% |
| Rams-Cardinals | Fox | 4:15pm ET | 5% |
| 49ers-Raiders | Fox | 4:15pm ET | 80% |
| Jaguars-Giants | ESPN | 8:30pm ET | National |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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