Closing Bell, November 12, 2002

CBS SPORTS EXEC JOINS FORMER BOSS AT DISCOVERY NETWORKS

MEDIAWEEK reports that CBS Exec VP/Sports Sales & Marketing Scott McGraw has joined the sales team of Discovery Networks, joining former CBS boss and current Discovery Networks President of Ad Sales Joe Abruzzese.  McGraw’s title and responsibilities have yet to be determined (MEDIAWEEK, 11/12).  CBS Sports officials told THE DAILY that no announcement has yet been made regarding possible replacements for McGraw.

O.J. DOCUMENTARY A STUDY OF RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA

HBO will premiere the “Sports of the 20^th Century” documentary, “O.J.: A Study in Black and White,” tonight at 10:00pm ET.  The following are analysis and media review of tonight’s show:

In L.A., Larry Stewart called the show “a study of race relations in America, with Simpson being the focal point.”  While Simpson was interviewed for the documentary, “the producers chose not to use it because they felt he had nothing substantial to add” (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).

Regarding the unused interview, HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg said, “The interview became distracting, so we just went without it. It took the focus off the subject we were exploring” (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/12).

In Dallas, Barry Horn writes that HBO planned to air the documentary last November, but “the events of 9-11 changed the thinking at the cable network.”  Greenburg said, “The country wasn't ready to watch a film about racial divide while we were all banded together against a common enemy.”  Horn notes that the documentary “is neither sympathetic to Simpson nor is it damning” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/12).

In Atlanta, Mike Tierney wrote that the documentary stands “on its merits as it explores why your reaction to the verdict in his 1995 trial – cheers or groans – was virtually determined by your skin color” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/11).

Syndicated columnist John Molori wrote, “Perhaps the most chilling video is of peoples' reactions to the Oct. 3, 1995, not guilty verdict. White viewers were shocked and outraged while African-American onlookers cheered” (BOSTONCITYBEAT.com, 11/11).

In NY, Andrew Gross wrote that the documentary “examines how Simpson became so acceptable to white America, then polarized the nation once he was charged with the murders.”  HBO’s presentation “manages to walk that tightrope of not being sympathetic to either Simpson's supporters or his detractors” (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 11/8).

In Boston, Jim Baker called the documentary “a penetrating examination with incisive comments … about many blacks cheering and many whites dissing” (BOSTON HERALD, 11/10).

In Orlando, Jerry Greene writes, “Regardless of your age, there’s a show you want to see on HBO tonight” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/12).

In IL, Ted Cox wrote that the hour-long “program doesn't exactly break any new ground, and in the end leaves off with the job unfinished, it is nevertheless a very good piece – a look at the United States as seen through the shifting prism of O.J. Simpson's rise and fall” (IL DAILY HERALD, 11/8).

In N.Y., David Bianculli writes the documentary is “best at encapsulating what made Simpson such a singular force as a pro football player,” but what it “doesn't come close to explaining is why this program … offers so little new insight about the wider topic it purports to address” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/12).

In Long Beach, Bob Keisser wrote that while “the effort is pure … the piece winds up asking more questions than it answers” (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 11/8).

In New Orleans, Pierce Huff wrote, “It is a well-told story about how O.J. Simpson dealt with race and even manipulated it to his benefit,” but noted, “as with all HBO sports documentaries, this one should have been longer”  (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 11/10).

PRODUCTION TO EXPLORE GREATEST GOLFER DEBATE TONIGHT

The Golf Channel will premiere “Tiger vs. Jack” tonight at 9:00pm ET, part of its joint production with Golf Digest magazine to determine the greatest golfer of all-time.  The joint venture includes the TV show and a feature in this month’s issue (THE DAILY).

AD AGE noted that Jack Daniel’s, accenture and Merck’s Zocor are the exclusive sponsors of the show (AD AGE, 11/11).

In L.A., Larry Stewart writes, “Of course there is no definitive answer to the debate, but both the television special and the magazine article are well researched and touch all the bases” (L.A. TIMES, 11/12).

NBA AND NFL ANNOUNCE INT’L TV AGREEMENTS

The NBA announced today that it has both renewed and signed TV agreements with int’l partners, bringing to 212 the number of countries that will televise the league’s games (THE DAILY):

Meanwhile, the NFL announced today that French broadcast group Canal + has expanded its agreement with the NFL to air a new weekly program beginning in ’03 on the net’s sports channel (THE DAILY).

BUZZER BEATERS

The NFL announced today that Packers QB Brett Favre’s bio and stat page on NFL.com has been accessed more than any other player over the time period from September 8-November 4.  Below are the top ten players (THE DAILY):

ESPN.com reports that Turner Sports NBA analyst Hubie Brown will be hired as the coach of the Grizzlies at a 4:00pm ET news conference (ESPN.com, 11/12).

TBS and Turner South Braves announcers Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Joe Simpson and Don Sutton have agreed to multi-year contract extensions (THE DAILY).

FoxSports.com announced today that RazorGator will be the premier secondary ticketing provider on FoxSports.com and FoxSportsWorld.com Web sites through the newly-created “Fox Sports Ticket Shop” (THE DAILY).

The CBA announced today the opening of the official CBA store, where fans can purchase clothing, headwear and accessories featuring the logo of CBA teams and the league itself online (THE DAILY).

The USOC announced today that TV game show “Pyramid” will host past Olympians this week, with additional episodes scheduled for February ‘03.  Mary Lou Retton, Scott Hamilton, Dara Torres, Janet Evans, Marion Jones and Greg Louganis are scheduled to appear (THE DAILY).

The NFL announced today that is donating more than $1.6M this year to build or renovate 17 youth football fields as part of its NFL grassroots initiative.  The selected communities for ’02 are: Atlanta; Baltimore; Bronx, NY; Charlotte; Chelsea, MA; Dallas; Detroit; Houston; Miami; Munhall, PA; Newark, NJ; New Orleans; Oakland; San Diego; St. Louis; St. Paul, MN and Tampa (THE DAILY).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• Tuesday night's third game of the MLB All-Stars v. the Japanese All-Stars seven-game series drew a crowd of about 45,000 at the 55,000-seat Osaka Dome.  As a note, the Japanese All-Stars lead the series 3-0 (THE DAILY).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a 5:15pm ET news conference at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.  While Bettman has spent the day in Buffalo, reports state that no ownership announcement on the Sabres is expected (THE DAILY).

Eagles RB Duce Staley will host his 3^rd annual celebrity bowling tournament from 6:30-8:30pm ET at Jillian’s Entertainment Complex at Franklin Mills in Philadelphia.  Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie and several teammates are expected to attend (THE DAILY).

76ers G Allen Iverson, in town for tomorrow night’s game against the Celtics, will host an “NBA Live Party” at the nightclub Exchange in Boston (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11).

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

Augusta National Chair Hootie Johnson spoke with selected media outlets on the topic of the club’s membership practices.

• A transcript of the interview with the N.Y. TIMES.
• A transcript of the interview with the AP.

A sampling of media reaction:

• The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION’s Mike Tierney thinks, “Hootie’s chairmanship is in trouble.”
• Also from the CONSTITUTION: Mark Bradley writes Hootie “has lost already.”
• The CHICAGO TRIBUNE’s Ed Sherman sees the comments as Hootie’s attempt “to join what previously has been a one-sided PR war.”
• The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES’ Carol Slezak believes that Augusta is preparing to admit its first female member, “No matter what Johnson would have us believe.”
• The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE’s Patrick Reusse writes that Johnson is National Council of Women’s Organizations Chair Martha Burk’s “No.1 asset in the battle to get a member’s green jacket for a woman.”
• The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER’s Joe Logan notes that if Augusta prevails, “it will be simply because it can.”

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

IN OTHER NEWS……

MEDIAWEEK reported that Nielsen Media Research will “weight its TV audience sample by language preference” in L.A., N.Y., Miami, Houston, San Antonio, and San Diego, beginning December 30.  Each of the markets has a large Spanish-speaking population (MEDIAWEEK, 11/11).

TODAY’S DAILY STAT: MOST SEARCHED NFL PLAYERS

The following details the most-searched NFL players from Lycos' search engines for the previous three weeks (Lycos).

CHANNEL SURFING

Michael Kay, Dan LeBatard and Jimmy Roberts will join host Jack Ford on ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters II” at 7:30pm ET, the show’s last episode until Super Bowl XXXVII.

ESPN will air Miami (OH)-Marshall NCAA football at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Harlem Globetrotters-Univ. of MD exhibition basketball at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Maurice Stokes at 8:00pm ET.

Steelers QB Tommy Maddox, Rockets G Cuttino Mobley, Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley, Cheryl Miller and Dan Gable are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period.”

HBO will air the documentary, “O.J.: A Study In Black and White” at 10:00pm ET.

Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith will be on CBS’ “Late Show” with David Letterman at 11:35pm ET.

A&E’s “Biography” will profile Neil Sadaka at 8:00pm ET.

E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Murder in Las Vegas at 8:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

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

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

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