Closing Bell, November 15, 2002

JURY AWARDS STEINBERG MORE THAN $40M

A jury in L.A. Federal Court has awarded agent Leigh Steinberg more than $40M in his lawsuit against his former partner, David Dunn. The total damages awarded come to $44.66M, including $20M in actual damages against Dunn's new agency, Athletes First; $2M in actual damages against David Dunn; punitive damages of $20M against Athletes First; and punitive damages of $2.66M against Dunn (THE DAILY).

MR. GOODCENTS EXTENDS KANSAS SPEEDWAY SPONSORSHIP

Kansas Speedway and Mr. Goodcents announced today that the DeSoto, KS-based franchise will extend its title sponsorship agreement of the NASCAR Busch Series race at the track through '06.  Mr. Goodcents' sponsorship began in '01.  Next year's race is scheduled for October 4 (THE DAILY).

ALL 16 GAMES SELL OUT IN ADVANCE OF TV BLACKOUT DEADLINE

The NFL announced today that all 16 games this weekend have been sold out in advance of the local TV blackout deadline, enabling all games to be televised in the home-team market.  It is the fourth time this season that all blackouts have been lifted, an NFL record.  Through this week, 93% of games have been shown in the home-team market, ahead of the 86% record established in '00 (THE DAILY).

af2 OWNER UNCERTAIN ABOUT LEAGUE'S FUTURE DUE TO FOLDINGS

af2 Mobile Wizards Owner Norris Armstrong tells the MOBILE REGISTER that "ten teams in the league have halted operations, many of those teams within bus-ride distance" of Mobile.  Armstrong said that the Pensacola Barracudas dropped out of the league this week and others, including the Tallahassee Thunder, Bossier City Battle Wings, Jacksonville Tomcats and the Augusta Stallions, have dropped out too.  Armstrong: "We want this thing to be a go.  But there is some uncertainty right now" (MOBILE REGISTER, 11/15).

KNICKS JANUARY 3 HOME GAME PULLED FROM ESPN SCHEDULE

BLOOMBERG NEWS reports that the Knicks' January 3 home game against the Pacers, scheduled to be shown nationally on ESPN, "was yanked from the broadcast schedule and replaced" by Trail Blazers-Celtics.  The move is "another sign of decreasing interest in the 1-7 Knicks," whose nine-year home-court sellout streak ended earlier this season.  Carmel Group VP/Business Development Sean Badding: "The networks are going to go where they believe there's an attractive audience.  It's going where the cash is" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/15).

BUZZER BEATERS

The MLB Cardinals will hold a 3:00pm CT press conference today where they will introduce the finance team they have assembled to secure the necessary funding to build a privately owned ballpark in downtown St. Louis (THE DAILY).

As of 2:00pm ET, the Sabres had 150 tickets remaining for tonight's 7:00pm game against the Maple Leafs.  Team officials were confident the game would sell out, which would mark the team's first sellout of the season (THE DAILY).

The MIAMI HERALD reports that a group of 150 women participating in the Dolphins' "Football University," a three-day, $110 course, attended Tuesday's first session.  The team is hoping the same number of women "will attend the course's second installment, practical application" at Sunday's Ravens-Dolphins game at Pro Player Stadium (MIAMI HERALD, 11/15).

M&M's will share space with the U.S. Army on the No. 36 Pontiac of Jerry Nadeau at this weekend's season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  The U.S. Army will assume primary sponsorship of the car next season (THE DAILY).

Digital Orchid announced today it has signed an exclusive agreement with Turner Sports Interactive to develop and market NASCAR.com TO GO, a mix of wireless content applications that allow subscribers to access, view and share real-time race content (THE DAILY).

REUTERS reports that the IAAF '07 World Championships will be held in Osaka, Japan.  The proposed dates for the championships are August 24-September 2, subject to IAAF Council approval.  It will mark only the third time that the championships have been held outside of Europe (REUTERS, 11/15).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

The Rotary Club of Denver will present former Mets manager Bobby Valentine with the Branch Rickey Award, given to MLB's top community volunteer, at a banquet at Coors Field.  The banquet begins at 5:00pm MT, with the award presentation program to begin at 8:30pm (THE DAILY).

The World Golf HOF will induct its '02 Class during a 6:00pm ET ceremony at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL.  The class includes PGA Tour players Tommy Bolt and Ben Crenshaw, LPGA Tour member Marlene Hagge, European PGA Tour players Tony Jacklin and Bernard Langer and the late Harvey Penick.  The Golf Channel will broadcast the ceremony live (THE DAILY).

---

Saturday

The NHL Panthers will distribute G Roberto Luongo Celebriducks to the first 5,000 children under the age of 14 for the team's 7:30pm ET game against the Sharks at Office Depot Center (THE DAILY).

The Pistons will distribute G Jon Barry bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans in attendance for the team's 7:30pm ET game against the Nuggets (THE DAILY).

---

Sunday

NHL HOFer Phil Esposito will host the local competition of the Nextel NHL All-Star Challenge at America West Arena between the 2^nd and 3^rd periods of the 5:00pm PT Avalanche-Coyotes game.  In addition, the team will conduct a "Donate a Phone" drive with proceeds benefiting Hockey Fights Cancer (THE DAILY).

Churchill Downs will hold "Rick Pitino Day," as part of which the Univ. of Louisville men's basketball coach will be available for an autograph session from noon-2:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

TODAY'S DAILY STAT:  RATINGS TRENDS FOR RECENT NASCAR RACES

With the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship coming down to the wire this weekend in Miami, today's Daily Stat tracks Nielsen ratings for the past four races (THE DAILY):

CRITICS WEIGH IN: "HARRY POTTER" SEQUEL AND "HALF PAST DEAD"

While there's no doubt "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" will be #1 at the box office this weekend, the critics don't think the sequel is nearly as magical as the original.:

CHANNEL SURFING

FRIDAY

ESPN will air Mavericks-Celtics at 8:00pm ET and Rockets-Suns at 10:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, Marquette-Villanova at 6:30pm ET and Georgia-Texas at 9:00pm ET.

FSN's "The NFL Show" co-host Tony Siragusa will be on NBC's "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno at 11:35pm ET.

MLB Giants manager Felipe Alou, Winston Cup driver Jeff Gordon, "Fox NFL Sunday" analyst Howie Long and rapper Snoop Dogg are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

SATURDAY

ESPN will air "College GameDay" live from Franklin Field in Philadelphia, PA, at 10:30am ET.

BET's "Maad Sports" will feature Kings F Chris Webber at noon ET.

BET's "Maad Sports Countdown" will feature Warriors G Jason Richardson's favorite videos at 12:30pm ET.

NBC will air NASCAR BGN Ford 300 at 1:30pm ET.

CBS will air "NFL Backyard Basics," a full-length animation program produced by NFL Films, at 2:00pm ET.  The show will feature Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley, Cardinals K Bill Gramatica, Bucs K Martin Gramatica and former Broncos RB Terrell Davis.

"NFL Under the Helmet" on Fox will feature Bucs CB Ronde Barber, 49ers OT Derrick Deese, Rams RB Marshall Faulk, Cowboys LB Dexter Coakley and Ravens coach Brian Billick.

"NBA Inside Stuff" on ABC will feature Sonics F Rashard Lewis, WNBA Storm G Sue Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon and boxer Roy Jones.

The Harlem Globetrotters will be on NBC's "Weekend Today" at 8:00am ET.

ESPN will air "Sunday NFL Countdown" at 11:00am ET.  Kenny Mayne visits Raider Nation for the "The Mayne Event."

NBC will air NASCAR Winston Cup Ford 400 at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Blue Jackets-Stars at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Nancy Lopez at 7:30pm ET and the year 1996 at 8:00pm ET.

FSN's "Beyond The Glory" will profile Steelers QB Kordell Stewart.

ESPN's "Sunday Conversation" will feature Raiders Owner Al Davis.

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

The Closing Bell provides an afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Closing Bell, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.