Closing Bell, November 22, 2002

NBA-THEMED STORE PRODUCT OF NEW LICENSING AGREEMENT

The NBA today announced plans to open the first NBA-themed store in Mexico on December 3.  The opening of the store, named Auri-Sport, coincides with a new licensing agreement recently signed between the NBA and Aurimoda SA de CV.  Under terms of the deal, Aurimoda will manufacture replica jerseys as well as sport and casual apparel that will be distributed to retail stores throughout Mexico beginning in January '03.  Aurimoda becomes the NBA's seventh licensee in Mexico (THE DAILY).

HBO TO CELEBRATE 500^th BOXING MATCH SATURDAY NIGHT

HBO Sports will air its 500^th boxing match Saturday at 9:45pm ET when junior welterweights Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti meet in the main event at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.  The BOSTON GLOBE reports that the "ring announcer's microphone will be lowered from the ceiling as in days of yore," and HBO announcers Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and George Foreman "will use old-fashioned big mikes for their on-camera segment" before the fight (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/22).  Meanwhile, in N.Y., Bob Raissman writes that while many networks "have had long partnerships with various leagues and sports, … none has brought viewers the kind of inside look at a sport that HBO has with its boxing shows" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/22).

CBC HOPING TO DRAW THREE MILLION FOR SUNDAY'S GREY CUP

The CFL Grey Cup between the Montreal Alouettes and the Edmonton Eskimos will be played Sunday at 6:00pm ET at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the CBC "says it's hoping to draw more than three million viewers for the game, a jump from last year's 2.8 million."  Furthermore, the ad spots "are sold out – and at a premium rate" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/22).  Meanwhile, the EDMONTON SUN reported that the game will generate C$25M for Edmonton's economy.  Commenting on the expected 23,000 visitors, Economic Development Edmonton VP/Tourism Ken Fiske said, "They're coming from all over the country.  Last week we surveyed 96 hotel-motel properties around town; 27 were reporting some limited space available, the rest were saying full" (EDMONTON SUN, 11/19).  Country music singer Shania Twain will perform during the halftime show (THE DAILY).

EA SPORTS TO HELP ENHANCE U.S. SOCCER PLAYERS' WEB SITE

The U.S. National Soccer Team Players Association (U.S. Players) announced today a strategic partnership with EA Sports, under which the two groups will work together to enhance the U.S. Players' Web site with graphics and content from FIFA Soccer 2003, including downloadable PC demos.  The partnership is part of an ongoing initiative to reach the U.S. soccer community (THE DAILY).

MICROSOFT TO HOST XBOX LOUNGES IN VANS SKATEPARKS

The PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL reported that Microsoft tomorrow will host grand openings of Xbox lounges in 11 mall-based Vans' Skateparks.  Each lounge will feature four Xbox video game systems, four 27-inch flat screen televisions, 16 controllers, Xbox Live communicator headsets and sofas.  Nine of the lounges "are set up for play against other gamers around the country with the online Xbox Live service."  The lounges are located in Orlando, FL; Potomac Mills, VA; Orange, CA; Moorestown, NJ; Phoenix, AZ; Novi, MI; Denver, CO; Atlanta, GA; Milpitas, CA; Houston, TX; and Ontario, CA (BIZJOURNALS.com 11/21).

BUZZER BEATERS

The Celtics announced today that the team has entered into a three-year partnership with Pepsi.  The agreement features category exclusivity for all Pepsi soft drink products and also designates Pepsi's Aquafina water brand as an official product of the Celtics (THE DAILY).

Fox Sports will broadcast Sunday's Rams-Redskins and Packers-Bucs games in a new 16:9 digital format, called Fox Widescreen.  Fox claims the widescreen picture is "twice as sharp as that generated by most DVDs, and four times clearer" than traditional analog TV (THE DAILY).

• The PALM BEACH POST reports that Sunday's Chargers-Dolphins game "was declared a sellout" and will be televised in Miami.  Nonetheless, "several hundred tickets remain because of returns from the Chargers' allotment" (PALM BEACH POST, 11/22).

• The Baton Rouge ADVOCATE reports that Sunday's Browns-Saints game "will not be televised in the Baton Rouge or New Orleans areas because 5,700 tickets remained unsold at noon Thursday."  The game snaps a 17-game streak in which the Saints had been allowed to lift the blackout (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 11/22).

• The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER reports that Sunday's Chiefs-Seahawks game "will be blacked out on local television," as about 10,500 tickets remained unsold as of the deadline yesterday (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 11/22).

ESPN's Spanish-language version of "SportsCenter" will air its 1,000^th live telecast in Latin America on Saturday at midnight Buenos Aires time (THE DAILY).

L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn, Dodgers P Kazuhisa Ishii and Arnold Schwarzenegger today unveiled the "See My L.A." tourism program designed to reinvigorate Japanese tourism to the city (THE DAILY).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that AOL "plans to offer future Internet services in ways that more closely resemble cable television, with targeted programming scheduled for specific days of the week based on the varying interests of its subscribers."  At yesterday's AOL Time Warner BOD meeting, AOL CEO Jonathan Miller's proposal included "adjusting the emphasis of content depending on the day," such as more sports programming on Sundays (WASHINGTON POST, 11/22).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

Coyotes radio announcer Curt Keilbeck will broadcast his 2,000^th game tonight.  He has been with the franchise 24 years, relocating from Winnipeg (THE DAILY).

As part of the multi-day celebration surrounding the opening of the Galyan's store in Danvers, MA, Patriots S Tebucky Jones and climber Tori Allen are scheduled to appear at the store.  Saturday, Luis Tiant, gymnast Dominique Dawes and extreme skier Kent Kreitler will sign autographs, while climber Mark Synnott will "show off his skills."  Sunday, former Celtics G Nate Archibald will entertain, while national table tennis coach Scott Preiss will square off against MA state champ Yin Wang (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/22).

---

Saturday

The Sportmen's Tennis Club of Boston, the nation's first black-owned and operated nonprofit indoor tennis facility, will honor Bud Collins at a dinner at the Seaport Hotel Ballroom at the World Trade Center.  Former N.Y. Mayor David Dinkins, "60 Minutes" personality Mike Wallace, U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino are expected to attend.  Saturday will be "Bud Collins Day" in the city of Boston (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/22).

The Capitals will commemorate HOF inductee Rod Langway during a pregame ceremony at MCI Center before the team's 7:00pm game against the Thrashers (THE DAILY).

The Aloha PGA Golf Conference at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel will feature keynote speeches from USGA Exec Dir David Fay and incoming PGA of America President M.G. Orender (THE DAILY).

---

Sunday

The Lakers will honor late broadcaster Chick Hearn before the team's 6:30pm PT game against the Bucks (THE DAILY).

TODAY'S DAILY STAT:  MOST SEARCHED ATHLETES

The following are the most-searched athletes on Lycos' search engines for the week ending November 16 (Lycos):

CRITICS WEIGH IN: "DIE ANOTHER DAY" AND "THE EMPEROR'S CLUB"

As the James Bond franchise celebrates its 40^th birthday, its 20^th film, "Die Another Day," appears poised to live another day at the box office.  Meanwhile, the recurring knock against "The Emperor's Club" is that the film isn't wearing any new clothes, instead following the conventions of the prep school melodrama genre's predecessors.

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN will air Raptors-76ers at 8:00pm ET and Clippers-Nuggets at 10:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA men's basketball, UNC Greensboro-Kansas, at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Dan Gable at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will air "College GameDay" live from Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH, at 10:30am ET.

BET's "Maad Sports" will feature Spurs F Tim Duncan at noon ET.

"NFL Under the Helmet" on Fox will feature Falcons OT Bob Whitfield, Bucs S John Lynch and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb.

"NBA Inside Stuff" on ABC will feature Wizards G Jerry Stackhouse, Heat Fs Caron Butler and Rasual Butler, Bucks C Ervin Johnson, 76ers C Todd MacCulloch and Celtics G Paul Pierce.

ESPN will air "Sunday NFL Countdown" at 11:00am ET.  Kenny Mayne goes Thanksgiving shopping with the 49ers for the "The Mayne Event."

ESPN will air NCAA women's basketball, Connecticut-NC State, at 4:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA women's basketball, Tennessee-Duke, at 2:00pm ET, and NCAA men's basketball, Miami (OH)-Maryland at 5:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Darryl Strawberry at 8:00pm ET.

FSN will air NCAA women's basketball, Arizona-USC, at 2:00pm ET.

FSN's "Beyond The Glory" will profile Chargers QB Doug Flutie.

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.