| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, December 5, 2002
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | WNBA Starzz Announce Move To San Antonio |
| • | Tour de Georgia Announces That DaimlerChrysler Will Title Inaugural Event |
| • | Cubs Sign Five-Year Lease Today On Dominican Training Facility |
| • | Teresa Earnhardt Announces Formation of Dale Earnhardt Legacy Program |
| • | In Richmond, Even Michael Vick Can't Outshine The 5-7 Redskins |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/In Other News/Articles Of Interest/Daily Stat/Channel Surfing |
WNBA STARZZ MOVING TO SAN ANTONIO
The WNBA Starzz today announced that the team will relocate to San Antonio for the 03 season, and be owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment. The Starzz are the third team this season to be separated from its original NBA operating team, following the Miracle and Sol. The Miracle and Sol have not received new city assignments, but the WNBA is continuing discussions with potential owners in various cities. WNBA teams may now be located in non-NBA cities (THE DAILY).
TEAM RAHAL ADDING IRL ENTRY IN '03; COMMITTED TO CART
Team Rahal will follow Honda's move to the IRL next season, as both parties announced today a partnership in which Team Rahal will field a full-time IRL entry. The team, co-owned by Bobby Rahal and David Letterman, will be sponsored by Pioneer Electronics and Miller Brewing and driven by Kenny Brack. In the CART series, Team Rahal had been involved with Honda since '93, and had Miller Brewing on its sponsor roster from '92-'01. Brack, who spent the past three seasons in CART, is the latest in a series of high-profile drivers to leave CART for the IRL. Team Rahal remains committed to CART, as it will field an entry for sponsor Gigante and driver Michel Jourdain next season (THE DAILY).
DODGE BRAND DESIGNATED AS OFFICIAL VEHICLE OF TOUR
Tour de Georgia today announced that DaimlerChrysler will title the six-day annual cycling race, which debuts April 22-27, 2003. The sponsorship represents both a funding commitment and the contribution of an assortment of vehicles to support the event. The company's Dodge brand will be designated the official vehicle of the event, and its new Sprinter Van will be promoted. Tour de Georgia is owned and operated by the GA Partnership for Economic Development, a non-profit foundation (THE DAILY).
CUBS, TWO OTHER MLB TEAMS TO SHARE DOMINICAN FACILITY
The Cubs today announced that they have reached a five-year lease agreement on a yet-to-be-completed training facility in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. The facility, known as "Baseball City," will be home to two other MLB teams and will house 60 players. The facility is scheduled for completion in fall '03 (THE DAILY).
PROGRAM INCLUDES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, NEW WEB SITE
Teresa Earnhardt today announced the establishment of the Dale Earnhardt Legacy Program at the NASCAR Annual Media Luncheon in N.Y. The initiative is comprised of a charitable foundation, the launching of a new Web site, new striping packages to the DEI Winston Cup cars for the '03 season and a fundraising concert to be held June 28, 2003, at Daytona Int'l Speedway (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
The RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH notes that as popular as Falcons and former VA Tech QB Michael Vick "has become nationally, he's no match for three lousy QBs and a disappointing 5-7 record when it comes to area interest," as WRHL-Fox in Richmond will air Giants-Redskins instead of Falcons-Bucs on Sunday. WRHL Station Manager Bill Lane: "We are the Redskins' station. You HAVE to air the Redskins here" (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 12/5).
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that Wizards F Michael Jordan will retire "without the fanfare of any official farewell tour." Bulls CMO Steve Schanwald: "If anybody deserves a farewell tour, it's Michael Jordan. Michael says he doesn't want any farewell tour" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/5).
ABC announced today that "PTI" co-hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon will appear at halftime of the upcoming Bears-Dolphins "MNF" game. It is their second "MNF" appearance, following a November 4 Dolphins-Packers game (THE DAILY).
The NFL announced that 42,587,117 online fan ballots have been submitted for the Pro Bowl. With voting scheduled to close December 13, the total is on pace to break last year's record of 43 million votes. Packers QB Brett Favre leads all players with 771,562 votes (THE DAILY).
The AP reports the human rights group Indict "formally demanded that the IOC expel Iraq's national Olympic committee because its chief Saddam Hussein's eldest son Uday tortured and jailed athletes who failed to please him." IOC officials said that they were "aware of the complaint but were unable to comment because they had yet to receive the document" (AP, 12/5).
The THOROUGHBRED TIMES reports that Laurel Park, Aqueduct, Pimlico Race Course, Penn National Race Course, Philadelphia Park and Charles Town Races "shut their doors" today due to the inclement weather (THOROUGHBRED TIMES, 12/5).
TODAY'S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE's Fran Blinebury writes that Suzy Whaley, who will become the fist woman to play in a PGA Tour event at next year's Great Hartford Open, "just became a symbol. Not for new-age feminism. But for simple determination" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE). Meanwhile, a HARTFORD COURANT editorial states that Whaley "won't be out there alone. All of Connecticut will be at her shoulder, cheering her on" (HARTFORD COURANT).
The WASHINGTON POST's David Segal writes that scalpers in Washington, DC, might "soon vanish faster than a Mick Jagger solo album," as the DC Council will consider a "proposed law that could, among other things, hike fines on these furtive middlemen as high as $1,500 for repeat offenders" (WASHINGTON POST).
The BOSTON GLOBE's Bella English profiles Red Sox GM Theo Epstein in its Living/Arts section. Epstein: "When we're not winning, I'm very unhappy" (BOSTON GLOBE).
See The Daily Insider's Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT'S EVENTS
The USOC, in conjunction with the Athens Olympic Organizing Committee and Orlando, FL-based Greek Dream, will open the Athens 2004 Olympic Store at the Pointe Orlando Mall. Former U.S. Olympians Grant Hill and Theresa Edwards will attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:00pm ET. The store will carry a complete line of Athens '04 apparel, as well as some U.S. Olympic Team merchandise (THE DAILY).
The Hawks will give bobblehead dolls of the studio crew from TNT's "NBA on TNT" – Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson – to the first 5,000 fans for the team's 7:30pm ET game against the Bucks (THE DAILY).
Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra tonight is hosting a private party at "oh-so swish Saint … to say thanks to the sponsors and contributors to his charity, the Nomar5Fund" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/5).
IN OTHER NEWS…….
The AP reports that trading in United Airlines' stock today "was halted after it plunged" 59%, a day after the carrier "lost its request for government loan backing it said was needed to keep it out of bankruptcy" (AP, 12/5). As of presstime, shares of United were down $2.04, or 65%, to $1.08.
The AP reports that McDonald's Chair & CEO Jack Greenberg will "retire at the end of the year after 21 years at the company." McDonald's BOD elected the President & Vice Chair Jim Cantalupo to "take over the top two spots" (AP, 12/5). As of presstime, shares of McDonald's were up $0.25, or 1.36%, to $18.62.
TODAY'S DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending November 28 (BILLBOARD.com, 12/5).
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | Up! | Shania Twain | Mercury (Nashville) |
| 2) | Tim McGraw And The Dancehall
Doctors | Tim McGraw | Curb |
| 3) | 8 Mile | Soundtrack | Shady |
| 4) | Now 11 | Various Artists | Universal/EMI/Zomba/Sony |
| 5) | Better Dayz | 2Pac | Amaru/Death Row |
| 6) | This Is Me…Then | Jennifer Lopez | Epic |
| 7) | Cry | Faith Hill | Warner Bros. (Nashville) |
| 8) | Back In The U.S. Live 2002 | Paul McCartney | MPL |
| 9) | Let Go | Avril Lavigne | Arista |
| 10) | Stripped | Christina Aguilera | RCA |
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN2 will air men's college basketball, Nebraska-South FL, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN will air "Thursday Night Hockey," Rangers-Flyers or Red Wings-Coyotes, at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air college football, Fresno St.-LA Tech, at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN will air "Tiger Woods 1 on 1" at 10:30pm ET.
Actor Ray Liotta will appear as a guest on "Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson" at 7:00pm ET on TNT.
ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Roy Campanella at 8:00pm ET.
Packers RB Ahman Green, Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, Univ. of OR men's basketball coach Ernie Kent and Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly are scheduled to appear on FSN's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."
A&E's "Biography" will profile Johnny Cash: The Man In Black at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight's headline guests on the following talk shows:
| "The Late Show" | Jennifer Love Hewitt (r) |
| "The Tonight Show" | Billy Crystal |
| "The Late Late Show" | Jennifer Love Hewitt (r) |
| "Late Night" | Jackie Chan (r) |
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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