Closing Bell, January 16, 2003

IMG FOUNDER & CHAIR MARK McCORMACK SUFFERS CARDIAC ARREST

IMG Founder & Chair Mark McCormack has been hospitalized following cardiac arrest. He had immediate medical attention, and his condition has stabilized. IMG North and South America President & COO Bob Kain and IMG Int'l President & COO Alastair Johnston will continue to oversee day-to-day operations (THE DAILY).

LEONSIS, PAYNE DELIVER ADDRESSES AT SPORT SUMMIT 2003

Sport Summit 2003 continued today at the Marriott Marquis in N.Y. with a keynote address by Capitals Owner and AOL Vice Chair Ted Leonsis, titled "The Fight For the Entertainment Dollar."

Commenting on some of the current woes in the NHL, including the bankruptcy filings of the Senators and Sabres, Leonsis said, "The big issue is that these assets are flipable and are usually able to be turned quite quickly. But because of the anticipated labor strike in 2004 between the players union and the owners and the commissioner, no one is stepping up to buy or reinvest or move these franchises. They want to wait and see what happens after 2004."

After Leonsis, the program shifted to the Olympics and updates on operations at the IOC and USOC, as well as the Torino and Beijing organizing committees:

IOC Dir of Marketing Michael Payne introduced new executions under the "Celebrate Humanity" Olympic branding campaign set to launch in January of next year in preparation of the '04 Athens Games. One spot shows Austrian alpine skiier Hermann Maier's infamous crash in '98. The spot explains that Maier later went on to win two Gold Medals. The narrator says, "Falling is easy. Getting up, that is the hard part." All of the spots conclude with a white screen showing the Olympic rings, fading to the words, "Celebrate Humanity" in black lettering with the www.olympics.com address on the bottom.

IOC President Jacques Rogge addressed the conference in a taped statement and said, "A leading sports marketing program has enabled us to ensure financial stability, even in difficult economic times. As we now move forward, I look at how to strengthen this success, we'll reflect on how to reduce the cost of the Games, we'll reflect on the revision of the sports program, reflect on the future of television rights. All of these actions are aimed at ensuring the best conditions for the best participation of the athletes and the future success of the Games."

Meanwhile, USOC President Marty Mankamyer put a positive spin on the recent turmoil at the USOC: "There is a renewed dedication on the part of all of the USOC officers to lead the volunteers of this organization and work with the staff of the USOC in a effort to create and sustain athletic excellence."

For more from today's session at Sport Summit 2003, see tomorrow's issue of The Daily.

TOM HAMMOND AND PAT HADEN TO LEAD "AFL ON NBC" COVERAGE

NBC Sports today announced its complete on-air talent for the “AFL on NBC,” which begins Sunday, February 2 at 3:00pm ET with coverage of four games, including a rematch of Arena Bowl XVI – San Jose SaberCats at Arizona Rattlers. Ed Feibischoff and John Gonzalez will serve as Producer and Director, respectively, for the lead game each week. Al Trautwig will host the "AFL on NBC" studio show, with former NFLers Michael Irvin and Glenn Parker serving as studio analysts. The announcer roster is as follows:

Lewis Johnson will join the Hammond-Haden team as a sideline reporter, while Dave Burns and Marty Snider will serve as regional sideline reporters (THE DAILY).

MLB OWNERS CLOSE MEETINGS IN AZ WITH TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced today that owners unanimously approved his proposal to have the league that wins the All-Star Game get home-field advantage in the World Series. The rule change still requires MLBPA approval (THE DAILY).

Selig also announced the members of The Commissioner’s Initiative: Major League Baseball in the 21^st Century:

CART FLIPS THE SWITCH FOR TWO NIGHT RACES IN 2003

CART announced today that it will stage its first-ever night races this season.  On Saturday, May 31, the Champ Cars will compete under the lights at the Milwaukee Mile, and on Saturday, July 5, the series will visit Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport.  IA-based Musco lighting will construct temporary lighting for both events.  While both races will be run in primetime in the U.S., it is not yet known which net will televise the
events.  Meanwhile, CART also announced today that it has signed a five-year extension with the Cleveland event (THE DAILY).

FEDEX TODAY JOINS NTRA PURCHASING PROGRAM

The NTRA announced today that FedEx has joined the NTRA Purchasing program, which offers cost savings and value-added services to NTRA members. FedEx services included in the agreement are overnight shipping, express and ground package delivery, charter and critical shipments, freight shipping, e-commerce and supply chain management. Other NTRA Purchasing members include John Deere, Toshiba, Sherwin-Williams, Boise Office Solutions, Daktronics, Kentucky Buying Cooperative, Automated Graphic Systems and Hallway Feeds (THE DAILY).

USBL TO ADD EXPANSION TEAM IN N.Y. SUBURB FOR NEXT SEASON

BLOOMBERG NEWS reported that the USBL next year will put an expansion team in Westchester, NY. Team Owner Gary Lieberman has scheduled a news conference for next Tuesday at the team’s future home, the 4,500-seat Westchester County Center (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 1/15).

BUZZER BEATERS

The NBA today announced the rosters for the got milk? Rookie Challenge, to be played as part of NBA All-Star Saturday on February 8 at Philips Arena in Atlanta. The roster includes a record six int’l players. Grizzlies G Gordan Giricek, Nuggets F Nene Hilario and Rockets C Yao Ming will play on the rookie team, while Grizzlies F Pau Gasol, Jazz F Andrei Kirilenko and Spurs G Tony Parker will play on the sophomore team (THE DAILY).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports former Cowboys QBs Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach “plan to become owners of a NASCAR Winston Cup team in time for the 2004 season” (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/16).

The PGA Tour today announced a multi-year agreement with The Golf Warehouse to operate its official online shop as well as its consumer catalog (THE DAILY).

The Cactus League today announced that it is “preparing for record attendance again when Spring Training 2003 unfolds” on February 27. Last year, Cactus League attendance surpassed the one million mark, and with the addition of the Rangers and Royals in their new training home in Surprise (AZ), “officials say the numbers are sure to grow” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/16).

The NHL announced today that NHL.com ranked sixth on the netScore Standard Traffic Measurement Report, its highest position ever among sports Web sites, during the month of December with 3,264,000 unique visitors (THE DAILY).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

ABC Radio’s Keith Olbermann, on a Web site that is accepting bets on Super Bowl TV ratings: “It’s your call: Will the national TV audience ‘share’ figure, turn out to be over or under 41.5%. Wagering money on Super Bowl ratings? Come to think of it, television executives have been doing that for 36 years” (ABC Radio, 1/16).

Serena Williams, who is wearing a new Puma outfit at the Australian Open, on the much-discussed catsuit that she debuted at last year’s U.S. Open: “Catsuit is retired. You can see it in a museum” (AP, 1/16).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

The ECHL and the MeiGray Group today at 4:00pm ET begin an auction of jerseys that will be worn during the first period of next Wednesday’s ’03 All-Star Game at TECO Arena in Estero, FL. The auction is accessible online at www.echl.com, www.meigray.com and www.edeal.com. The auction, which ends January 28 at 6:00pm ET, benefits the Karmanos Cancer Institute (THE DAILY).

Ice Hockey In Harlem and the Rangers will hold their annual auction from 6:30-9:30pm ET at the Park Avenue Country Club in N.Y. Among the items up for auction: Rangers locker room tour, Derek Jeter autographed jersey and boxing gloves autographed by Muhammad Ali. Tickets are available at the door for $100 (THE DAILY).

Former Tigers announcer Ernie Harwell will be honored with the Judge Emil Fuchs Award and Rangers SS Alex Rodriguez will receive the Ted Williams Award as baseball’s best hitter at the 64^th annual Baseball Writers Dinner at the Sheraton Boston. Tickets for the 7:00pm ET sold for $100 (THE DAILY).

Yankees announcer Bobby Murcer will receive the Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award at the ’02 Warren Spahn Award Banquet, beginning at 7:00pm CT at the Masonic Temple Center in Guthrie, OK (THE DAILY).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN will air the first round of the PGA Tour’s Sony Open at 6:30pm ET.

ESPN will air Red Wings-Avalanche at 9:00pm ET. NHL All-Star Game rosters will be announced during the first intermission.

ESPN2 will air NCAA men’s basketball, Boston College-NC State at 7:00pm ET, and Louisville-East Carolina at 9:00pm ET. Memphis coach John Calipari will serve as a guest analyst during ESPN’s “Chalk Talk Live” segment throughout the evening.

ESPN2 will air Andre Agassi-Nicholas Escude in the Australian Open at 11:00pm ET.

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

Texas Tech men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight, Raiders WR Jerry Porter, Eagles OG John Welbourn and actor William Shatner are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

Actor Jamie Foxx will be on TNT’s “Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson” at 7:00pm ET.

TNT will air Magic-Wizards at 7:30pm ET, and Sonics-Jazz at 10:00pm ET.

HBO’s “Inside The NFL” will feature Eagles S Brian Dawkins, Raiders S Rod Woodson, Bucs DT Warren Sapp, DE Simeon Rice and LB Derrick Brooks at 8:00pm ET.

HBO Latino premieres Oscar de la Hoya’s new monthly production, “Oscar de la Hoya Presenta Boxeo De Oro” at 10:00pm ET, featuring WBC super-bantamweight champion Oscar Larios vs. Marcos Lincona. The show will move around the U.S. to areas with large Latino populations, including N.Y., Miami, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and El Paso.

A&E’s “Biography” will profile “The Gong Show” creator Chuck Barris at 8:00pm ET.

E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Gia: Supermodel at 8:00pm ET.

VH1 will air “100 Greatest … Moments That Rocked TV: 40-21” at 10:00pm ET.

ABC will air “Disco Ball” at 8:00pm ET.

The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels” will feature the evolution of the presidential planes at 7:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

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

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’s Frank Deford wonders if the NFL has “any teams that are good enough to play in the Super Bowl?” Deford adds, “This is a real dilemma, because if the NFL can’t produce any modern teams like those great juggernauts of old, squads truly capable of playing in the Super Bowl, how can we watch Super Bowl commercials?” (CNNSI.com).

The L.A. TIMES’ Lance Pugmire writes that Univ. of Miami RB Willis McGahee’s knee injury in the Fiesta Bowl proves “invincibility doesn’t exist in football; and nothing, including the notion that first-round locks like McGahee will earn millions of dollars in the NFL, is guaranteed.” McGahee’s injury “has reverberated through the college football landscape” as NCAA Coordinator of Insurance Juanita Sheely has received several forms of communication from student-athletes, including one who was looking for “an alternative to a premature move to the NFL under its exceptional student-athlete disability insurance plan” (L.A. TIMES).

USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand previews the Super Show in Las Vegas, where 75,000 manufacturers and retailers will gather “for a giant four-day bazaar, where they’ll decide which sports gear you’ll eventually see on the shelves.” While industry giants will be well represented, the show “always teems with minnows.” The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association’s Mike May says that this is because “lots of people can’t be athletes or coaches, but maybe they can make it as entrepreneurs” (USA TODAY).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS’ Terry Blount writes that after Stars coach Dave Tippett learned the team was still using videotape to record and review the action during a game, the Stars “have gone digital, using computers that allow them to display video of any game segment in only seconds.” The technology, designed by Sports Systems Designs in Ottawa, “allows game footage to be stored and recalled off a laptop computer, (meaning) the coaches can look at it with one click of a mouse” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS).

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

TODAY’S TEASER…

Which NHL team has seen the greatest increase at the gate this season over the comparable number of games last season (through 1/12/03)?

1. Canadiens
2. Canucks
3. Flames
4. Hurricanes
5. Mighty Ducks

IN OTHER NEWS…

The BOSTON GLOBE reports FleetBoston Financial Corp. today announced that it “plans to lay off 1,900 people, or 3.8[%] of its work force, with most of the cuts coming in the first quarter” (BOSTON.com, 1/16).

McDonald’s Chair & CEO Jim Cantalupo today said he “would limit restaurant growth world-wide and fix marketing plans as part of his strategy to ‘right the ship’ of the fast-food giant” (DOW JONES NEWSWIRES, 1/16).

THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS

The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending January 9 (BILLBOARD.com, 1/16):

…TODAY’S ANSWER

The Mighty Ducks’ attendance is up 16.8% over last year.

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

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