| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, January 30, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Commission On Opportunity In Athletics Votes For Modest Changes |
| • | NCWO Chair Martha Burk Speaks Out Again In Support Of WNBA Players |
| • | SportsLine.com Today Announces First Ever Positive Cash Flow |
| • | Indians Today Renew Multi-Year Corporate Sponsorship Agreements |
| • | WNBA Releases ’03 Schedule Today; Sparks-Sun To Be First Game On ABC |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
COMMISSION FAILS TO PASS SWEEPING TITLE IX RECOMMENDATIONS
The Commission on Opportunity in Athletics concluded its meeting today in DC, and the AP reports that the Commission voted “for only modest changes” to Title IX, failing “to pass any sweeping recommendations.” In a key vote, the Commission “deadlocked 7-7 on a plan to alter the requirement that the ratio of male and female athletes at colleges and universities be roughly the same as the overall student body.” The Commission will now forward its report to Education Secretary Rod Paige, who will consider whether to recommend changing the law (AP, 1/30).
REEBOK CHAIR & CEO PAUL FIREMAN SPEAKS ON “POWER LUNCH”
One day after posting strong Q4 earnings, Reebok Chair & CEO Paul Fireman appeared on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” today to discuss his company’s results, and said, “The new arrangement we have with the (NFL) and (NBA) has proved to be a great catalyst for change. We’ve developed new products for them, made better products. Instead of going down market, we’ve gone up market and merchandised new products there. Our new footwear (and) our classic programs are fresh. I think what consumers want is they want to spend their money. They just want to buy fresh products that they think excite them, and has given a different twist than in the past” (“Power Lunch,” CNBC, 1/30). As of presstime, shares of Reebok are down $0.70 to $29.80.
BURK WANTS SUPPORT OF WNBA TO RAISE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS
NCWO Chair Martha Burk went public again today with her group’s support of the WNBA players in their labor negotiations with the league. Burk told the AP that the WNBA players asked for her help, and “by giving our support, we can raise the public consciousness about how the players are so far down in their pay and in their endorsement opportunities.” NBA Senior VP/Communications Tim Andree, who oversees the WNBA, said today, “We are working very, very hard to get a [CBA]. ... There's no moral question here. It’s an economic question” (AP, 1/30).
The WNBA today announced its ’03 schedule, which begins May 22 with two games: Storm-Comets and Monarchs-Mercury. ABC’s first of seven Saturday afternoon telecasts is Sparks-Sun on May 24 at 4:00pm ET. View the entire schedule (THE DAILY).
SPORTSLINE.COM Q4 ’02 RESULTS UP ACROSS THE BOARD
SportsLine.com today announced results for Q4 ended December 31. Revenue for the quarter was $19.9M, an increase of 28% from $15.5M for the year ago period. Net losses for the quarter were $8.3M, an improvement of 40% from losses of $13.8M. Most notably, the company posted a positive EBITDA for the first time in its history at $2.2M. For the same period a year ago, the company posted a $4.1M EBITDA loss (THE DAILY). As of presstime, shares of SportsLine.com are up $0.03 to $1.12.
SEVEN CORPORATE SPONSORS RE-UP WITH INDIANS TODAY
The Indians today announced that they have extended multi-year corporate sponsorships with Key Bank, Giant Eagle, Sherwin-Williams, Pepsi, MBNA America, Medical Mutual and Fifth Third Bank. The integrated sponsorships include radio and print advertising, signage and in-park and retail promotions (THE DAILY).
NHL, NHLPA FORMALLY ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT WITH STARWOOD
The NHL, NHLPA and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide today formally announced a multi-year agreement that makes Starwood properties in the U.S. and Canada the official hotels and resorts of the NHL and NHLPA. Under the agreement, Starwood, and particularly its Sheraton Hotels & Resorts brand, will support league events, advertise in USA Today’s NHL-themed bonus sections and sponsor a yet-to-be determined monthly award. Furthermore, a program is being developed to utilize NHL players as Starwood spokespeople (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
CBS Sports and DirecTV today announced a multi-year extension to the agreement that enables DirecTV to offer out-of-market broadcasts supplemental to CBS’ national coverage of the NCAA Div. I men’s basketball championship (THE DAILY).
24/7 Real Media today announced that it has signed an agreement with The Golf Digest Companies, under which it will exclusively sell advertising and sponsorships for www.GolfDigest.com, www.golfworld.com and www.golfforwomen.com (THE DAILY).
The Gravity Games formally announced today that it will return to Cleveland’s North Coast Harbor. The ’03 Games are scheduled for September 10-14 (THE DAILY).
The AHL Grand Rapids Griffins today announced an agreement with WXSP-UPN to televise the ’03 AHL All-Star Game and two live Griffins games in March. As part of the coverage, WXSP-UPN will also televise the league’s weekly news show, “Inside the AHL” (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES notes former Bears DT William “The Refrigerator” Perry is “an eminently good fit as the newly signed” spokesperson for KY-based Big Ass Fans, which manufactures large industrial ceiling fans. Perry, who will debut in his new role during the Promat Show in Chicago February 10-13, will “take his place alongside Big Ass's company mascot, a donkey called Fannie whom Big Ass staffers refer to simply – and lovingly, of course – as ‘our big ass.’” The company says sales have doubled in the past 12 months (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/30).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
The L.A. chapter of the National Sports Marketing Network will conduct a discussion, “Is the NFL Coming to Los Angeles?,” from 6:00-9:00pm PT at Lunaria in Beverly Hills. Moag & Co. Chair & CEO John Moag will be the keynote speaker. Those interested in attending the event should call (917) 446-7791 (THE DAILY).
OH State Univ. head football coach Jim Tressel and RB Maurice Clarett and OH prep basketball standout LeBron James will attend the Cleveland Sports Awards Banquet at the Renaissance Hotel, beginning at 5:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The Hawks will launch their “Team Up for Tickets” initiative, which provides game tickets to area sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, during a 6:45pm ET press conference at Philips Arena (THE DAILY).
The Reds will begin the ’03 Winter Caravan at 7:00pm ET at the Univ. of Dayton Arena. The caravan will continue Friday in Lima and Columbus, and ends Saturday after stops in Charleston, WV, and Lexington and Louisville, KY. Manager Bob Boone, OF Austin Kearns and 3B Brandon Larson are scheduled to appear (THE DAILY).
The Univ. of MD will honor former men’s basketball coach Lefty Driesell with a halftime ceremony during their 9:00pm ET game versus NC State Univ. (THE DAILY).
CHANNEL SURFING
FSN’s “54321” will feature surfer Kelly Slater at 5:00pm ET.
TSN’s “Molson That’s Hockey” will air an interview with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN will air Blackhawks-Bruins or Avalanche-Rangers at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NCAA men’s basketball, Butler-Duke, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the Winter X Games VII at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Ernie Davis at 8:00pm ET.
Bucs CB Ronde Barber, Giants RB Tiki Barber, WUSA Freedom F Mia Hamm, the Harlem Globetrotters and comedian Andy Richter are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
Actor Laurence Fishburne will be on TNT’s “Listen Up!”at 7:00pm ET.
TNT will air T’Wolves-Mavericks at 7:30pm ET, and Kings-Sonics at 10:00pm ET.
The season finale of HBO’s “Inside The NFL” will review Super Bowl XXXVII at 8:00pm ET.
The Golf Channel will air “Champions Tour Season Preview” at 8:00pm ET.
A&E’s “Biography” will profile Jack Webb at 8:00pm ET.
E!’s “TV Tales” will profile Saturday Night Live at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Jerry Seinfeld (r) |
| “The Tonight Show” | Dana Carvey |
| “The Late Late Show” | Daisy Fuentes |
| “Late Night” | Heather Graham |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
USA TODAY’s Michael Hiestand writes that with the Senators and Sabres having filed for bankruptcy and a labor dispute looming, the NHL “could use some suggestions.” Univ. of OR Warsaw Sports Marketing Center Exec Dir Rick Burton: “Hockey has huge issues. A lot of their clubs are close to the edge, outspending what they make. If a third team goes over the edge, all hell might break loose” (USA TODAY).
Denver WESTWORD’s Julie Dunn writes, “The new Coors Light ads have been damn near impossible to miss on TV this football season. … What do the twins – 26-year-old Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski, the youngest children of polish immigrants – have to do with beer? Absolutely nothing. But they attract – and how! – young men, and that’s the group that Coors, the nation’s third-largest brewer, thought it was missing” (WESTWORD).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles Of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports Business: With NASCAR pursuing more night races, which track was the first to host an event under the lights?
- Bristol Motor Speedway
- Richmond Int'l Raceway
- Lowe's Motor Speedway
- Daytona Int'l Speedway
IN OTHER NEWS…
Kellogg Co. today said that quarterly earnings “jumped 53[%] from a year earlier, when results were weighed down in part by costs related to the acquisition of cookie maker Keebler Foods” (REUTERS, 1/30).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine's top-selling CDs for the week ending January 23 (BILLBOARD.com, 1/30):
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | Come Away With Me | Norah Jones | Blue Note |
| 2) | Chicago | Soundtrack | Epic |
| 3) | Let Go | Avril Lavigne | Arista |
| 4) | Home | Dixie Chicks | Monument/Columbia |
| 5) | This Is Me…Then | Jennifer Lopez | Epic |
| 6) | 8 Mile | Soundtrack | Shady |
| 7) | Cocky | Kid Rock | Lava/Atlantic |
| 8) | Under Construction | Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott | The Gold Mind/Elektra |
| 9) | I Care 4 U | Aaliyah | Blackground/Universal |
| 10) | The Last Temptation | Ja Rule | Murder Inc./Def Jam |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the Volunteer 500 in ’78 under the lights.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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