Closing Bell, February 21, 2003

ROGGE DELIVERS NEW WARNINGS ABOUT ATHENS PREPARATIONS

The IOC Exec Board today concluded its two-day meeting in Lausanne, after which it met with the press to discuss details of the meeting, and AROUND THE RINGS reports that IOC President Jacques Rogge “has delivered new warnings about the state of preparations for the Athens Olympics.”  While Rogge said that new delays in “security and venue construction could threaten the quality of the Games,” he stressed that “there is no doubt ‘that the Games will take place in Athens,’ seeking to dispel talk of moving or canceling the 2004 Olympics” (AROUND THE RINGS, 2/21).

The AP reports that the Exec Board also approved the around-the-world route for the 35-day Olympic flame relay, which will include approximately 10,000 athletes.  The route includes “every city that has ever hosted a Summer Olympics, as well as Beijing, site of the 2008 Games,” and will cross Africa and South America for the first time (AP, 2/21).

Meanwhile, ESPN.com reports that the Exec Board also gave “approval for a formal investigation into the torture” of Iraqi athletes, but with the “cryptic warning that it cannot prevent any harm that may come to athletes who serve as witnesses.”  The IOC Ethics Commission has asked for contact information for “anyone who can testify to violations of the Olympic Code of Ethics by Uday Hussein,” son of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.  Despite the potential risks, “Iraqi athletes say they are willing to cooperate with the IOC probe” (ESPN.com, 2/21).

CITY OF VANCOUVER TO HOLD OLYMPIC VOTE TOMORROW

The city of Vancouver will conduct the “Olympic Vote” tomorrow from 8:00am-8:00pm PT to determine if residents support or oppose Vancouver’s bid to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  The ballot will be offered in English, French, Chinese, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese (THE DAILY).  Commenting on the expected support, 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Olympic Bid Committee CEO & Chair Jack Poole said, “It will be a body blow if it’s less than 50 [%].”  However, since “no Olympic plebiscite has ever passed, if Vancouver delivers a result” over 50%, Poole said that “will be a world record.”  Regardless of the result, Poole will “push ahead with the bid” (VANCOUVER SUN, 2/21).

AOL SPORTS TO OFFER THREE FREE CLIPS OF SUPER BOWL DVD

AOL Sports today launched a new “Inside the DVD” program, which offers AOL members the opportunity to view three video clips from Warner Home Video’s “NFL Super Bowl XXXVII Champions” DVD.  By entering “Super Bowl DVD” as the AOL Keyword, members are offered the clips and the option to purchase the DVD.  NFL Films produced the three clips (THE DAILY).

AHL MIGHTY DUCKS RUNNING QUESTIONABLE PROMOTION TONIGHT

The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that the AHL Cincinnati Mighty Ducks tonight will run “an Animal House stunt in a Disney town.”  The night, which has been named “Cory Pecker Night ” after one of the team’s players, offers a free ticket to any Richard, Peter or William who purchases another ticket.  When asked why a “team that bills itself as family friendly … would chance it on a one-night promotion of questionable rectitude,” Mighty Ducks President Tom Garrity said, “Sophomoric.  Definitely. … We just wanted to have a little fun.”  Publicity for the promotion ran only on the Ducks flagship radio station, WCKY-AM (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 2/21).  There is no mention of the promotion of the team’s Web site.  In fact, the promotion mentioned on the Web site is Mighty Ducks All-Star poster night.

ESPN TO INTRODUCE NEW “SPORTSCENTER” SEGMENT SUNDAY

ESPN will introduce “HearSay,” a segment testing athletes’ knowledge of sports and pop culture, during Sunday’s 11:00pm ET edition of “SportsCenter.”  Anchor Rich Eisen or Stuart Scott will pair with an athlete for 12 consecutive days in a game that sounds very similar to board game “Taboo.”  The rules: The athlete has 60 seconds to guess ten words based on clues Eisen or Scott give, but there are five forbidden words that cannot be used.  The second phase features the athlete giving Eisen or Scott clues.  The athletes with the highest scores will compete in two days of playoffs, and then for the championship.  The segments will be aired on all editions of “SportsCenter” during the 15 days.  Sunday’s guest is Titans RB Eddie George (THE DAILY).

BUZZER BEATERS

The NCAA today selected New Era Cap Co. to produce the official locker room championship caps for nine Div. I-A intercollegiate sports championships this year.  Among the events are the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regional Finals and the Men’s Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four (THE DAILY).

The Portland OREGONIAN reports that representatives from design firm HOK are in Portland to “meet with members of the coalition and city officials to begin the process of ranking the proposed” sites for a potential MLB ballpark.  The coalition will then take those ranked sites to the MLB Relocation Committee March 20 in Phoenix for its official bid for the Expos (Portland OREGONIAN, 2/21).

The AP reports that MLB players “won't respond for several weeks to management’s proposal to give the league that wins the All-Star game home-field advantage in the World Series.”  MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr: “We still have some internal discussions to have, and then some discussions with [MLB]” (AP, 2/21).

DM NEWS reports that George Foreman will begin selling various meats online March 1, followed by a summer debut in retail stores.  Foreman’s Web site will sell marinated cuts of steak, filet mignons, hamburgers, chicken breasts and ribs.  ConAgra Foods will supply the meat (DM NEWS, 2/21).

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that restaurant Harry Caray’s execs are “hoping at least 300,000 drinks are hoisted to mark the anniversary of the legendary broadcaster’s death” at 5:25pm CT tonight.  The event was developed by Harry Caray’s President Grant DePorter and will “include toasters in every time zone around the world.”  Caray’s widow Dutchie and Cubs President Andy MacPhail will lead the toast, followed by a rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/21).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

WNBA President Val Ackerman will be the guest speaker at the “D.A.R.E. To Be A Lynx” Fundraiser, benefiting Minnesota D.A.R.E., at 6:00pm CT at the Marriott Courtyard at the Depot in Minneapolis (THE DAILY).

The Hornets have designated their 7:30pm ET game against the Grizzlies as “Patriotic Night,” with discounted tickets for all military personnel.  In addition, all fans entering the arena will receive a mini-American flag, the Marine Corps band will play at halftime and fans will be able to record messages for the troops overseas (THE DAILY).

The Timberwolves will give away Chevy Silverado Matchbox cars to the first 5,000 fans at the team’s 7:30pm CT game against the Pistons, and also at the 2:30pm CT Sunday game against the Suns.  The Matchbox car is a replica of the ’03 Timberwolves Edition Silverado, which is currently on display at the Target Center, and will be given away during halftime of the team’s February 26 game against the Jazz (THE DAILY).

The Clippers will present season-ticket holder Gary Evans will a ’03 Mitsubishi Outlander after the team’s shootaround today for hitting a half-court shot at the Suns-Clippers game January 31 (THE DAILY).

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Saturday

Individual tickets for the first of the Expos’ three homestands in San Juan, Puerto Rico – April 11-20 – will go one sale at 9:00am AT (THE DAILY).

The Saint Louis Univ. Board of Trustees will meet to consider how the sale of naming rights, premium seating, sponsorships and advertising could help pay for the cost of a proposed $50-60M arena for the university.  Cleveland-based marketing firm The Superlative Group will deliver the revenue study for the proposed 11,000-13,500-seat arena (THE DAILY).

Clear Channel will host the second annual “Subway Rock ‘n’ Sports Experience” expo at the Washington Convention Center, which will market the Wizards, Redskins, United, Freedom and Orioles (THE DAILY).

The Pistons will distribute 10,000 Ben Wallace real hair bobbleheads before the team’s 7:30pm ET game against the Hornets (THE DAILY).

NHL Dir of Youth Development Willie O’Ree will host the Willie O’Ree All-Star Weekend, a tournament in Minneapolis that will honor 24 young boys and girls.  The tournament culminates with the Willie O’Ree All-Star Game on Sunday immediately prior to the Blues-Wild game at Xcel Energy Center (THE DAILY).

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Sunday

Coyotes Managing General Partner Wayne Gretzky will open his first Fantasy Camp at the Alltel Ice Den, which will include appearances by former NHLers such as Paul Coffey, Geoff Courtnall and Bobby Hull.  The camp runs though Thursday (THE DAILY).

CHANNEL SURFING

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

ESPN2 will air the America’s Cup, Race 4 at 7:00pm ET.

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

MLB Giants P Robb Nen, Lions LB Chris Claiborne and Ultimate Fighter Tank Abbott are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor Rich Eisen will be on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 12:35am ET.

A’s P Barry Zito will be on NBC’s “Last Call” with Carson Daly at 1:35am ET.

BET’s “Maad Sports” will feature Wizards G Jerry Stackhouse at 12:00pm ET.

“NBA Inside Stuff” on ABC will feature Knicks G Allan Houston, Nuggets C Marcus Camby, Kings F Chris Webber, Pacers F Jermaine O’Neal and Pistons F Corliss Williamson.

ESPN will air NCAA men’s basketball: Georgetown-Miami at 12:00pm ET, Xavier-Dayton at 2:00pm ET, Wisconsin-Iowa at 4:00pm ET, Memphis-South Florida at 7:00pm ET and Missouri-Colorado at 9:00pm ET.

FX will air the BGN Rockingham 200 at 12:30pm ET.

CBS will air NCAA men’s basketball regional coverage: Northwestern-Illinois or St. John’s-UConn at 2:00pm ET, and NC State-Duke or Louisville-Cincinnati at 4:00pm ET.

ABC will air third round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Nissan Open at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the America’s Cup, Race 5 at 7:00pm ET.

TBS will air the “Trumpet Awards” at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” will examine marijuana use in sports and will focus on former NFLer and NORML TX Chapter President Mark Stepnowski at 10:30am ET.

Fox will air the Winston Cup Subway 400 at 12:30pm ET.

ABC will air Mavericks-Wizards at 12:30pm ET.

CBS will air NCAA men’s basketball regional coverage: Syracuse-Michigan State or Mississippi State-Kentucky at 2:00pm ET, followed by national coverage of Kansas-Oklahoma at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA women’s basketball: TCU-Tulane at 2:00pm ET and Penn State-Minnesota at 4:00pm ET.

NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Avengers-Rush, Desperados-Fury, Storm-Rampage or Rattlers-Firebirds at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Nissan Open at 3:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Stars-Blackhawks at 6:00pm ET.

FSN will air NCAA men’s basketball, Virginia-Wake Forest, at 6:30pm ET.

CBS will air the 45^th Grammy Awards at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will air the fourth episode of “Bill Walton’s Long, Strange Trip” at 8:30pm ET.

ESPN will air Rangers-Avalanche or Blues-Wild at 8:30pm ET.

FSN’s “Beyond The Glory” will profile Brett Hull.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: The 45^th annual Grammy Awards are Sunday on CBS.  The nominees for Song of the Year are: “Complicated,” by Avril Lavigne, “Don’t Know Why,” by Norah Jones, “The Rising,” Bruce Springsteen, “A Thousand Miles,” by Vanessa Carlton and “Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning),” by Alan Jackson.  What was the Song of the Year in ‘02?

THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS

The following lists Billboard Magazine’s top-selling CDs for the week ending February 16 (BILLBOARD.com, 2/20).

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “OLD SCHOOL” AND “THE LIFE OF DAVID GALE”

Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn look to recapture their glory days in the sophomoric comedy “Old School.”  In “The Life of David Gale,” Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslett received praise for their acting, but the direction on Alan Parker (“Midnight Express”) is unanimously called into question. :

…TODAY’S ANSWER

“Fallin’” by Alicia Keys

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