Closing Bell, March 5, 2003

“LEGENDARY NIGHTS” TO GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF HBO BOUTS

HBO tonight premieres “Legendary Nights,” a 12-part series that documents the stories behind HBO’s most memorable bouts, at 10:00pm ET. The installments, each 30 minutes in length, will run in chronological order on 12 consecutive Wednesday nights, and will feature actual fight footage, as well as behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. Tonight’s installment features the ’81 welterweight bout between Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. HBO boxing analyst Jim Lampley hosts the series. HBO runs a full-page ad in USA Today highlighting the featured bout from each installment of the series (THE DAILY).

In L.A., Mark Sachs writes, “Leave it to HBO Sports to come up with a documentary series that works as hard on the story outside the ring as the one in it, and because of the attention to detail, the 30-minute profiles carry a dramatic weight that will draw in just about anyone” (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).

Also in L.A., Larry Stewart wrote of the premiere installment, “If this show is any indication, this is going to be a great series” (L.A. TIMES, 3/4).

In Grand Rapids, Brian Vanochten wrote, “The result is a knockout” (GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, 3/2).

SOUTHWEST TO ROLL OUT NBA-THEMED ADS DURING PLAYOFFS

Southwest Airlines and the NBA today announced details of Southwest’s sponsorship of the NBA and WNBA, which includes NBA-themed advertising coinciding with the ’03 playoffs that will appear both during NBA games and original programming on ABC, TNT, ESPN and NBA TV. As Southwest did this for the first time, the company will also sponsor the NBA’s Black History Month program for the duration of the deal. Furthermore, Southwest will have a presence on NBA.com, including a video highlight feature (THE DAILY).

LEGENDS SUITE PACKAGE TO INCLUDE FENWAY PARK TOUR

The Red Sox formally announced details today of their Legends Suite today, a premium seating option and day-of-game package that includes watching the game with a former Red Sox player, such as Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Dwight Evans, Johnny Pesky, Fred Lynn, Luis Tiant or others.  The Legends Suite serves groups of up to 20, who will also receive a behind-the-scenes tour of Fenway Park and field access during batting practice.  Furthermore, suite ticket holders receive four tickets to the new Dugout Seats on the first base line. The suite comes with a private attendant, a personal bartender and a Fenway host.  An earlier report had the suite costing $10,000 per game (THE DAILY).

AMERICA’S CUP LOSS WILL COST NEW ZEALAND $420.9M IN SPENDING

While the Kiwis are still grappling with losing the America’s Cup to European challenger Alinghi, BLOOMBERG NEWS reports that the loss “will cost Auckland … about $420.9M in spending generated by the race in the past five months.” While the America’s Cup is “a key source of revenue for local businesses” and the country’s economy, the next race will be held in Europe. Hilton Auckland GM John Ingram: “To replace that kind of money requires another major event. They don’t come around that often” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/5).

BUZZER BEATERS

Sporting News this week features Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki on the cover, under the header, “Calm. Cool. Collected. Ichiro explained.”

Sports Illustrated features Univ. of KY G Cliff Hawkins, under the header, “Kentucky Comes On Strong.”

ESPN Magazine this week offers the header, “Mr. Sunshine … New Scene, Same Ball-Bustin’ Jeff Kent.”

Sporting News	Sports Illustrated

ESPN Magazine

Yao Ming’s tour continues tonight with a stop in Toronto, and Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association VP Clement Chu commented on group sales for tonight’s Rockets-Raptors game: “We usually sell a block of 100, then another block, maybe another block. For Yao, we’ve sold 4,000. Given more time, we could have sold at least 6,000” (TORONTO SUN, 3/5).

While the USOC had previously announced that its BOD will conduct general sessions April 12-13 in Fort Worth, TX, it was announced today that the Exec Committee will conduct a closed session April 11 (THE DAILY).

The AP reports that ATHOC President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki today “urged Greeks … to stop bickering and work harder in preparing for the Olympics.” Angelopoulos-Daskalaki: “Sixteen months before the Olympic Games it is too late to say who has responsibility and who does not” (AP, 3/5).

ESPN today reported that the net earned a 1.37/ (1,188,183 HHs) Nielsen cable rating for four days of coverage of the Accenture Match Play Championship, up 71% from a 0.80/ (689,442 HHs) last year (THE DAILY).

As noted in today’s Morning Buzz, Bucs CB Ronde Barber visited Reebok HQs in Canton, MA. Barber answered employee questions prior to a photo shoot to promote Reebok’s line of NFL Equipment. The images will be used in a mailing to key retailers looking to put NFL Equipment at retail, as well as for POP use (THE DAILY).

Fox Sports World and FoxSports.com today announced the launch of the channel’s new Web site, www.foxsportsworld.lycos.com. The Web site will also offer the message boards from BigSoccer.com (THE DAILY).

Fox Sports today announced that its NFL preseason coverage will begin Thursday, August 14, with Raiders-49ers at 8:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Commenting on Yankees P David Wells’ autobiography, “Perfect I’m Not! Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball,” SI’s Marc Bechtel writes, “Why, you have to wonder, would anyone shell out $29.95 for Perfect? There is already ample evidence that Wells stays out too late and drinks too much” (SI, 3/10 issue).

CHANNEL SURFING

Surfer Tim Curran and snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler will be on FSN’s “54321” at 5:00pm ET.

Twins CF Torii Hunter sits down in the “Budweiser Hot Seat” during ESPN’s “SportsCenter” at 6:00pm ET.

ESPN will air NCAA men’s basketball, Georgia Tech-Virginia, at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air T’Wolves-Kings at 9:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA men’s basketball, NC State-Clemson, at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Blackhawks-Stars at 9:00pm ET.

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

MLBer John Rocker, SI’s Mike Silver and recording artist Aaron Neville are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

Former MLBer Mark McGwire will be tonight’s “HearSay” contestant during ESPN’s “SportsCenter” at 11:00pm ET.

A&E’s “Biography” will profile Oksana Baiul at 8:00pm ET.

E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Rosie O’Donnell at 8:00pm ET.

E!’s “Revealed” will profile Naomi Campbell at 10:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

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

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR’s Mark Alesia writes, “Women’s college basketball boasts many trappings of the big time. … But except for a few schools such as Connecticut and Tennessee, media exposure hasn’t translated to the bottom line. Women’s basketball is by far the NCAA’s biggest money-losing sport in Division I-A, not even close to sustaining itself financially. That’s the case though it receives more publicity than any NCAA sport other than football and men’s basketball” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR).

The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER’s Janis Carr writes of the WTA, “In less than a month, the CEO chair will sit empty. The president’s chair is largely unoccupied now, its owner acting as a consultant only. And therein lies the leadership of the WTA Tour. Gone. After one year on the job, the top two managers of the women’s tour are departing, leaving behind a successful and popular product on the court, but one that faces economic and global challenges and a world of change off it” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER).

The BOSTON GLOBE’s Gordon Edes profiles Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner, writing, “Steinbrenner’s physical presence is rarely required for him to tower over his pinstriped legions. … He wins more, spends more [a payroll of $150M and counting], and blusters more than anyone else in the game” (BOSTON GLOBE).

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

TODAY’S TEASER…

Mindbenders: Which of the words below is least like the others? The difference has nothing to do with vowels, consonants or syllables.

laugh – hyphen – coffer – after

IN OTHER NEWS……

The DAYTON BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that VA-based military technology firm Veridian will be the presenting sponsor for the ’03 National Aviation HOF President’s Dinner at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dearborn, OH (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/5).

THE DAILY STAT: PRIMETIME NIELSEN RATINGS

The following lists the final Nielsen ratings for the top ten primetime shows for the week of February 24-March 3. Also provided are the weekly viewership averages for each net (USA TODAY, 3/5).

…TODAY’S ANSWER

After. It is the only one in which the sound “f” is created by only one letter.

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.