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Closing Bell

Closing Bell, March 7, 2003

The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday March 7, 2003
4:00pm ET

Ownership Controversy Looms As F1 Prepares To Open Season This Weekend

USSF To Focus On 2018 World Cup With 2014 Awarded To South America

Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 To Feature Paint Scheme Honoring Wright Brothers’ Flight

MLS Wizards Surpass 5,000 Mark In Season-Ticket Sales For First Time

Critics Weigh In: “Bringing Down The House” & “Tears Of The Sun”

Buzzer Beaters/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing/The Daily Stat


ECCLESTONE WARNS CARMAKERS OF POTENTIAL LEGAL ACTION

As the F1 season is set to open Sunday with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the FINANCIAL TIMES reports that controversy over the ownership and control of F1 “is set to deepen,” with Chair Bernie Ecclestone “warning the big carmakers they face legal action if they continue to ‘destabilize’ F1 with threats to run a rival championship.” While the “warning is certain to be shrugged off by the carmakers,” Ecclestone claims that the “struggle for control of F1 has had a ‘terrible’ effect – with at least one major sponsor set to pull out.” But Ferrari CEO Luca di Montezemolo said, “Ecclestone’s decision to sell his companies to [failed German media groups] Kirch and EMTV was when something completely changed in F1” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 3/7).

Meanwhile, Western Union announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with the BMW Williams Team (THE DAILY).


WITH 2014 AWARDED, USSF TO FOCUS ON BIDDING FOR 2018 CUP

The FIFA Exec Committee announced today that the 2014 World Cup will be held in South America, and the AP reports that the USSF, which had intended to bid for the tournament, “will now focus on bidding for the 2018 World Cup.” USSF President Bob Contiguglia: “Clearly FIFA has made a decision to focus on 2014 for South America. But a lot can happen between now and then.” FIFA President Sepp Blatter indicated the economic problems that have “crippled much of the continent, particularly Argentina, over the past decade would not hinder” the 2014 World Cup. Further, a proposal by South America to increase the field of the 2006 World Cup from 32 to 36 was tabled until the Exec Committee next meets, on May 3 (AP, 3/7).


WRIGHT BROTHERS PAINT SCHEME TO BE SEEN AT THE WINSTON

DuPont Aviation Finishes, Hendrick Motorsports and Action Performance today in Hampton, GA, unveiled a new paint scheme to honor the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers’ first gasoline-powered flight. The “Wright Brothers 100 Years of Aviation Celebration” design will be featured on the No. 24 Chevy of Jeff Gordon, which he will drive during The Winston on May 17 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. The car will be displayed at air shows throughout the U.S. in the coming months. Gordon and Amanda Wright-Lane, the Wrights’ great-grand niece, attended the unveiling (THE DAILY).


POWER, HYUNDAI CONTINUE RELATIONSHIP FOR THIRD YEAR

The WUSA Power today announced the continuation of the team’s partnership with the NY, NJ & CT Hyundai dealers for the upcoming season, marking the third straight season of the partnership. The “Hyundai Hero of the Season Award” and the “Hyundai Hero of the Game Award” will continue as part of the deal. Additionally, Hyundai will sponsor the New York Power Mall Tour and host five free soccer clinics in the tri-state area. Hyundai is also an official WUSA partner (THE DAILY).


BUZZER BEATERS

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Expos players will meet with MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr tomorrow “to go over plans for Puerto Rico.” The team is scheduled to play 22 games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan this season (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/7).

The Hawks will host the "Night of Praise Gospel Concert" featuring Mary Mary following the team's 7:00pm ET game Saturday against the Raptors. Hawks Group Sales Manager Tiffany Walker expects over 18,000 people to attend as more than 6,500 advanced group tickets have been sold. The Hawks supported the event with a direct mail to local churches, as well as radio spots and city-wide flyer distribution. The Hawks are averaging 11, 773 fans through 29 home games this season (THE DAILY).

The MLS Wizards today announced that the team has surpassed 5,000 season-ticket sales for the first time in franchise history (THE DAILY).

MLB HOFer Sandy Koufax today entered into an exclusive agreement with Steiner Sports Marketing to autographed memorabilia (THE DAILY).

The NAACP plans to picket the Southern Conference men’s basketball tournament tomorrow “to remind people that its tourism boycott [of SC] over the Confederate flag is still in effect.” The tournament is expected to draw 5,000 people and $3M to the Charleston area (Charleston POST & COURIER, 3/5).

Russell Corporation today announced that it plans to move Bike Athletic operations from Knoxville to other existing company locations in GA and AL. Russell acquired Bike on January 30 (THE DAILY).

The MLB Rangers announced today that Blue Jackets VP/Ticket Sales Andy Silverman has been appointed as the team’s new VP/Ticket Sales (THE DAILY).


WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

The ECHL Charlotte Checkers will host NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series drivers Jon Wood, Travis Kvapil and Dennis Setzer during the team’s 7:35pm ET game against the Dayton Bombers. The drivers will participate in an on-ice remote control truck race during the first intermission and an autograph session prior to the game (THE DAILY).

The first 250 people to purchase day of game tickets at the St. Pete Times Forum box office for the 7:30pm ET Avalanche-Lightning game will receive a free Fuji disposable camera. The promotion will be offered for five other Lightning home games in March (THE DAILY).

The Thrashers will distribute Jeff Odgers bobbleheads to the first 6,000 fans in attendance for the team’s 7:30pm ET game against the Panthers (THE DAILY).


Saturday

IMG President & COO Alastair Johnston will deliver the keynote address at the MA Golf Association’s 41st Spring Conference at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA. Other speakers include Golf 20/20 Exec Dir Ruffin Beckwith and USGA Green Section National Dir Jim Snow (THE DAILY).

The Pirates will hold an open house at PNC Park from 10:00am-5:00pm ET in conjunction with single-game tickets going on sale. The event includes a Q&A session with GM Dave Littlefield (THE DAILY).

Former NFLers Tunch Ilkin and Leo Wisniewski will debut their NFL-sponsored video series, “Inside the Game of Football,” with a clinic from 9:00-11:30am ET at the UPMC Sports Performance Complex. Steelers coaches Mike Mularkey and Tim Lewis, TE Mark Bruener and others will participate (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/7).

The Dodgers will host the 8th Annual Community Job Fair at Dodger Stadium from 10:00am-1:00pm PT (THE DAILY).

The AHL Philadelphia Phantoms will host NASCAR Night as the team faces off against the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7:05pm ET at the First Union Spectrum. As part of the event, a car from Dover Int’l Speedway will be on display and racing simulator games will be available on the concourse. A sweepstakes for two tickets to the BGN MBNA Platinum 200 on May 31 is planned (THE DAILY).

Brigham Young Univ. will retire the jersey of former basketball player Danny Ainge at halftime of the team’s 7:00pm MT game against CO State Univ. Ainge becomes the school’s first basketball player to have his number retired (THE DAILY).

Chargers LB Junior Seau will host the 11th annual Junior Seau Celebrity Golf Tournament beginning with the Annual Legends party at 8:00pm PT at Seau’s The Restaurant. The event continues with the Team Seau Dinner & Auction on Sunday at La Costa Resort & Spa, and concludes with the tournament Monday morning (THE DAILY).


Sunday

The Suns will induct former G Dan Majerle into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime of the team’s 6:00pm MT game against the T’Wolves. As part of the event, the first 7,500 fans in attendance will receive one of three different Majerle bobbleheads (THE DAILY).


CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

BMX rider Rick Thorne and snowboarder Keir Dillon will be on FSN’s “54321” at 5:30pm ET.

ESPN will air Clippers-Celtics at 8:00pm ET and 76ers-Sonics at 10:30pm ET.

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

Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal, Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch, Tigers manager Alan Trammell and AFL Avengers Owner Casey Wasserman are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

The Travel Channel will air “World’s Most Dangerous Sports Events” at 10:00pm ET.

Saturday

BET’s “Maad Sports” will feature boxer DeMarcus Corley at 12:00pom ET.

NBA Inside Stuff” on ABC will feature Bulls G Jay Williams, Suns G Stephon Marbury, Warriors F Antawn Jamison, Hawks F Theo Ratliff and Sonics C Jerome James.

NBC will air the third round of the Ford Championship at 3:00pm ET, the first of five consecutive weeks of the PGA Tour’s “Southern Swing” on the net.

ESPN2 will air Avalanche-Flyers at 8:00pm ET.

Speed Channel will air the F1 Australian Grand Prix at 9:30pm ET.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Schedule
Network
Time

Temple-Xavier

ESPN

noon ET

Atlantic Sun Championship

ESPN2

noon ET

Ohio-Kent

FSN

noon ET

Cincinnati-Marquette

ABC

1:30pm ET

Wake Forest-NC State

ABC

1:30pm ET

Kentucky-Florida

CBS

2:00pm ET

UConn-Boston College

ESPN

2:00pm ET

Big South Championship

ESPN2

2:00pm ET

Texas-Oklahoma

ABC

3:30pm ET

Clemson-Georgia Tech

ABC

3:30pm ET

Notre Dame-Georgetown

CBS

4:00pm ET

Oregon-Arizona

CBS

4:00pm ET

Ohio Valley Championship

ESPN2

4:00pm ET

Southern Conference Championship

ESPN2

6:00pm ET

Charlotte-Louisville

ESPN

7:00pm ET

St. John’s-Miami

ESPN

9:00pm ET


Sunday

ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” will profile the 20th anniversary of the USFL at 10:30am ET.

NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Avengers-Dragons or Rampage-Force at noon ET, and SaberCats-Rush at 3:00pm PT on the West coast. As a note, during NBC’s five-week coverage of the PGA Tour’s “Southern Swing,” the AFL on NBC will move from 3:00pm ET to noon ET.

Fox will air the Winston Cup Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN will air the PBA World Championship at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA women’s basketball, the Conference USA Championship at 2:00pm ET and the SEC Championship at 4:00pm ET.

ABC will air Wizards-Knicks at 1:00pm ET and 76ers-Lakers at 3:30pm ET.

NBC will air the final round of the Ford Championship at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Bruins-Blackhawks at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Red Wings-Mighty Ducks at 6:00pm ET.

ESPN will air the final two episodes of “Bill Walton’s Long, Strange Trip” at 8:00pm ET and 8:30pm ET.

FSN’s “Beyond The Glory” will profile Hakeem Olajuwon.

NCAA Men’s Basketball Schedule
Network
Time
Georgia-South Carolina
CBS
noon ET
Pittsburgh-Villanova
CBS
noon ET
Kansas-Missouri
CBS
2:00pm ET
Minnesota-Illinois
CBS
2:00pm ET
Duke-North Carolina
CBS
4:00pm ET
Maryland-Virginia
FSN
8:00pm ET
West Coast Semifinals
ESPN
11:59pm ET


TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Who recites the poem “Nobody Knows It But Me” in the Chevy Tahoe ads?


THE DAILY STAT: PGA TOUR RATINGS SEASON-TO-DATE

The following presents Nielsen ratings for PGA Tour events season-to-date as compared to last year (THE DAILY).

THIRD
 
FINAL
TOURNAMENT
NET
 
'03
'02
% +/-
 
'03
'02
% +/-
Mercedes Champ.
ESPN
 
0.6
1.6
-62.5%
 
1.2
2.1
-42.9%
Sony Open
ESPN
 
1
0.6
66.7%
 
1
1.3
-23.1%
Phoenix Open
CBS
 
1.6/4
1.9/5
-15.8%
 
2.6/5
3.7/7
-29.7%
Chrysler Clas.
CBS
 
2.2/5
1.8/4
22.2%
 
3.5/8
2.1/4
66.7%
AT&T National
CBS
 
2.6/7
3.0/8
-13.3%
 
3.5/8
3.4/7
2.9%
Buick Invit.
CBS
 
4.2/10
2.3/6
82.6%
 
6.1/12
3.9/8
56.4%
Nissan Open
ABC
 
3.1/8
1.6/4
93.8%
 
4.6/10
2.7/6
70.4%
Accenture World Golf
ABC
 
3.8/9
1.9/5
100.0%
 
5.1/11
2.0/4
155.0%


CRITICS WEIGH IN: MIXED REVIEWS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S RELEASES

Queen Latifah shakes up Steve Martin’s button-down world in “Bringing Down the House,” while Bruce Willis follows in his ex-wife’s footsteps, starring as a Navy S.E.A.L. in the action-adventure flick “Tears of the Sun.”

——————————Movie——————————

“Bringing Down the House”

“Tears of the Sun”

Chicago Sun-Times

Hollywood Reporter

L.A. Times

N.Y. Times

USA Today


…TODAY’S ANSWER

James Garner is the voice behind the poem that closes, “And wherever you’re going, that’s wherever you are … And nobody knows it but me.”


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

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