| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday March 25, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | AVP Tour Today Announces Three-Year Sponsorship Deal With Aquafina |
| • | MLS Today Announces Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement With Panasonic |
| • | ESPN, NFL To Collaborate On “The Ice Bowl,” One Other Made-For-TV Movie |
| • | NHL Today Announces Creation Of NHL Diversity Hockey Scholarship Program |
| • | NBA To Broadcast Up To Seven Playoff Games In HDTV |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
AQUAFINA TO BE OFFICIAL BOTTLED WATER OF AVP TOUR
The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour and PepsiCo’s Aquafina today announced a three-year agreement that will make Aquafina a sponsor of the AVP Tour and title sponsor of the Aquafina Shootout, which will take place September 4-6 in Las Vegas. As part of the agreement, AquaFina will receive on-site signage and four broadcast units during all NBC and cable televised AVP events. Aquafina will also become the exclusive bottled water of the AVP. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Aquafina is increasing its involvement with the AVP Tour following a one-year deal last year (THE DAILY).
PANASONIC TO SERVE AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF MLS INITIATIVE
Soccer United Marketing, the properties arm of MLS, today announced that Panasonic has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with the league. As part of the agreement, Panasonic will be afforded giveaway opportunities, in-stadium promotion and the right to all MLS logos, footage and player likenesses. Panasonic will also serve as the presenting sponsor of a yet-to-be announced grassroots initiative. Terms were not disclosed (THE DAILY).
NFL TO COLLABORATE WITH ESPN ON “THE ICE BOWL”
ESPN and the NFL today jointly announced that as part of a multi-year development agreement, they will collaborate on two original, made-for-TV movies, the first being the previously announced “The Ice Bowl,” scheduled to premiere Saturday, December 13 at 9:00pm ET on ESPN. The agreement allows ESPN to leverage the production expertise and archival footage of NFL Films (THE DAILY).
HAMILTON AND BUTTON PART OF WORLD SKATING FEDERATION
The AP reports that Scott Hamilton and Dick Button are among the “prominent names in figure skating” who are part of the newly-formed World Skating Federation (WSF), which was announced today. The group is “challenging the role” of the Int’l Skating Union (ISU), the int’l governing body for figure skating. WSF acting President Ron Pfenning said today, “An environment has been created where there are no ethical constraints on corruption.” The group has contacted IOC President Jacques Rogge, asking for a meeting. But IOC spokesperson Emmanuelle Moreau said, “The IOC recognizes one international federation for each sport and, as far as skating is concerned, it is the ISU” (AP, 3/25).
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM TO BENEFIT DISADVANTAGED YOUTHS
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, in conjunction with USA Hockey, today announced the creation of the NHL Diversity Hockey Scholarship Program at the annual Lester Patrick Award Luncheon in Boston, MA. The program is designed to provide economically disadvantaged boys and girls from U.S.-based NHL Diversity programs the opportunity to attend the annual USA Hockey Summer Camp in Ann Arbor, MI (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
NBA TV today announced that it will televise up to seven games in HDTV during the ’03 NBA Playoffs (THE DAILY).
The AP reports that NFL owners at meetings today in Phoenix decided to “use intact crews to officiate playoff games next season rather than all-star units” (AP, 3/25).
Finish Line today launched “Big Break – Be A Finish Line Model Contest,” in which individuals between the ages of 14-24 submit photos and an essay for the chance to appear in the Finish Line ’03 ad campaign (THE DAILY).
NASCAR.com, Worldspan and Turner Sports Interactive today unveiled the leisure travel section of NASCAR.com, which allows fans to plan and book travel options for NASCAR events. The service offers air, car, hotel and destination services (THE DAILY).
TENNIS WEEK reported that the ATP Tour Mallorca Open, scheduled for April 28-May 4, will be moved to Valencia, Spain. The tournament has not yet been renamed (TENNIS WEEK, 3/24).
Pro Cycling Tour marketer and manager Threshold Sports today announced that Groundzero Sports, Mavic, Graber Products and All Sport will return as sponsors for the ’03 tour. Additionally, Gita will serve as the official cycling clothing manufacturer and distributor, and Ultimate Promotion Group will be the official manufacturer and licensee of the tour (THE DAILY).
FoxSports.com and CA-based video game maker Sorrent today launched "FOX Sports On-Court Live Basketball," a basketball game for mobile phones. Single player versions of the game are available now to subscribers of AT&T Wireless, Sprint and other major U.S. carriers (THE DAILY).
The WUSA today announced that the league’s second All-Star Game will be held June 19 at SAS Stadium in Cary, NC, home of the Carolina Courage (THE DAILY).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC reports that 4,815 attended the CBA Championship Game last night at the SunDome in Yakima (YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC, 3/25).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
The Chicago chapter of the National Sport Marketing Network will host a panel discussion entitled, “The Mix of Sports & Entertainment: The Power of Celebrity & Music,” from 6:00-9:00pm CT at the W Hotel in Chicago. Panelists include POC Media Sports & Entertainment Division Dir of Marketing Partnerships Joshua Landis, Pro Sports Music Marketing co-President Walter Lee, Foote, Cone & Belding VP/Special Contracts Negotiator Linda Tinoly and Burns Sports & Celebrities President Bob Williams (THE DAILY).
The Hornets will host a basketball basics clinic for women from 6:00-7:45pm CT at the team’s practice facility, the Alario Center (THE DAILY).
The Ed Block Courage Award Foundation will distribute its annual awards at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 25th anniversary ceremony will feature a tribute to late HOF QB Johnny Unitas (THE DAILY).
Callaway Golf CEO & Chair Ronald Drapeau will be the keynote speaker at an event for entrepreneurs discussing “Changing the Company’s Style from Entrepreneur to Professionally Managed” at 6:00pm PT at La Jolla Women’s Club in La Jolla, CA (THE DAILY).
The Spurs will host David Robinson Appreciation Night after the club’s 7:00pm CT game against the Bucks (THE DAILY).
CHANNEL SURFING
“NHL Cool Shots” on ESPN will feature Capitals D Sergei Gonchar and the inaugural Wayne Gretzky Hockey Fantasy Camp at 4:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: South Carolina-Penn State at 5:00pm ET, Villanova-George Washington at 7:00pm ET and Notre Dame-Kansas State or Texas Tech-UC Santa Barbara at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN will air the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament: Utah-Duke or Texas-Arkansas at 7:00pm ET and Texas Christian-UConn or Ohio State-Louisiana Tech at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Sandy Koufax at 8:00pm ET.
Auburn Univ. men’s basketball coach Cliff Ellis, NFLer Jason Sehorn and actor Tom Sizemore are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
Purdue men’s basketball coach Gene Keady, California men’s basketball coach Ben Braun, Southern IL men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber and former basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian will be on “Mountain Dew’s March Madness: The Road To No. 1” on FSN.
Spurs C David Robinson will be on MSG’s “Court Vision” at 11:00pm ET.
Mavericks G Steve Nash will be on CBS’ “The Late Late Show” with Craig Kilborn at 12:35am ET.
WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin will be on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
A&E’s “Biography” will profile Queen Noor at 8:00pm ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Niki Taylor at 8:00pm ET.
TLC will air “Sports Collisions and Crackups” at 8:00pm ET.
Bill Cosby will guest host CBS’ “Late Show” at 11:35pm ET as David Letterman continues to recover from a case of the shingles.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Andrew Firestone |
| “The Tonight Show” | Chris Rock |
| “The Late Late Show” | Michael Rapaport |
| “Late Night” | Ringo Starr |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | David Boreanaz |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The WASHINGTON POST’s Andrew Beyer writes, “Horse racing’s worst scandal is over. The perpetrators of the Breeders’ Cup Pick Six fix are going to jail, and the rightful winners are about to receive their money. Yet the resolution of the case against the three fixers has outraged racing fans almost as much as the original offense” (WASHINGTON POST).
CBS SPORTSLINE’s Scott Miller writes of the Red Sox hiring of baseball statistician Bill James: “Maybe the game has changed very little in 100 years, but the way we view it is changing every day. Survey today’s baseball landscape and it is abundantly clear James’ fingerprints appear in front offices throughout the game in the way clubs now analyze players, identify trends and view specific situations” (CBS SPORTSLINE).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for these and more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports Business: With MLB currently seeking a home for the Expos, name the last National League team to relocate.
THE DAILY STAT: MEN'S SWEET SIXTEEN SHOE DEALS
As March Madness heads into the Sweet Sixteen, The Daily noticed that among the teams remaining in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, 13 wear Nike on their feet. Among the original 65 teams, 49 wore the Swoosh. The following presents the records of the athletic shoe companies’ teams in this year’s tournament (THE DAILY).
| BRAND | EAST | WEST | MIDWEST | SOUTH | TOTAL |
| adidas | 1-4 | 3-1 | 4-3 | 1-2 | 9-10 |
| And 1 | 0-1 | --- | --- | --- | 0-1 |
| Jordan | 1-1 | 0-1 | --- | --- | 1-2 |
| Nike | 10-6 | 9-9 | 7-8 | 12-11 | 38-34 |
| Reebok | --- | 0-1 | 1-1 | --- | 1-2 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
The Milwaukee Braves relocated to Atlanta following the ’65 season.
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