Closing Bell, March 28, 2003

NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN BETWEEN CABLEVISION AND YES

With the Yankees' season opener in Toronto only three days away, negotiations between Cablevision and YES broke down today, just sixteen days after the parties reached a tentative agreement.  While YES cites Cablevision's unwillingness to sign finalized versions of the draft documents, Cablevision points to YES wanting more guaranteed money (THE DAILY).

Cablevision CEO James Dolan: "While Cablevision is honoring that agreement, YES has now confirmed they will not" (REUTERS, 3/28).

N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg: "Unfortunately, at the moment, Cablevision and the YES Network are unable to agree on the details of the previously announced agreement to have Yankees games carried on the Cablevision cable systems" (AP, 3/28).

As WFAN's "Mike and the Mad Dog" were preparing to interview Dolan, YES pulled the radio show's simulcast.  According to co-host Mike Francesa, the simulcast was pulled because YES wanted YES Chair & CEO Leo Hindery to be interviewed first.  The simulcast returned about 45 minutes later.

Following the return of the simulcast, Mike Francesa said on-air, "We run a straight show here.  We are going to put the people on.  For you guys (YES) to be so afraid to pull us off the air because you asked that we do [the interviews] in the order you prefer. … YES asked us, 'Could Leo come on first?'  And he couldn't come on until after 3:15.  And we'd already made an agreement with Dolan to put him on. … I  wasn't going to go back to Cablevision and tell them, 'Sorry, I'm on the YES Network, so I have to put the YES guys on first. [No]. ... If you assumed that it was YES 60-20 (in terms of public score), it's now 60-60 and by the end of the day Cablevision could be winning" ("Mike and the Mad Dog," YES, 3/28).

Before the show was pulled from YES, WFAN's Chris Russo said, "I'd just like to see somebody step to the plate up and care about the 3 million Yankees fans who can't get the YES Network, who can't get their Yankees. … There is only one guy who can do it and that is Steinbrenner."  To which Francesca said, "They can watch the game.  Buy DirecTV" ("Mike and the Mad Dog," YES, 3/28).

ESPN OPENS MLB SEASON WITH HD TELECAST SUNDAY NIGHT

The '03 MLB season gets underway with ESPN HD's telecast of Rangers-Angels Sunday at 8:00pm ET.  As reported in yesterday's Closing Bell, ESPN HD has signed affil agreements with several carriers, which collectively serve over 22 million subscribers.  DAILY VARIETY cites network sources as saying that the operators will pay ESPN about $0.80 per month for each subscriber to the service (DAILY VARIETY, 3/28).

ESPN will shoot Sunday's game with 18 HD cameras, and ESPN Senior VP Jed Drake said that "viewers of standard TV will get a marginally better picture when ESPN does an HD telecast."  As most consumers do not have HD capabilities yet, Drake has "instructed producers and photographers to do their jobs as if they're working a standard telecast" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/28).

Meanwhile, USA TODAY writes that the war in Iraq will "affect the demeanor" of ESPN announcers Jon Miller and Joe Morgan during the game.  Morgan: "My enthusiasm will be dictated by what I see on Sunday in the war" (USA TODAY, 3/28).

ISLANDERS TO RUN PRE-EMPTIVE ANTHEM MESSAGE TONIGHT

After the U.S. National Anthem was booed by fans attending the Islanders-Canadiens game last week in Montreal, the N.Y. TIMES reports that a message from Islanders Owner Charles Wang, among others, asking fans to show respect for the American and Canadian anthems will appear on the scoreboard at Nassau Coliseum before the Maple Leafs-Islanders game at 7:00pm ET (N.Y. TIMES, 3/28).  NHL VP/Media Relations Frank Brown, on the idea of no longer playing anthems before games: "This is whether 50 years of tradition should be undone by an occasional happenstance?  What's the rationale?  That no veterans in the crowd would be offended?" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/28).

ROGGE REFUSES TO CONSIDER WORLD SKATING FEDERATION

The AP reports that IOC President Jacques Rogge today "refused to consider the new World Skating Federation's bid to replace the International Skating Union as the sport's governing body."  Rogge: "We have good relations with the ISU.  We recognize the ISU. They're doing a good job and we are happy with them. … I don't think at this stage there is a need for a meeting."  Rogge also confirmed that he received a letter this week from the WSF (AP, 3/28).

MLS FIRE TODAY ANNOUNCE RENEWALS OF CORPORATE SPONSORS

The MLS Fire today announced that three corporate sponsors – American Airlines, Athletico and Saint Joseph Hospital – have renewed multi-year deals to serve as "Community Partners" through at least the '04 season, the team's first at the renovated Soldier Field.  Two other partners, Buona Companies and Barton Beers, today renewed their partnerships for the '03 season (THE DAILY).

UNIV. OF OR INVESTIGATING LUKE RIDNOUR FOR NCAA VIOLATION

The Portland OREGONIAN reports that the Univ. of OR athletic department yesterday opened an investigation Thursday into a possible NCAA violation involving basketball player Luke Ridnour.  Ridnour, who reportedly used a complimentary ticket for Tuesday's Wizards-Trail Blazers game in Portland, attended the game with family friend, ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds.  The Trail Blazers "provided Reynolds two tickets in the auxiliary media seating on the second floor of the arena" (Portland OREGONIAN, 3/28).

BUZZER BEATERS

NBC will provide a network-record nine hours of coverage Saturday and Sunday during the PGA Tour's The Players Championship, including its first-ever 18-hole final round coverage of the leaders on Sunday (THE DAILY).

As UPS unveiled a new logo earlier this week, Dale Jarrett's No. 88 Ford will don the new logo on the hood of the car for the NASCAR Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at TX Motor Speedway Sunday at 12:30pm CT.  The logo will also appear on team uniforms, the pit box and team equipment.  Additionally, UPS will air a new commercial featuring Jarrett during Fox' telecast of the race (THE DAILY).

CBS Sports this weekend will introduce a new golf promotional campaign, called "CBS Sports: The Voice of Golf," featuring CBS Sports broadcasters Jim Nantz, Lanny Wadkins, David Feherty, Gary McCord, Peter Oosterhuis, Bobby Clampett, Peter Kostis and Bill Macatee (THE DAILY).

Skechers today announced that a class action lawsuit has been filed against the company for alleged violations of the federal securities laws and breach of fiduciary duty (THE DAILY).

Official College Sports Network President Jeff Cravens said that online shoppers "have snapped up $20,000 in Butler merchandise this week alone."  Prior to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Butler "sold at most two T-shirts a day on the Web site, (but) now they're moving more than 100 a day" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/28).

The BELFAST TELEGRAPH reports that Manchester United MF David Beckham "is to launch the latest boys wear summer collection for Marks & Spencer tomorrow" (BELFAST TELEGRAPH, 3/28).

The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports the Twins announced that they have "already reached 1 million in ticket sales for this season" and they "also expect to announce by the end of the weekend that they've sold out the April 4 opener" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/28).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

A limited number of standing-room only tickets are available for the Reds'

7:10pm ET exhibition at Great American Ballpark, as well as Saturday's 1:15 exhibition, both versus the Indians.  These games will be the first played in the team's new ballpark (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/27).

The Brewers have distributed 26,000 free tickets for the team's 7:05pm CT exhibition game against the Twins at Miller Park (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 3/27).

The SuperSonics will distribute vouchers for G Ray Allen bobblehead dolls to the first 5,000 people to attend the team's 7:00pm PT game against the Grizzlies at Key Arena (THE DAILY).

As part of the NCAA East Regional in Albany, NY, the KeyBank HoopLa! Fan Fest will begin at 5:00pm.  The event will run 1:00-9:00pm on Saturday and start two hours before tip of Sunday's game.  The festival will include live music, a 3-on-3 tournament and other basketball-related activities (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 3/27).

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Saturday

The Chicago Historical Society will open a new exhibit, entitled "Chicago Sports! You Shoulda Been There."  Sponsored by Exelon, the exhibit will run through January '04 (THE DAILY).

The 49ers Foundation will hold the Third Annual Celebrity Ski-Classic race at the Resort at Squaw Creek, beginning at 11:00am PT.  49ers Owner John York, GM Terry Donahue, President Peter Harris and QB Jeff Garcia, as well as U.S. Olympic skiers Phil and Steve Maher and Jonny Moseley are expected to participate (THE DAILY).

The Predators will host a Sports Career Fair from 1:00-4:00pm CT at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville.  Predators President Jack Diller will speak, and the Titans, Jaguars and NHL Kings will also participate (THE DAILY).

As part of the Samsung/RadioShack 500 Race Week, NASCAR drivers including Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty and Richard Petty will join fans in a charity fun walk around Texas Motor Speedway's track at 5:30pm CT.  Proceeds will benefit the Victory Junction Gang and The Speedway Children's Charities (THE DAILY).

MLB President Bob DuPuy will be the featured speaker at the Devil Rays' Rays of Hope Grand Slam Gala, beginning at 7:00pm ET on the field at Tropicana Field (THE DAILY).

Magic players, coaches and staff will attend at the 13th Annual Black Tie & Tennies Charity Gala Saturday at 6:00pm ET at the TD Waterhouse Centre to benefit the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation (THE DAILY).

The UHL Quad City Mallards will distribute 5,000 LW Hugo Proulx talking bobblehead dolls before the team's 7:00pm CT game against the Kalamazoo Wings.  The bobblehead carries the message of event sponsor Genesis Hospital: "Don't let your health keep you on the bench" (THE DAILY).

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Sunday

NFL HOFer and Fox NFL broadcaster Howie Long will serve as Grand Marshal for the Samsung/RadioShack 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway.  In addition, the 77^th Army Band will perform the national anthem (THE DAILY).

The Hornets will distribute Hugo bobbleheads to the first 5,000 fans 14 and under attending the team's 6:00pm CT game against the Spurs in celebration of the mascot's birthday (THE DAILY).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN2 will air second-round coverage of the LPGA Tour's Kraft Nabisco Championship at 5:00pm ET.

Winston Cup driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make a cameo appearance on Fox' "Fastlane" at 8:00pm ET.

Yankees P David Wells, Raiders DT Dana Stubblefield, MLB Cardinals 1B Tino Martinez and NLL Mammoth F Gary Gait are scheduled to appear on FSN's "BDSSP."

ESPN will air Suns-Pistons at 8:00pm ET and Mavericks-Trail Blazers at 10:30pm ET.

ESPN Classic's "SportsCentury" will profile Pete Rose at 8:00pm ET.

The Food Network will air "Ballpark Café 2" at 10:00pm ET.

VH1's "Top 20 Video Countdown" will be a special MLB opening weekend edition

at 10:00am ET.  Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers RF Shawn Green and

Mets P Tom Glavine will appear on the show.

"NBA Inside Stuff" on ABC will feature Bucks G Gary Payton, Suns G Stephon Marbury, Nets F Kenyon Martin and Bulls Fs Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry.

NBC will air third-round coverage of the PGA Tour's The Players Championship at 2:00pm ET, beginning the net's record nine hours of tournament coverage.

Fox will air the Busch Series O'Reilly 300 at 2:00pm ET.

ABC will air NHL regional coverage: Red Wings-Blues and Rangers-Bruins at 3:00pm ET, and Coyotes-Avalanche at 3:00pm PT (West Coast only).

ABC will air third-round coverage of the LPGA Tour's Kraft Nabisco Championship at 4:30pm ET.

CBS will air the NCAA Tournament Midwest and West Regional Finals beginning at 4:40pm ET.

ESPN will air the World Figure Skating Championships at 6:00pm ET, with ABC picking up coverage at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN's "Outside The Lines" will examine the proliferation of binge drinking on college campuses, its impact on athletes and the role that TV advertising plays at 10:30am ET.

Fox will air the Winston Cup Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at 12:30pm ET.

ABC will air Mavericks-T'Wolves at 1:30pm ET.

NBC will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour's The Players Championship at 1:30pm ET.

CBS will air the NCAA Tournament South and East Regional Finals beginning at 2:40pm ET.

ESPN will air Suns-Pacers at 4:00pm ET.

ABC will air final-round coverage of the LPGA Tour's Kraft Nabisco Championship at 4:30pm ET.

ESPN HD will officially launch at 6:30pm ET with "Baseball Tonight."

ESPN will air Rangers-Angels in the MLB season opener at 8:00pm ET.

Muhammad Ali will be the subject of ESPN's Sunday Conversation.

FSN's "Beyond The Glory" will profile Mark Martin.

TODAY'S TEASER…

General: Name the only player since 1972 to win the Final Four Most Outstanding Player without winning the National Championship?

THE DAILY STAT: TPC NIELSEN RATINGS TREND

The following presents a Nielsen ratings trend for The Players Championship on NBC (THE DAILY).

CRITICS WEIGH IN: "BASIC" AND "HEAD OF STATE"

Unfortunately for John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson, their new: military thriller, "Basic," received basically unfavorable reviews.  While the Chris Rock-Bernie Mac comedy, "Head of State," is sure to provide laughs for devotees of the two stand-ups.

…TODAY'S ANSWER

Hakeem Olajuwon won the award in 1983 after scoring 22 points and collecting 21 rebounds in a loss to NC State.

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

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