| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Monday, April 14, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | WNBA Today Announces Draft Will Not Be Held Due To Absence Of CBA |
| • | Upper Deck To Be Presenting Sponsor Of Tonight’s Wizards Game |
| • | Rap Artist Nelly To Appear In, Pen Original Song For “NBA Street Volume 2” |
| • | The GM Card Today Announces One-Year Deal With American Le Mans Series |
| • | Ashworth To Be Official Golf Apparel Supplier For ’04 Mercedes Championship |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
WNBA DRAFT WILL NOT BE HELD, FOUR DAYS UNTIL DEADLINE
The WNBA today announced that due to the absence of a CBA with the WNBPA, the ‘03 WNBA Draft, scheduled for Wednesday, will not be held. NBA Commissioner David Stern has set an April 18 deadline to reach an agreement with the players to avoid canceling the ’03 season (THE DAILY).
UPPER DECK TO SPONSOR JORDAN’S FINAL HOME GAME TONIGHT
By Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large, The Sports Business Daily
Upper Deck, as part of its long relationship with Michael Jordan, will be the presenting sponsor for Jordan’s final home game tonight versus the Knicks. Each fan entering the game will receive a ticket lanyard with an individually numbered commemorative game ticket. In addition, Upper Deck will receive a 20-second public address message, which allows the company to congratulate Jordan on his career and relationship with Upper Deck.
NELLY TO BE FEATURED IN EA’S “NBA STREET VOLUME 2”
BRANDWEEK.com reports that rap artist Nelly will promote EA’s “NBA Street Volume 2” as he contributes a “previously unreleased song that serves as the game’s soundtrack” and makes an animated guest appearance in the game. The game, which ships April 29 and is available for all three major consoles, “will receive an integrated campaign targeting males 16-24, valued at upward of $5[M], that breaks this week.” A 30-second spot, via Odiorne, Wilde, Narraway & Partners, S.F., will air during the NBA Playoffs, as well as on BET, ESPN and MTV (BRANDWEEK.com, 4/14).
GM CARD TO BE OFFICIAL CARD OF AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
The GM Card today announced that it has signed a one-year sponsorship and marketing agreement to become the official credit card of the American Le Mans Series. In addition to its official card status, The GM Card will be an associate sponsor of Corvette Racing throughout the ‘03 season. Under the Corvette agreement, The GM Card decals will be visible on the racecars, show cars, team and crew uniforms and firesuits. Terms of the deal were not disclosed (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
The AP reports that the Bulls today hired team radio and TV broadcaster John Paxson to replace Jerry Krause as Exec VP/Basketball Operations (AP, 4/14).
Ashworth today announced it has been awarded the contract as the official men’s and women’s golf apparel supplier for the ’04 Mercedes Championship, the PGA Tour’s season-opening event in Kapalua, HI. In addition to brand identification on the patron board, Ashworth will have the largest share of apparel in the Mercedes Championship Merchandise Pavilion (THE DAILY).
The FINANCIAL TIMES reports that the Premier League “has warned European Union regulators that their efforts to inject more competition into the market for television rights to matches could destroy” English soccer, adding that changes to the structure “would reduce revenues and plunge smaller clubs into financial difficulties” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 4/14).
The AFL today announced that it surpassed the one million mark in attendance this past weekend, the fastest the league has ever reached the mark. Through eleven weeks, average attendance is 11,839, an 18.9% increase over last year’s full-season average of 9,957 (THE DAILY).
The ACHL today announced that is investigating possible league by-law and membership agreement violations by the Orlando Seals, Jacksonville Barracudas and the Macon Trax because Owner David Waronker publicly announced his intentions to secede the teams from the league (THE DAILY).
The Hockey Company today announced that it has formed a two-year player and goalie equipment agreement with Holy Cross University, under which it will be the exclusive supplier of protective equipment, helmets, gloves, jerseys and pants. In addition, a minimum of two goalies will be outfitted in either CCM or KOHO brands, and an average of 50% of skates and sticks will be THC (THE DAILY).
NH-based strategic marketing and creative services marketing firm Brickmill today announced it has renewed as a primary sponsor of the NASCAR Busch North Series Bessey Motorsports’ No. 6 Chevrolet, driven by Andy Santrerre (THE DAILY).
USA Basketball today announced that Jazz F Karl Malone and Kings G Mike Bibby as the fifth and sixth members of the ’03 Men’s Senior National Team, which will compete at the ’03 FIBA America Men’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in August in Puerto Rico (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ESQUIRE’s “Answer Fella” responds to the question, “Why are Red Sox fans so damn whiny?” Answer Fella: “The malaise-ridden screech peculiar to the Red Sox fan derives from the dark knowledge that however talented and successful the team, it will ultimately choke, and also from envy – not only of the Yanks’ World Championships but of the fact that, compared with New York City, Boston is a scum-crusted backwoods bordered by bilge” (ESQUIRE, 5/03 issue).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
The Mavericks will be recognized by the Sports Fans of America Association as the NBA’s Fan Friendliest Team prior to the team’s 7:30pm CT game against the Sonics (THE DAILY).
The Milwaukee Braves Historical Association will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Braves’ first game in Milwaukee at a 4:00pm CT ceremony outside Miller Park (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/14).
Owners of Philadelphia Park will present a construction proposal at the township council meeting in Bensalem, PA, at 7:30pm ET. The group is “planning to erect a Las Vegas-like area as the proposed temporary home for slot machines, nightly entertainment including live shows, and restaurants” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/14).
Niles Communications Group President & CEO Wendell Niles will moderate a discussion on sports marketing featuring Rainbow Sports Dir Charles Farrell from 6:00-9:00pm ET at The Roger Smith Hotel in N.Y. (THE DAILY).
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air the Stanley Cup playoffs, Flyers-Maple Leafs Game 3, at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN will air Astros-Giants at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the Stanley Cup playoffs, Avalanche-Wild Game 3 at 7:30pm ET and Red Wings-Mighty Ducks Game 3 at 10:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Hank Aaron at 8:00pm ET and Barry Bonds at 9:00pm ET.
BMX rider Steve McCann and skateboarder Pierre Luc Gagnon will be on FSN’s “54321.”
ABC’s “The Bachelor” Andrew Firestone and former MLBer Ron Darling are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
Jack Whitaker will be on The Golf Channel’s “19th Hole” at 7:00pm ET.
Skateboarder Tony Hawk will appear on The Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage,” which will feature an attempt to convert an ‘87 Winnebago Itasca/Suncruiser into a skate ramp at 8:00pm ET.
Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim will be on CBS’ “Late Show” with David Letterman at 11:35pm ET.
NBC/HBO’s Bob Costas will be on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno at 11:35pm ET.
CBS “The NFL Today” analyst Deion Sanders will guest host ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” all week.
A&E’s “Biography” will profile The Versace Family at 8:00pm ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Lisa Marie Presley at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Jim Boeheim |
| “The Tonight Show” | Julia Louis Dreyfus |
| “The Late Late Show” | Rosie Perez (r) |
| “Late Night” | Tina Fey (r) |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Joan Rivers |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The WASHINGTON TIMES’ John Mitchell writes, “Despite the economic downturn over the last two years, [Michael Jordan] … has single-handedly solidified the Wizards’ financial status. Over that time, the Wizards have sold out all 82 home games, averaging 20,173. That’s about an increase of 5,000 fans per game since Jordan arrived. And at an average of $45 a ticket, that equates to at least $18.5[M] in additional revenue, and that doesn’t even factor in food, beverage and other concessions” (WASHINGTON TIMES).
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE’s Mark Craig wrote, “While TV ratings and purses for professional golf climb like never before, amateur participation, the driving force in a $23.5[B] golf industry, continues to slide. Two years of poor weather, a slumping economy and lingering effects of overbuilding have stymied the business. That has insiders on the supply side more than a little nervous entering the 2003 season” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE).
The Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL’s Jeff Rusnak wrote, “While MLS is vulnerable to collapse so long as just three investors own all 10 teams (with Philip Anschutz owning six), it has answered cynics who insisted it would fail just like every soccer league before it. After seven seasons, MLS not only has survived, but has evolved in terms of players, stadiums and TV exposure” (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports: What is the largest deficit overcome after 54 holes to win The Masters?
IN OTHER NEWS…
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that of GE’s 13 principle businesses, NBC was “one of eight that delivered double-digit earnings growth” during Q1 ’03. NBC’s operating profit “rose 10% to $343[M] despite a 26% drop in revenue to $1.4[B]” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/14).
The ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that Comcast has postponed a deadline for Charter Communications Chair Paul Allen “to pay $725[M] for Comcast’s stake in a cable joint venture” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/14).
BRANDWEEK.com reports that Coca-Cola Classic Brand Manager Yolanda Ball, “one of the key drivers behind the launch of Vanilla Coke, has been named the brand manger for sales-challenged Sprite.” Ball’s immediate responsibilities “will include repositioning Diet Sprite to target older, Caucasian women” (BRANDWEEK.com, 4/14).
THE DAILY STAT: N.Y. TIMES BESTSELLING NONFICTION
The following presents best selling nonfiction books for the week ending April 5 (NYTIMES.com, 4/14):
| THIS
WEEK | HARDCOVER NONFICTION |
| 1) | LEAP OF FAITH, Queen Noor (Miramax) |
| 2) | STUPID WHITE MEN, Michael Moore (ReganBooks/HarperCollins) |
| 3) | THE SAVAGE NATION, Michael Savage (WND/Thomas Nelson) |
| 4) | JARHEAD, Anthony Swofford (Scribner) |
| 5) | DERELICTION OF DUTY, Robert (Buzz) Patterson (Regnery) |
| 6) | OF PARADISE AND POWER, Robert Kagan (Knopf) |
| 7) | THE DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY, Erik Larson (Crown) |
| 8) | THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN, Robin Moore (Random House) |
| 9) | WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH MY LIFE?, Po Bronson (Random House) |
| 10) | USEFUL IDIOTS, Mona Charen (Regnery) |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Jack Burke overcame an eight-stroke deficit to win the ‘56 Masters.
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