| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, May 2, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
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| • | MLB Today Unveils All-Star Game Paint Scheme For Earnhardt Jr.’s Chevy |
| • | HBO To Premiere Third Season Of “On The Record” Tonight At 11:30pm ET |
| • | NBC Sports To Make Return To Boxing Tomorrow With Budweiser Series |
| • | Chris Pook Today Discusses Staging CART Races In China or South Korea |
| • | Critics Weigh In: “X2: X-Men United” And “The Dancer Upstairs” |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing/The Daily Stat |
DALE EARNHARDT JR. TO SHOWCASE MLB ALL-STAR GAME ON CAR
MLB and official league sponsor Budweiser today unveiled the paint scheme for the No. 8 Chevy that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive in the Tropicana 400 at Chicagoland Speedway July 13, two days prior to the All-Star Game, which will be played at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. The car will feature an MLB ’03 All-Star Game logo, marking the third straight year of the partnership (THE DAILY).
Rubbermaid and Brute today announced that they will be the main sponsors of NASCAR Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch’s No. 97 Ford at this weekend’s Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond Int’l Raceway. The normal sponsors are Sanford brands Rubbermaid and Sharpie (THE DAILY).
The Eastman Kodak Company will debut its new EasyShare racecar, promoting the EasyShare digital camera system, at Richmond Int’l Raceway, marking the first time that the Kodak Racing program has extended its marketing beyond the company’s traditional consumer film products and services. Kodak plans on racing the car at a total of 10 races in ’03, including the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on May 25 (THE DAILY).
The American Dairy Association today unveiled a to-scale car made entirely of cheese at Richmond Int’l Raceway. The “World’s Cheesiest Car” is a replica of Terry Labonte’s No. 5 Chevy, and was carved from 3,500 pounds of cheese (THE DAILY).
“ON THE RECORD” TO FEATURE “BULL DURHAM” STARS TONIGHT
HBO tonight premieres the third season of “On The Record” with Bob Costas at 11:30pm ET. The episode will feature a roundtable with actors Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Robert Wuhl and writer/director Ron Shelton discussing the 15th anniversary of the movie “Bull Durham.” The idea for the segment was conceived when Baseball HOF President Dale Petroskey cancelled a similar celebration scheduled for later this summer in Cooperstown because of the political views of Robbins and Sarandon. Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, NBA prospect Carmelo Anthony and actor John Cusack will also be featured (THE DAILY).
In Houston, David Barron writes, “Costas will comment during the show on the Hall’s decision, and you can assume he will be critical of Petroskey” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/2).
In Chicago, John Jackson writes, “The show will continue to feature guests from sports and entertainment. But unlike in the past, the conversation with the folks from entertainment won't necessarily focus on sports” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/2).
In Boston, Bill Griffith writes, “Costas is, in many ways, the voice of the majority of Americans when it comes to sports” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/2).
BUDWEISER BOXING SERIES TO BRING SWEET SCIENCE BACK TO NBC
NBC Sports this weekend begins coverage of its three-week Budweiser Boxing Series at the Flamingo Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. As previously reported, Telemundo will air a live fight in Spanish at 2:30pm ET, directly followed by an English-language broadcast on NBC. Commentator Jessi Losada will broadcast both events as analyst Rene Giraldo will join him on the Telemundo telecast, and Raul Marquez will join him on the NBC telecast (THE DAILY).
In DC, Steve Argeris wrote, “The network promises to limit commercial interruptions as much as possible, cutting away during eight of the potential 17 breaks between rounds over the two fights scheduled for the NBC telecast. Those commercials will not last the entire minute, either” (WASHINGTON POST, 5/1).
In Buffalo, Tim Graham writes, “The three-week series is a trial run, but NBC’s mere willingness to consider boxing is significant for the withering sport.” Main Events CEO Kathy Duva: “If boxing starts to garner ratings like those of NASCAR, which I think is entirely possible, you will see bigger fights on free TV than you would ever imagine today” (BUFFALO NEWS, 5/2).
INT’L RUGBY UNION CONCERNED ABOUT USE OF PLAYERS’ IMAGES
The London GUARDIAN reports that the Int’l Rugby Players Association is concerned the individual contracts that players must sign to participate in the Rugby World Cup “would strip players of their right to profit from their names, images and signatures.” Team managers begin a two-day meeting tomorrow in Sydney where the issue will be discussed (London GUARDIAN, 5/2).
ALLEGED EXPOS SUITOR TAKEN TO TASK IN TODAY’S OREGONIAN
Following the announcement by alleged former baseball player Craig Marquardo last week that he is interested in purchasing the Expos and moving them to a privately financed stadium in Portland, the Portland OREGONIAN today notes that it “could find no records of his playing in any of the three organizations (Yankees, Red Sox and Astros), and he refused to name a manager or even a teammate from his playing days.” Marquardo has “spent much of the past week appearing on Portland radio shows trying to back his claims to an increasingly skeptical audience” (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/2).
BUZZER BEATERS
Ripken Baseball today officially announced that it has signed a marketing agreement with RadioShack. Former MLBers Cal Ripken Jr. and Billy Ripken will assist RadioShack in the 2003 Xtreme Baseball Fan Contest. Additionally, Cal will appear in a national TV spot for RadioShack with his daughter, Rachel, this summer (THE DAILY).
CART President & CEO Chris Pook, today, on the series considering staging races in China or South Korea by ‘05, and adding a third event in Europe: “What we’re trying to do is create a marketing platform for companies who wish to sell primarily in North America. We can also give them value in Europe and in the Pacific Basin. We believe it’s important to come here (Europe) at least twice, maybe three times a year to bring our product over” (AP, 5/2).
The AFL today announced that the all-time regular-season attendance record is expected to be broken this weekend. The total attendance stands at 1,202,014, just shy of the record of 1,217,673 set in ’01 (THE DAILY).
As online bidding for ringside seats for the Kirk Johnson-Lennox Lewis heavyweight title bout June 21 at Staples Center ends tonight at 11:00pm PT, the L.A. TIMES reports that two front-row seats, “which opened at $3,000, are going for $4,050, while rows 2 and 3 are available at $3,000” (L.A. TIMES, 5/2).
GNC today announced that it will discontinue the sale of all ephedra-based products by the end of June. Any remaining products will be removed from the stores at that time (THE DAILY).
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday
The Dodgers and the Dodgers Dream Foundation will dedicate Dodger Dream Field at Montecito Heights Recreation Center in a 3:00pm PT ceremony. Team President & COO Bob Graziano, Exec VP & GM Dan Evans, Sr. VP/Communications Derrick Hall and P Darren Dreifort are expected to attend (THE DAILY).
The PCL Nashville Sounds will host a bobblehead giveaway of ESPN MLB Analyst Rob Dibble prior to the team’s 7:00pm CT game against the Las Vegas 51’s at Greer Stadium in Nashville. Dibble was a member of the team in ’87 and ’88 (THE DAILY). Dibble will not be in attendance (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/2).
Saturday
The FIFA Exec Committee will conduct a meeting in Switzerland to discuss the proposed expansion of the World Cup field from 32 to 36 and how the SARS virus will affect the staging of this year’s Women’s World Cup in China. FIFA.com will offer live streaming video of the post-meeting press conference in Zurich at 9:00am ET (THE DAILY).
Ravens LB coach Mike Singletary will guest host the Maryland Film Festival’s showing of the 1965 film “Shenandoah” at 11:00am ET at the Charles Theatre in Baltimore (THE DAILY).
The Padres will distribute bobbleheads of VP/Senior Advisor & HOFer Dave Winfield in his ‘70s Padres home uniform to all fans attending the team’s 7:05 PT game against the Phillies at Qualcomm Stadium. Additionally, in honor of Winfield’s No. 31 jersey, 3,100 fans will receive a bobblehead depicting him in the brown and gold Padres ‘70s road uniform, and 31 fans will receive a personally autographed bobblehead (THE DAILY).
The Indians will host “Ohio State Buckeye Day” prior to and during the team’s 1:05pm ET game against the Rangers at Jacobs Field to celebrate the NCAA football champions (THE DAILY).
CHANNEL SURFING
Friday
The Travel Channel will air “Secrets of the Kentucky Derby” at 6:00pm ET.
ESPN will air the NBA playoffs: Pistons-Magic Game 6 at 7:00pm ET and 76ers-Hornets Game 6 at 9:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Lightning-Devils Game 5 at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the NBA playoffs: Mavericks-Trail Blazers Game 6 at 10:30pm ET.
FX will air the Busch Series Hardee’s 250 at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Affirmed/Alydar at 7:00pm ET and Vince Lombardi at 8:30pm ET.
FSN’s “54321” will profile skateboarder Jon Comer and snowboarder Eddie Wall.
U.S. speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno and former NFLer/actor Fred Dryer are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
ESPN’s Jim Rome will be on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Saturday
ABC will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Flyers-Senators Game 5 or Mighty Ducks-Stars Game 5 at 3:00pm ET.
CBS will air third-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s HP Classic of New Orleans at 3:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air MLS Earthquakes-Revolution at 4:00pm ET.
NBC will premiere the Budweiser Boxing Series at 3:30pm ET.
NBC will air the 129th Kentucky Derby at 5:00pm ET.
Fox will air the Winston Cup Pontiac Excitement 400 at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the ’03 NCAA Div. I Men’s Volleyball Championship at 7:30pm ET.
Sunday
CBS will air the ’03 NCAA Gymnastics Championships at 1:00pm ET.
CBS will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s HP Classic of New Orleans at 3:00pm ET.
NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Avengers-Rattlers, Rush-Cobras, Predators-Crush, Destroyers-Fury or Force-Firebirds at 3:00pm ET.
ESPN will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Devils-Lightning Game 6 (if necessary) at 3:30pm ET.
ESPN will air Mariners-White Sox at 8:00pm ET.
FSN’s “Beyond The Glory” will profile Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
TODAY’S TEASER…
General: How many Kentucky Derby winners do trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert have between them?
THE DAILY STAT: WHO WILL WIN THE DERBY? – IT’S IN THE COLORS
In today’s issue of the WALL STREET JOURNAL, Allen St. John handicaps tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby, pointing out that 60 bay-colored horses have won the Derby. The following breaks down past Derby winners based on their color (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/2).
| COLOR | # OF WINNERS |
| Bay (Reddish-Brown) | 60 |
| Chestnut | 39 |
| Brown | 17 |
| Gray | 6 |
| Black | 4 |
| Roan (Light Gray) | 1 |
CRITICS WEIGH IN: “X2: X-MEN UNITED” AND “THE DANCER UPSTAIRS”
“X2: X-Men United,” the highly anticipated sequel to “X-Men,” receives strong review:s as most critics claim it is more faithful to the Marvel Comics premise than the original. Meanwhile, the directorial debut of John Malkovich, “The Dancer Upstairs,” opens in select cities.
| | ——————Movie—————— |
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| “X2: X-Men United” | “The Dancer Upstairs” |
| Chicago Sun-Times | 
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| Hollywood Reporter |
| Not Reviewed |
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| L.A. Times |
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| N.Y. Times |
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| USA Today | 
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…TODAY’S ANSWER
Seven. Lukas won with Winning Colors (’88), Thunder Gulch (’95), Grindstone (’96) and Charismatic (’99), while Baffert won with Silver Charm (’97), Real Quiet (’98) and War Emblem (’02). Lukas has two horses entered in tomorrow’s race. Baffert has one.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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