| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, May 9, 2003
4:00pm ET | |
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| • | Celtics Schedule 4:00pm ET Press Conference To Announce Hiring Of Ainge |
| • | Rangers Expect Strong Walk-Up As Palmeiro Swings For 500 Tonight |
| • | Sale Of Senators To Eugene Melnyk Approved Today By Team’s Creditors |
| • | NBA PR Directors Association Today Announces All-Interview Teams |
| • | Critics Weigh In: “Daddy Day Care” And “The Shape Of Things” |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing/The Daily Stat |
AINGE HIRED TODAY TO HEAD CELTICS BASKETBALL OPERATIONS
The AP reports that Danny Ainge has accepted the position as head of basketball operations for the Celtics. Celtics coach Jim O’Brien confirmed the hire today, saying, “To have a former Celtic like Danny come and take over is going to be nothing but an absolute positive for our ball team. We are thrilled and look forward to him helping us win a championship in the future” (AP, 5/9). The team has scheduled a 4:00pm ET news conference at the FleetCenter to announce the move (THE DAILY).
PALMEIRO MILESTONE QUEST, BABOOSHKAH DOOLS IN ARLINGTON
The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that Rangers 1B Rafael Palmeiro’s quest to become the 19th MLB player to hit 500 home runs “could produce a very strong walk-up gate” at The Ballpark for the team’s 7:05pm CT game against the Indians. Regarding retrieval of the ball, security personnel “have been instructed to identify the fan that ends up with the ball so the team and Palmeiro can negotiate its return” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/9).
As if the chance to see Palmeiro reach the milestone is not enough to attract a walk-up, the Rangers will distribute Babooshkah dolls to the first 25,000 fans in attendance, courtesy of team sponsor Dr Pepper. The dolls feature SS Alex Rodriguez, OF Juan Gonzalez and Palmeiro (THE DAILY).
SENATORS’ CREDITORS TODAY APPROVE SALE TO EUGENE MELNYK
The AP reports that the sale of the Senators to Biovail CEO Eugene Melnyk “was approved by the team’s creditors” today after a “court-appointed monitor representing the creditors recommended that the sale” be approved. The sale is not expected to be finalized until the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs in June. Melnyk still has to work out a deal to purchase the Corel Centre (AP, 5/9).
KARL MALONE NAMED TO 16th STRAIGHT ALL-INTERVIEW TEAM
The NBA Public Relations Directors Association today announced its ’02-03 All-Interview teams, highlighted by the 16th consecutive selection for Jazz F Karl Malone (THE DAILY). The first and second teams are as follows:
| All-Interview First Team | All-Interview Second Team |
| SuperSonics G Ray Allen | T’Wolves F Kevin Garnett |
| Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal | Magic G Tracy McGrady |
| Lakers F Rick Fox | Clippers F Elton Brand |
| Jazz F Karl Malone | Lakers G Kobe Bryant |
| Kings F Chris Webber | Rockets C Yao Ming |
| Magic coach Doc Rivers | Bucks coach George Karl |
MLS TO KICK OFF “IRAQI AID” DONATION PROGRAM TOMORROW
MLS, its member teams and official suppliers will kick off an “Iraqi Aid” soccer ball and equipment donation program tomorrow at the home games of the Fire, Crew and MetroStars, in an effort to secure 10,000 soccer balls and additional equipment for the children of Iraq. MLS equipment suppliers Nike and adidas have already donated soccer balls to the program, which continues next weekend in Dallas, Denver, K.C., San Jose and DC (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
The AP reports that NC Gov. Mike Easley “was not injured when the race car he was driving at 165 mph hit a wall” today at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC. Easley, who was practicing for pace laps he will run next week as part of NASCAR’s The Winston, described himself as “a little embarrassed,” but unhurt (AP, 5/9).
BLOODHORSE.com reports that a “major hurdle blocking the potential growth of international simulcasting was cleared” yesterday when the U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved by a 12-9 vote a “major tax-cut bill that includes a provision eliminating a burdensome 30% withholding tax on winning pari-mutuel wagers placed by foreigners through U.S. pools” (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/9).
The U.S. Figure Skating Association is meeting this week in Norfolk, VA, and the AP reported that delegates representing clubs nationwide “will vote Saturday on a new group of national officers, including president” (AP, 5/7).
The new TAG Heuer ad featuring Tiger Woods will debut Saturday during CBS’ coverage of the Wachovia Championship between 3:00-6:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday Chargers coach Marty Schottenheimer, QB Drew Brees, CB Quentin Jammer and WR Tim Dwight will participate in the Huntington’s Disease Society of America “Shoot to Cure HD” event from 6:30-9:30pm PT at Chargers Park. Proceeds from the basketball free-throw shooting event will support the society (THE DAILY).
Saturday The Bills will host a “Select-A-Seat” day from 9:00am-5:00pm ET at Ralph Wilson Stadium at which potential season-ticket holders will be able to evaluate what the team believes are the 3,000 best available seats. Additionally, the team will display a piece of AstroPlay, the field’s new surface for the ’03-04 season (THE DAILY).
Marketing firm Campus Concepts will host the American Collegiate Intramural Championships at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. Event sponsors include Target, Bic Comfort 3, Nestle, Xbox, Footlocker.com, Right Guard, Soft & Dri, Alberto V05, Listerine PocketPaks and Dial (THE DAILY).
Volunteer home rehabilitation organization Rebuilding Together will honor Dodgers Senior VP Tommy Lasorda at a benefit dinner from 9:00pm-1:30am PT at The Jonathan Beach Club in Santa Monica for his contributions to the L.A. community (THE DAILY).
Sunday Former CART Champion Alex Zanardi, whose crash in ’01 led to the amputation of both of his legs, will serve as the grand marshal of the German 500 at EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, the track at which the crash occurred. Zanardi will also drive a specially-prepared race car with hand controls that will allow him to finish the final 13 laps of the ’01 race (THE DAILY).
The Closing Bell wishes a Happy Mother’s Day to all our readers who happen to be mothers as well.
CHANNEL SURFING
Friday
ESPN will premiere “The Season: Detroit Red Wings Part II” at 7:30pm ET.
TNT will air the NBA playoffs: Nets-Celtics Game 3 at 8:00pm ET and Spurs-Lakers Game 3 at 10:30pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Emmitt Smith at 8:30pm ET and Albert Belle at 9:00pm ET.
FSN’s “54321” will profile freestyle motocross rider Travis Pastrana.
Former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, NBA HOF Bob Lanier and actor/comedian Cheech Marin are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
HBO’s “On The Record” with Bob Costas will feature actor Michael Douglas, filmmaker Michael Moore, actor/comedian Denis Leary and a commentary on Michael Jordan at 11:30pm ET.
Saturday
CSTV will air first-round coverage of the NCAA Div. I Men’s Lacrosse Championships at noon ET.
“NBA Inside Stuff” on ABC will feature Kings F Lawrence Funderburke, Celtics G Paul Pierce, Spurs F Malik Rose and WNBA Mystics G Stacey Dales-Schuman.
ABC will air the Indianapolis 500 Time Trials at 1:00pm ET.
CBS will air the CART Champ Car Grand Prix of Brands Hatch at 1:00pm ET.
A&E will air “Unreal Story of Professional Wrestling” at 1:00pm ET.
FX will air the Busch Series Charter Pipeline 250 at 2:30pm ET.
ABC will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Mighty Ducks-Wild Game 1 at 3:00pm ET.
CBS will air third-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Wachovia Championship at 3:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Galaxy-Revolution at 4:00pm ET.
ESPN will air the NBA playoffs: Pistons-76ers Game 3 at 7:00pm ET and Mavericks-Kings Game 3 at 9:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Devils-Senators Game 1 at 7:00pm ET.
BET’s “Maad Sports Profiles” will feature Raiders WR Jerry Rice, Redskins LB LaVar Arrington and Eagles RB Duce Staley at 9:00pm ET.
Sunday CSTV will air first-round coverage of the NCAA Div. I Men’s Lacrosse Championships at noon ET.
CBS will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Wachovia Championship at 3:00pm ET.
NBC will air AFL regional coverage: Dragons-Destroyers, Rattlers-Rush, Gladiators-Fury, Firebirds-Rampage or SabreCats-Storm at 3:00pm ET.
ABC will air the NBA playoffs: Spurs-Lakers Game 4 at 3:30pm ET.
TNT will air the NBA playoffs: 76ers-Pistons Game 4 at 8:00pm ET and Mavericks-Kings Game 4 at 10:30pm ET.
ESPN will air Red Sox-Twins at 8:00pm ET.
FSN’s “Beyond The Glory” will profile Chris Chelios.
Cowboys coach Bill Parcells and TX Tech men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight will be the subject of ESPN’s “Sunday Conversation” during “SportsCenter” at 11:00pm ET.
TODAY’S TEASER…
General: What was the name of the fictitious college that Michael J. Fox’ character, Alex P. Keaton, attended during the ’85-86 season of “Family Ties?”
THE DAILY STAT: EATING OUT THIS WEEKEND?
Grocery shopping, food preparation and the subsequent dirty dishes led 37% of people aged 18-34 to eat out three or more times in the past week, according to The Gallup Organization. Furthermore, only 18% of that group did not eat out at least once in the past week. The following breaks down the propensity to eat out against various age demographics. Results are based on a national sample of 1,011 adults polled from April 14-16 (Gallup).
| # OF TIMES IN PAST WEEK | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ |
| 3+ | 37% | 29% | 24% |
| 1-2 | 45% | 46% | 51% |
| 0 | 18% | 25% | 25% |
CRITICS WEIGH IN: “DADDY DAY CARE” & “THE SHAPE OF THINGS”
Eddie Murphy stars in “Daddy Day Care,” a family movie that received resoundingly unfavorable reviews because it fails to cater to the family members responsible for putting the ten-year-olds in the seats. Opening in select cities is “The Shape of Things,” Neil LaBute’s film adaptation of his battle-of-the-sexes play.:
| | ——————Movie—————— |
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| “Daddy Day Care” | “The Shape Of Things” |
| Chicago Sun-Times | 
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| Hollywood Reporter | 
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| L.A. Times |
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| N.Y. Times |
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| USA Today |
| Not reviewed |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Leland College
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