Closing Bell, May 23, 2003

The Closing Bellwill not publish Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
The next issue willbe Tuesday, May 27.
Please have a safe,enjoyable holiday weekend.

ABC TO INTRODUCE NEW INDY 500 FEATURES TO HELP RATINGS

USA TODAY reports that ABC will introduce “new productionwrinkles” to its Indianapolis 500 broadcast on Sunday, which begins at 11:00amET.  During cautions, viewers “will seea flashing yellow light that’s keyed to the same electronic system that flashesa yellow light on drivers’ dashboards.” ABC reporters Jack Arute, Gary Gerould and Vince Welch willfollow Team Penske, Andretti Green and Kelley Racing, respectively, “from thetime they leave their hotels about dawn until the race begins.”  Other additions include a mike throughoutthe race on Kelley Racing Owner Tom Kelley, a roving handheld camera inthe stands and improved on-screen graphics. Last year’s race, also on ABC, earned a 4.8 final Nielsen rating (USA TODAY, 5/23).

The AP reported that former Presidents George Bushand Bill Clinton will attend Sunday’s race, “adding a unique securityconcern for planners” (AP, 4/22).

NESTLE NESQUIK TO DROP BUSCH SERIES TEAM SPONSORSHIP

ppc Racing today announced thatNestle Nesquik has decided it will not return as the primary sponsor of the No.10 Ford driven by Scott Riggs in the NASCAR Busch series next year.  Team co-Owner Greg Pollex said thatNestle, which has been the car’s primary sponsor since ’00, indicated that itwill not utilize motorsports to market its brands in ’04 (THE DAILY).

HUMANITARIAN BOWL TO BE PENULTIMATE COLLEGE GAME IN ‘04

The AP reports that the Humanitarian Bowl “gets a new timeslot next season, becoming the final bowl before college football's nationaltitle game” on January 4.  The game,which was played on December 31 last year, “will be played on the Saturdayafter New Year’s Day, the only bowl game that day.”  Humanitarian Bowl officials also said that a “two-year agreementhas been reached to match a top team from the Western Athletic Conference withthe No. 6 pick” from the ACC.  The gamewill be televised by ESPN or ESPN2 (AP,5/23).

SYRACUSE ASKS RED BARONS TO DROP McNAMARA PROMOTION

The AP reports that Syracuse Univ. basketball G GerryMcNamara “will not be memorialized as a bobblehead.”  While the Triple A Int’l LeagueScranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons had planned the promotion, the university hasasked the team “to halt plans for the bobblehead promotion, saying it wouldviolate NCAA rules.”  As the Red Baronsare “looking for alternatives to honor” the Scranton native, Syracuse told theteam that it could not “promote anappearance by McNamara nor give him free tickets to a game” (AP,5/23).

BUZZER BEATERS

Sony’s 989 Sports today announced that it has signed former PennState and Chiefs rookie RB Larry Johnson to appear on the cover of “NCAAGameBreaker 2004” (THE DAILY).

WNBA Fever F Tamika Catchings will be featured inthis Sunday’s N.Y. Times Magazine (THEDAILY).

Nike Canada today announced that it has named Toronto-basedTaxi as its new creative agency of record, responsible for developing brandcreatives and strategies.  CossetteMedia continues as the media-buying agency of record (THE DAILY).

BLOODHORSE.com reported that the Jockeys’ Guild has “entered into a three-year management and consultingcontract with Matrix Capital Associates and Dr. L. W. Gertmenian,” whobegan handling Jockeys’ Guild business “after the organization’s nationalmanager retired and its regional directors were released in July 2001” (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/22).

Sears, Roebuck and Co., through its Craftsman brand, todayextended its title sponsorship of the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event,the Sears Craftsman NHRA Nationals, at Gateway Int’l Raceway outside St. Louis(THE DAILY).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

ThePHILADELPHIA INQUIRER notes that Phillies P Randy Wolf “is consideringtaking out a huge advertisement in the New York papers to find the attractivebrunette who asked him for directions yesterday morning while he was standingat the subway station.”  Wolf: “Therewas something about her eyes.”  If thewoman in the brown suede bell-bottoms and black coat is reading, Wolf asks youcontact the Phillies’ PR department.  The Phillies are playing the Mets (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 5/23).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Redskins Owner DanielSnyder will appear and speak briefly at the National Quarterback ClubDinner, to be held at the Capital Hilton Hotel in DC from 6:00-10:00pm ET.  Sports commentator husband-and-wife team Lesley Visser and Dick Stockton will emcee. Proceeds will benefit the Children’s National Medical Center (THE DAILY).

The MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER reports that the owners of thecity’s new Double A Southern League baseball team, Tom Dickson and SherrieMyers, “will announce the team’s nickname” at about 9:00pm ET at JubileeCityFest.  The team is affiliated withthe Devil Rays (MONTGOMERYADVERTISER, 5/23).

UConn women’s basketball team and coach Geno Auriemmawill be honored for winning this year’s NCAA championship prior to theIndians-Red Sox game at 7:05pm ET at Fenway Park (THE DAILY).

The WUSA Philadelphia Charge will distribute F/MF Marinette Pichon bobbleleg dolls to thefirst 2,000 fans ages 14 and under in attendance for the team’s 7:00pm ET matchagainst the San Jose CyberRays, making it the first WUSA promotion to feature abobbleleg and not a bobblehead (THE DAILY).

The Angels will distribute copies of the book “Have Heart,”co-authored by SS David Eckstein, tothe first 7,000 children ages 14 and under to attend the team’s 1:05pm PT gameagainst the Devil Rays (THE DAILY).

CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

ESPN will air the Stanley Cup playoffs: Devils-Senators Game 7 at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the NCAAWomen’s College World Series at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Martina Navratilova at 8:00pm ET.

TNT will air the NBA playoffs: Spurs-Mavericks Game 3 at 9:00pm ET.

Twins CF Torii Hunter,NBA Kings G Bobby Jackson and formerMLBer Ron Darling are scheduled toappear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

LPGA Tour player AnnikaSorenstam will be on HBO’s “On TheRecord” with Bob Costas at11:30pm ET.

Mighty Ducks G Jean-SebastienGiguere will be on NBC’s “TheTonight Show” with Jay Leno at11:35pm ET.

Saturday

WUSA Freedom MF MiaHamm will appear on the NBC’s “Discovery Kids” show “Trading Spaces:Boys vs. Girls” at 11:00am ET.

ESPN2 will air the NCAALacrosse semifinals, Syracuse-John’sHopkins at 11:30am ET and Maryland-Virginiaat 2:00pm ET.

Marlins C IvanRodriguez will host “This Week InBaseball” on Fox at 12:30pm ET. This week’s “How ‘Bout That” segment is hosted by Widespread Panic, andwill be set to the band’s single “One Arm Steve.”  Listen closely for the Willie Mays reference.

FX will air the Busch Series Carquest Auto Parts 300 at 12:30pm ET.

“NBA Inside Stuff”on ABC will feature Sparks C Lisa Leslie,Pistons C Ben Wallace, Jazz G John Stockton, Mavericks F Eduardo Najera and former NBAer John Starks.

Fox will air MLB regional coverage: Indians-Red Sox or Mets-Bravesat 1:00pm ET, or Giants-Rockies or D’Rays-Angels at 4:00pm ET.

CBS will air third-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial at 11:00am ET,if Annika Sorenstam makes thecut.  If not, coverage begins at 2:00pmET.

NBC will air the AFL wildcard playoffs: Force-Desperados at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air WNBASparks-Sun at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the NCAAWomen’s College World Series at 7:00pm ET and 9:30pm ET.

ESPN will air the NBA playoffs: Pistons-Nets Game 4 at 8:00pm ET.

ABC will air the Indianapolis500 at 11:00am ET.

ESPN will air the NCAAWomen’s College World Series at 1:00pm ET and 3:00pm ET, with coverageshifting to ESPN2 at 6:00pm ET.

CBS will air final-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Bank of America Colonial at 3:00pm ET.

NBC will air the AFL wildcard playoffs: Gladiators-Rattlers, Fury-Rampageor Rush-Dragons at 3:00pm ET.

Fox will air the Winston Cup Coca-Cola 600 at 5:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Twins-Marinersat 8:00pm ET.

TNT will air the NBA playoffs: Spurs-Mavericks Game 4 at 8:30pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Which franchise has won the NBA DraftLottery the most times?

THE DAILY STAT: RATINGS TREND FOR THE INDY 500& COCA-COLA 600

The following presents a Nielsen ratings trend for theIndianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 (THE DAILY).

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “BRUCE ALMIGHTY” & “THE IN-LAWS”

In “Bruce Almighty,”Jim Carrey is offered God’s powers by the Lord himself, played by MorganFreeman, after ridiculing Him at the end of a bad day.  Michael Douglas and Albert Brooksstar in the self-explanatory “The In-Laws,” a remake of the ‘79 comedy starringPeter Falk and Alan Arkin.:

…TODAY’S ANSWER

The Clipperswon the NBA Draft Lottery in ’86, ’88 and ’98.

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

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