Closing Bell, September 16, 2003

BRIAN FRANCE TO PROMOTE PAUL BROOKS, ADD DICK GLOVER

By Bill King, Senior Writer,SportsBusiness Journal

NewNASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France will announce a pair of criticalappointments today, promoting VP/Broadcasting & Digital Entertainment PaulBrooks to the newly created role of NASCAR Senior VP.  Brooks will direct long-term strategicplanning from the sanctioning body’s Daytona Beach headquarters and will reportdirectly to Brian France.  Brooks: “I’lltry to work within the industry on Brian’s agenda and on the strategicinitiatives that he is looking to focus on.” Brooks, who directed the move of NASCAR’s broadcasting division to L.A.in ‘01, will continue to serve within the broadcasting and digitalentertainment division as President.

Brookswill be replaced in his former role by new hire Dick Glover, the DisneyExec VP who most recently managed ABC/ESPN’s failed bid for rights to the 2010and 2012 Olympic Games.  A 20-yearveteran of the TV industry, Glover took over as Managing Dir of Disney’s bidfor Olympics rights in July '02.  Beforethat, he was ABC Exec VP/Internet & New Media and ESPN ExecVP/Programming.  He will be based inL.A.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE TO TITLE CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT IN TAMPA

TheChampions Tour and Tampa-based Outback Steakhouse today announced a three-yeartitle sponsorship deal, under which the Champions Tour’s Tampa event will nowbe known as the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am. The tournament, which will be played the week of February 16-22, 2004,at the TPC of Tampa Bay, features a 78-player field and a $1.6M purse.  The Golf Channel will air all threecompetitive rounds, February 20-22. Terms of the deal were not disclosed (PGA Tour).

COGEN TO RETURN TO MLB RANGERS AFTER NHL PANTHERS STINT

TheMLB Rangers today named NHL Panthers COO Jeff Cogen as their new COO, anewly created position he will assume in early October.  Prior to his tenure with the Panthers, Cogenwas Southwest Sports Group Exec VP.  Inhis role with the Rangers, Cogen will oversee all revenue-producing activitiesincluding ticket sales, sponsorships, marketing initiatives and communications(Rangers).

SHOCK HOPING FOR SELLOUT FOR DECISIVE GAME THREE TONIGHT

TheDETROIT NEWS reports that based on yesterday’s “swift ticket sales,” the Shockhope for a crowd of 22,076 for tonight’s decisive WNBA Finals Game Threeagainst the Sparks, “which would be the first playoff sellout of The Palace forthe women.”  Shock VP/Operations KristenBernert: “We’ve frankly been overwhelmed with the demand for tickets.”  ESPN2 will televise the game at 8:00pm ET (DETROIT NEWS,9/16).

HBO LAUDED FOR “CURSE,” BUT AFFLECK CITED AS WEAK LINK

HBOtonight will premiere “The Curse of the Bambino” at 10:00pm ET, a BenAffleck-narrated documentary chronicling 85 years of misery in Red SoxNation.  HBO today runs a full-page adin USA Today promoting the documentary. The following offers a sampling of reviews:

InBoston, Jim Baker wrote, “Too many talking heads spin overstatement andoverreaction galore, but otherwise familiarity with this story breeds notcontempt, but an entertaining hour amid all those reminders of Red Soxfailings” (BOSTON HERALD, 9/14).

Alsoin Boston, John Molori wrote, “The strength of [the documentary] is its basicrealism. … Fathers, sons, mothers and daughters all express where they were andwhat they thought as each Red Sox collapse unfolded.  It makes for riveting television” (MEDIA BLITZ, 9/9).

InS.F., Steve Kroner wrote, “Producer George Roy and writer Steve Sterntell the story, for the most part, with a deft, lighthearted touch” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 9/12).

InN.Y., Richard Sandomir wrote, “It’s as if Christopher Guest or the staffwriters of ‘The Simpsons’ had infected Roy and Stern, enabling them to ticklethose capable of being amused by a team that inspires New England’s hopefulfervor but rewards the region with perennial disappointment” (N.Y.TIMES, 9/14).

InFt. Lauderdale, Jim Sarni writes, “The big mistake HBO made was choosing actorBen Affleck as the narrator.  Affleck isa big Red Sox fan, but he doesn’t have the right passion to carry theshow.  Denis Leary, a funny guywith the proper edge, would have been better. The comedian has some of the best lines in the documentary” (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL,9/16).

InPhiladelphia, Ron Reid writes, “The only drawback is narrator BenAffleck, the reedy-voiced, wimpy actor whose delivery doesn’t cut it” (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 9/16).

BUZZER BEATERS

TheDolphins today announced a multiyear sponsorship agreement with BayerPharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline, co-marketers of ED drug Levitra.  The agreement names Levitra as a teamsponsor, and includes exposure through signage, broadcasts and onlinemedia.  Levitra is also an NFL sponsor (Dolphins).

Boston-basedEastern Bank today announced it has signed an endorsement contract withChargers QB Doug Flutie through ’05, with the option for two additionalyears.  The bank plans to use Flutie ina series of promotions as it expands its retail, commercial lending andinvestment management services (Eastern Bank).

TheAHL today announced that PepsiCo/Pepsi Bottling Group of Grand Rapids has beennamed the title sponsor of the league’s All-Star Classic, which will be heldFebruary 8-9, 2004, at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI.  Pepsi, which is a league sponsor, was thepresenting sponsor of the All-Star Skills Competition last year (AHL).

AndreAgassitoday confirmed his entrance in the inaugural Superset Tennis event, to beplayed November 22 at the Rose Garden in Portland.  The event will feature eight men’s players competing for awinner-takes-all prize of $250,000 (Superset Tennis).

ThePORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that Nautilus will sell its entire line offitness equipment at Amazon.com’s new sporting goods store.  Financial terms were not disclosed, and notimeline was given (BIZJOURNALS.com,9/16).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

ThePHILADELPHIA INQUIRER notes that Philly-area native Jamie Kennedyrecently scammed Flyers C Keith Primeau, D Chris Therien and RW MarkRecchi while filming segments for his WB show, “The Jamie KennedyExperiment.”  In the bit, Kennedy playsa “belligerentfather whose son … had won ice time with the Flyers.  The two, dressed in full hockey gear, got on the ice with theFlyers’ John LeClair, who also was in on the gag.”  While the other players joined the ice,Kennedy “berated the boy and trash-talked the pros.  Each Flyer came close to popping the beak-nosed comic before hecame clean” (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 9/16).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

GiantsTE Jeremy Shockey will attend the Vivian Tam fashion show at9:00pm ET with Billy Bush of “Access Hollywood” as part of the program’scoverage of Fashion Week.  Shockey willbe “going backstage to get a birds-eye view of the goings-on there and snaggingfront-row seats to the show.”  Shockey’sreport will air on tomorrow’s edition of “Access Hollywood” (N.Y. POST, 9/16).

GiantsRB Tiki Barber will appear and sign autographs at the Best Buy store inthe Chelsea neighborhood of N.Y. from 6:00-8:00pm ET as part of Best Buy’ssponsorship of the Sports Illustrated 50^th Anniversary Tour.

ChiefsTE Tony Gonzalez will promote Shadow Buddies – dollsdesigned for children with chronic conditions – with an appearance from6:00-8:00pm CT at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill in Overland Park, KS.  Shadow Buddies is also the name of Gonzalez’charity (K.C.STAR, 9/15).

TheFt. Lauderdale City Commission is expected to vote during a 6:00pm ET hearingon whether to close Ft. Lauderdale Stadium a month after ’04 MLB springtraining.  The Orioles, who have trainedat the facility since ’96, have one year left on their lease (MIAMI HERALD,9/9).

CHANNELSURFING

ESPNwill air the fourth episode of “Playmakers”at 9:00pm ET, followed by encore presentations at 10:00pm ET and midnight ET.

ESPN2will air the WNBA Finals: Sparks-ShockGame 3 at 8:00pm ET

ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile RockyMarciano at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN’s “Outside The Lines Nightly” presentspart twoof its two-part series, “Baseball’s Burning Issues,” at 1:00amET.  Joe Buck, Bob Costas andGeorge Will join host Bob Ley for a roundtable discussion.

Former WUSA Charge D Heather Mitts, MLB HOFer Yogi Berra, Cowboys QB Quincy Carterand D’Backs 1B Mark Grace are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”  NFL Giants DE Michael Strahan’s new weekly segment, “Talk to the Strahan,”debuts tonight.

U.S. women’s national soccerteam member Julie Foudy will be on CNBC’s “Kudlow & Cramer”at 8:00pm ET.

LPGATour player Emilee Klein will be onThe Golf Channel’s “19^th Hole”at 7:00pm ET.

HBOwill premiere “The Curse of the Bambino”at 10:00pm ET.

A&E’s“Biography” will profile Phil Spectorat 8:00pm ET.

E!’s “True Hollywood Story”will profile the series “The Real World”at 8:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

SEATTLEPOST-INTELLIGENCER columnist Jim Moore went to Seahawks Stadium yesterday togauge interest levels after the Seahawks’ 2-0 start, and writes, “After twoimpressive victories, I thought there would be excitement in the air when I arrivedat the Seahawks Stadium box office. … Instead of news from the Seahawks thatthe game is a sellout and the blackout has been lifted, I heard 11,000tickets were available as of yesterday afternoon,” for Sunday’s gameagainst the Rams (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER).

SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.

TODAY’S TEASER…

Sports& Entertainment: Name the two comedic entertainers that sit on the Rams HonoraryAdvisory Board.  Hint: Both have won atleast one Grammy for their comedy recordings.

IN OTHER NEWS……

TheCINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that talks between Cincinnati and the Cinergy Corp.“over naming rights for the city’s convention center have reached an‘impasse,’” according to Mayor Charlie Luken, putting the “on-again,off-again $160[M] convention center expansion in doubt once again” (CINCINNATIENQUIRER, 9/16).

THE DAILY STAT: TOP SPORTS SITE FOR WEEK ENDING AUGUST 31

Thefollowing are the top five sports Web sites ranked according to home uniqueaudience for the week ending August 31, according to Nielsen//NetRatings.  Unique Audience = the number of persons inthousands accessing the site or network, with each counted only once.  Average time spent = the average amount oftime a visitor has spent at that property for the week.  This data is based on 37,000 home users withInternet access (Nielsen//NetRatings). Note: Traffic to the SportsLine.com brand does not include traffic toits network of sites, such as the NFL Network and PGA Tour.

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Bill Cosby and Jonathan Winters sit on the RamsHonorary Advisory Board.  Winters wonthe ‘95 Grammy for Best Spoken Comedy Album. Cosby has won the award nine times, including every award in the BestComedy Performance category from ’64-69.

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

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