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Closing Bell

Closing Bell, December 5, 2003

The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, December 5, 2003
4:00pm ET

Judge Today Throws Out Charges Against Former SLOC President, Senior VP

NASCAR To Host Winston Cup Tribute & Awards Ceremony Tonight In N.Y.

National Lacrosse League Players To Go On Strike Tonight Just Past Midnight

AHL Cleveland Barons Tonight To Host Second “Pigskin On The Pond” Event

Critics Weigh In: “The Last Samurai” And “Honey” Open Nationwide Tonight

Buzzer Beaters/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing/The Daily Stat


WELCH AND JOHNSON EXONERATED TODAY AS CHARGES DISMISSED

The AP reports that U.S. District Judge David Samtoday threw out all charges against former SLOC President Tom Welch andSenior VP Dave Johnson, saying that the “prosecution had presented‘insufficient evidence’ to justify the trial going forward.”  The decision, which “came mid-trial, one dayafter prosecutors wrapped up their case,” cannot be appealed (AP,12/5).


NASCAR TO HOST WINSTON CUP TRIBUTE & AWARDS CEREMONY TONIGHT

NASCAR tonight will host the Winston Cup Series Tribute& Awards Ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria in N.Y.  Allen Bestwick and Bill Weber will co-host the TVbroadcast, tape-delayed beginning at 9:00pm ET on TNT.  Harry Connick Jr. and LeAnn Rimeswill perform, while Kiefer Sutherland will narrate the tributesegment.  Drivers who finished in thetop ten will be present to accept their share of approximately $17M incontingencies and awards (NASCAR).

Dale Earnhardt Jr. today was named the ’03 Grands!Biscuits National Motorsports Press Association’s NASCAR Most PopularDriver.  More than three million fanvotes were cast online to determine the winner (NMPA).

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that NASCAR officials willmeet tomorrow to “look atwhether the 2004 Nextel Cup champion will be determined by the same [points]system” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 12/5).


NATIONAL LACROSSE LEAGUE PLAYERS TO GO ON STRIKE TONIGHT

The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that National LacrosseLeague players will go on strike tonight at 12:01am ET.  Professional Lacrosse Players Association VPDave Succamore: “Theproposal we received from the NLL is unacceptable.”  The issues are “player salaries and the distinction of how muchservice time a player needs to become a ‘veteran.’”  NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings: “We are most troubled bythe refusal of union leaders to negotiate with us in a timely manner.”  The ten-team league is scheduled to beginregular-season play December 26 (PHILADELPHIADAILY NEWS, 12/5).


CBS SPORTS TO AIR 104th ARMY-NAVY GAME SATURDAY AT 4:00pm ET

CBS Sports will broadcast the 104th Army-Navygame Saturday at 4:00pm ET from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.  The net’s pre-game, halftime and post-gamestudio show, “College Football Today,” will focus on former game participantsnow serving in Iraq (CBS).

Jeep will serve as presenting sponsor of the game for thesecond consecutive year, with the designation as the game’s officialvehicle.  Jeep is also the exclusiveautomotive sponsor on the Army Sports Radio Network and Armed Forces Radio (Jeep).

The WASHINGTON POST noted that the helmets to be worn in thegame “will borrow the shock-absorbing technology used to protect Armyparatroopers.”  Illinois-based SchuttSports produces the helmet, which “is the latest in a new generation ofequipment inspired by NFL- and NCAA-sponsored studies into concussions” (WASHINGTONPOST, 12/3).


BUZZER BEATERS

Reebok has advised Clearly Canadian Beverage that if it doesnot satisfy ’03 net sales minimum requirements for its Reebok-branded bottledwater, Reebok does not intend to renew the license agreement for ’04.  Clearly Canadian Beverage does not anticipatemeeting the requirements, meaning the agreement will end December 31 (ClearlyCanadian Beverage).

The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reported that the Saints are“on the verge of completing their thirdconsecutive season” of sellouts.  Lessthan 5,000 tickets remain for the Giants-Saints game December 14.  This weekend’s game against the Buccaneerswill be the 28th consecutive sellout (NewOrleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 12/4).

Bert Sugar appeared on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” thismorning to preview Saturday’s Vitali Klitschko-Kirk Johnsonheavyweight bout.  During the interview,Sugar announced that WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis isretiring.  Sugar: “Lennox Lewis hasretired. … I’ve talked to him” (“Cold Pizza,” ESPN2, 12/5).


WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

The S.F. chapter of the National Sports Marketing Networkwill host its inaugural panel discussion, “The Future of Sports Business in theBay Area,” beginning at 6:00pm PT at the Grand Hyatt S.F.  Panelists include McCann-Erickson, S.F. ExecVP & GM Courtney Buechert, BASOC President & CEO Anne Cribbs,Giants Enterprises President Pat Gallagher, Visa USA Senior VP/Events& Sponsorship Michael Lynch and Warriors President Robert Rowell.

The AHL Cleveland Barons will host the second annual“Pigskin on the Pond” event during the team’s 7:00pm ET game against the St.John’s Maple Leafs at Gund Arena. Players will wear alternate jerseys inspired by the Browns uniforms, and$2 from each ticket will be split between the two teams’ charitablefoundations.

Sunshine Network and Bright House Networks will televise the8:00pm ET Spurs-Magic game in high definition, the net’s first broadcast aspart of a new national high definition alliance among the Fox-owned and managedRSNs, Time Warner Cable and Bright House Networks (TAMPA TIBUNE, 11/25).

Internet voting to decide whether San Diego State Univ.should “adopt a newly designed,historically accurate Aztec Warrior, swathed in loincloth and headdress of thecaracara bird” as its mascot closes at midnight PT (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/4).

Saturday

Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban will sign copies ofUltimate Sports Entertainment’s second edition comic book, “Class Action,” from1:00-2:00pm CT at the Wal-Mart location in Southlake, TX.

The ’03 Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classicbegins at the Delray Beach Tennis Center in Delray Beach, FL.  Former President George Bushheadlines the attendees.

MLB and New York Cares will host Baseball Cares Day atPS197M in Harlem.  A group of MLB, MLBAMand MLBP volunteers will paint a theatrically themed mural in the auditorium ofthe public school.

Thoroughbred Charities of America will honor “Seabiscuit”author Laura Hillenbrand and retired Sports Illustrated writer BillNack at the group’s gala event at Candyland Farm near Middleton, DE.  Nack, who will also speak at the dinner,will receive a Lifetime AchievementAward for excellence in magazine writing.

The USSF will present a report to FIFA detailing the $6Mprofit generated by the Women’s World Cup (USA TODAY, 12/5).

“GOAT: A Tribute To Muhammad Ali” hits retail.  The 800-page, 75-pound book has a retailprice of $3,000.

Sunday

The MLS Cup Champion Earthquakes will appear at the annualSan Jose Holiday Parade, which begins at 8:30am PT.  Following the parade at approximately 11:00am, the players willsign autographs in Cesar Chavez Park (Earthquakes).

The Patriots will play in front of the 100thconsecutive sellout in Foxboro during their 4:15pm ET game against theDolphins, and the BOSTON HERALD noted that represents “every preseason, regularseason and playoff game since Robert Kraft took over in 1994” (BOSTONHERALD, 12/3).


CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

ESPN will air Spurs-Magicat 8:00pm ET and T’Wolves-Kings at10:30pm ET.

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

Bears LB BrianUrlacher, Chris Evert and Dennis Rodman are scheduled to appearon FSN’s “BDSSP.”

TNT will air the ’03NASCAR Winston Cup Awards at 9:00pm ET.

MTV will air “BumpedBruised and Bizarre: The Best of Sports on MTV” at 10:00pm ET.

CSTV will air NCAA women’s basketball: Connecticut-Pepperdine at 11:00pm ET.

The History Channel will air “Stories from the Hall of Fame: Pro Football” at 11:00pm ET.

Saturday

NBC will air the OfficeDepot Father/Son Challenge at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the WranglerNational Finals Rodeo at 3:00pm ET and 9:00pm ET.

TNT will air the PGAGrand Slam of Golf at 4:00pm ET.

NBC will profile of the 25thanniversary of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon at 5:00pm ET andcoverage of the ’03 race at 8:00pmET.

FSN Southwest will premiere the documentary, “Jerry LeVias: A Marked Man,” at 6:00pm CT.

NBA TV will air Pistons-Rocketsat 8:30pm ET.

HBO will air World Championship Boxing: Vitali Klitschkovs. Kirk Johnson at 9:45pm ET.

College Football Schedule

Network

Time

Div. III quarterfinals: Wheaton-Mount Union

CSTV

noon ET

Notre Dame-Syracuse

ABC

1:00pm ET

Army-Navy

CBS

4:00pm ET

Oregon State-USC

ABC

4:30pm ET

Big 12 Championship: Kansas State-Oklahoma

ABC

8:00pm ET

SEC Championship: LSU-Georgia

CBS

8:00pm ET

Boise State-Hawaii

ESPN2

11:30pm ET

space    

College Basketball Schedule

Network

Time

Oklahoma-Michigan State

ESPN

noon ET

Arizona-Saint Louis

ESPN2

1:00pm ET

Kentucky-UCLA

CBS

1:30pm ET

St. John’s-Duke

ESPN

2:00pm ET

UAB-Mississippi State

FSN

2:00pm ET

Missouri-Indiana

ESPN

4:00pm ET

Richmond-Wake Forest

FSN

4:00pm ET

Kansas-Stanford

WGN

4:00pm ET

Memphis-Mississippi

ESPN2

6:00pm ET

South Carolina-Clemson

FSN

7:00pm ET

Michigan-Vanderbilt

FSN

9:00pm ET

Sunday

ESPN will air the ’03NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship at 2:00pm ET.

CSTV will air NCAA women’s basketball: Texas-Penn State at 2:00pm ET.

NBC will air the NASCARAwards Special at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air “TheThrill of Victory 2003 Presented by Bank of America: ABC Sports Year in Review”at 3:30pm ET.

NBC will air the OfficeDepot Father/Son Challenge at 4:00pm ET.

FSN will air NCAA women’s basketball: Notre Dame-Washington at 4:00pm ET.

ABC will air the TostitosBCS Selection Show at 5:30pm ET.

ESPN will air “CollegeGameDay Bowl Selection Special” at 6:00pm ET.

FSN will air NCAA basketball: Wisconsin-Milwaukee-North Carolina State at 6:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Stars-MightyDucks at 8:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Celtics-Nuggetsat 9:00pm ET.

Comedy Central will air the first annual “Commie Awards” at 9:00pm ET.

NFL Week 14

Network

Time

Announcers (subject to change)

Raiders-Steelers

CBS

1:00pm ET

Gus Johnson-Brent Jones

Colts-Titans

CBS

1:00pm ET

Dick Enberg-Dan Dierdorf

Chargers-Lions

CBS

1:00pm ET

Bill Macatee-Jerry Glanville

Texans-Jaguars

CBS

1:00pm ET

Craig Bolerjack-Beasley Reece

Bengals-Ravens

CBS

1:00pm ET

Ian Eagle-Solomon Wilcots

Cowboys-Eagles

Fox

1:00pm ET

Joe Buck-Troy Aikman-Cris Collinsworth

Bears-Packers

Fox

1:00pm ET

Dick Stockton-Daryl Johnston

Seahawks-Vikings

Fox

1:00pm ET

Sam Rosen-Bill Maas

Buccaneers-Saints

Fox

1:00pm ET

Ron Pitts-Tim Ryan

Redskins-Giants

Fox

1:00pm ET

Kenny Albert-Brian Baldinger

Cardinals-49ers

Fox

4:00pm ET

Curt Menefee-Tim Green

Chiefs-Broncos

CBS

4:15pm ET

Greg Gumbel-Phil Simms

Jets-Bills

CBS

4:15pm ET

Don Criqui-Steve Tasker

Dolphins-Patriots

CBS

4:15pm ET

Kevin Harlan-Randy Cross

Panthers-Falcons

ESPN

8:30pm ET

Mike Patrick-Paul Maguire-Joe Theismann


TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Name the musician that bewildered a Britishaudience during a 1966 performance at the Royal Albert Hall, when he and theband backing him plugged their instruments in for the second set.


CRITICS WEIGH IN: “THE LAST SAMURAI” & “HONEY” OPEN TONIGHT

Tom Cruise stars in “The Last Samurai” as a Civil Warveteran who is recruited to train the troops of the Japanese emperor as amodern military threatens to bring an end to the samurai code.  Meanwhile, Jessica Alba stars in“Honey” as a dancer from the inner city whose dream of becoming a successfulvideo choreographer comes true.

——————Movie——————

“The Last Samurai”

“Honey”

Chicago Sun-Times

Hollywood Reporter

Not reviewed

N.Y. Times

USA Today


…TODAY’S ANSWER

Bob Dylan – Backed by The Hawks, who would later beknown as The Band, Dylan fended off catcalls throughout the second set in whathas become a watershed moment in music history.  The concert is captured on “Bob Dylan: Live 1966.”


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

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