| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, January 8, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | The Sports Authority Awards Creative Duties To Cliff Freeman & Partners, N.Y. |
| • | Southwest Airlines Inks Trio Of Sponsorship Agreements In Philadelphia |
| • | The Tennis Channel, WTA Tour Today Announce Three-Year Programming Deal |
| • | Josh Groban To Perform NASA Columbia Tribute During Super Bowl Pre-Game |
| • | NHL All-Star Game Starters To Be Announced On 6:00pm ET “SportsCenter” |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
THE SPORTS AUTHORITY AWARDS CREATIVE DUTIES TO CLIFF FREEMAN
ADWEEKreports that The SportsAuthority (TSA) has “awarded creative chores on its ad account to independentCliff Freeman & Partners following a review.” The N.Y.-based agency “competed against several undisclosedshops. Estimated billings are$80[M].” In November, incumbentWestWayne, Tampa, “withdrew from the review, citing executive changes at [TSA]and the client’s relocation” from Florida to Colorado. The agency is expected to “produce acampaign that will include broadcast, print, in-store efforts and promotions” (ADWEEK.com,1/8).
SOUTHWEST BECOMES OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF 76ERS, FLYERS, PHILLIES
SouthwestAirlines today announced that it has reached sponsorship agreements with the76ers, Flyers and Phillies, under which it becomes the official airline of thethree teams. The agreements includesignage, broadcast presence, promotions and charitable outreach. Southwest begins service to Philadelphia onMay 9 (Southwest Airlines).
THE TENNIS CHANNEL, WTA TOUR TODAY INK PROGRAMMING DEAL
TheTennis Channel and the WTA Tour today announced a three-year programming deal,providing the net with U.S. telecast rights for the singles finals, semifinalsand earlier matches for 13 int’l top-tier tournaments each season. The agreement begins this season and runsthrough ’06 (The Tennis Channel).
NFL VP DISCUSSES MARKETING THE LEAGUE AT SPORT SUMMIT
NFLVP/Marketing Services Shawn Dennis today delivered a keynote address,“Marketing The NFL,” at the 2004 International Sport Summit, during which shesaid, “Our main goal is to begin the process of breaking down the stereotypethat football is for men and skating is for women.” Dennis added, “Our goal is to turn 25 million names in adatabase, where people have connected with us one time in some way, into peoplewe can connect with all the time. … Having a one-on-one relationship with 160million fans is tough, but we are embarking on an intensive campaign to achievejust that” (THE DAILY).
BUZZER BEATERS
TheNFL today announced that singer Josh Groban will perform during theSuper Bowl XXXVIII pre-game show to honor the NASA Columbia crew, as February 1is the first anniversary of the disaster. Family members of the Columbia crew are expected to attend the game asguests of NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (NFL).
TheOrioles today announced that their ’04 season opener against the Red Sox hasbeen moved to Sunday, April 4, as ESPN has selected the game to be its opening“Sunday Night Baseball” telecast (Orioles).
TheNewark STAR-LEDGER reports that the New Jersey State Interscholastic AthleticAssociation and ShopRite supermarkets “have entered into a corporatesponsorship that will bring $240,000 to the NJSIAA over the next threeyears.” ShopRite will “sponsor the boysand girls basketball tournaments for $50,000 annually and pay another $30,000 ayear as sponsor of the ShopRite Cup,” an award that will be given the state’ssix best sports programs (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 1/8).
BoundlessMotor Sports Racing today announced that it is forming a new ‘04 Late ModelSeries to begin racing this spring (Boundless Motor Sports Racing).
ESPNanalyst Joe Theismann and John Riggins appeared today on CNBC’s“Power Lunch” to promote the FedEx Air and Ground Player of the Yearawards. A white helmet and white ballwith the NFL shield and FedEx logo adorned the desk (“Power Lunch,” CNBC,1/8).
TheCINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that the ‘04 North American Roller HockeyChampionship will be held July 16-31 at the Sports Plus complex in Evendale,Ohio. The event is expected to “attractabout 400 teams from across the United States and Canada and bring about $10[M]to the area” (CINCINNATIENQUIRER, 1/8).
DAILYRACING FORM reports that California State Assembly Bill 900, which “would increasethe takeout on exotic wagers on Thoroughbred races in California by 0.5[%] inan effort to offset workers’ compensation costs paid by trainers,” is expectedto reach a vote today or tomorrow (DAILYRACING FORM, 1/8).
TheLondon EVENING STANDARD reports that DavidBeckham’s father “has beenforced to hand over some of his son’s memorabilia to ex-wife Sandra aspart of their divorce settlement. Among the items TedBeckham has given up are five photograph albums and dozens of matchprogrammes collected during his son’s career at Manchester United” (THISISLONDON.co.uk,1/8).
TheAP reports that Moammar Gadhafi’s son Saadi “was suspended forthree months by Italy’s soccer league for failing a drug test. … He did notplay in an official game for his club, Perugia, which he joined in June” (AP, 1/8).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
TheGREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE reports that the CEOs of the official banks of thePackers and Eagles “have wagered $2,000 worth of local food products forcharities” on Sunday’s NFC Divisional playoff game. If the Packers win, Sovereign Bancorp “will donate 500 boxes ofTastykakes to Paul’s Pantry in Green Bay.” If the Eagles win, Associated Banc-Corp “will donate 500 pounds ofSargento Cheese to the St. Vincent Orphanage and St. John’s Hospice inPhiladelphia” (GREENBAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 1/8).
TONIGHT’SEVENTS
ThePHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that a Philadelphia-oriented exhibit ofpaintings by National Baseball HOF official artist Dick Perez opens atthe Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Featured are “32 paintings of Phillies, Philadelphia Athletics and nativesons” in the HOF, including Reggie Jackson and Roy Campanella. Once the exhibition ends February 29, thepaintings “will be moved to their permanent home at Citizens Bank Park” (PHILADELPHIADAILY NEWS, 1/8).
CyclistTyler Hamilton will host a fundraising event for his foundation at TheCyclorama in Boston from 7:00-11:00pm ET. Proceeds benefit aspiring cyclists and individuals with multiplesclerosis. Tickets range from $50-1,000.
CHANNEL SURFING
The’04 NHL All-Star Game starting lineups will be announced atapproximately 6:30pm ET during ESPN’s 6:00pm ET “SportsCenter.”
ESPNwill air first-round coverage of thePGA Tour’s Mercedes Championships at7:00pm ET.
ESPN2will air Hurricanes-Rangers at7:00pm ET.
NFLPanthers DT Kris Jenkins, Eagles WR James Thrash and deactivatedBucs WR Keyshawn Johnson will appear on “Wheel of Fortune: NFL PlayersWeek.”
ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile PeteRose at 8:00pm ET.
FormerNFLer Herschel Walker, Pro FootballHOFer Deacon Jones, Lakers G Gary Payton, Hawks G Jason Terry and G Stephen Jackson and actor AnthonyAnderson are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
TNTwill air Rockets-Knicks at 7:00pm ETand T’Wolves-Trail Blazers at9:30pm.
Pete Rose confesses to gambling onbaseball games on ABC’s “Primetime Thursday” at 10:00pm ET.
ESPN2will air the State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships at 10:00pm ET.
FSNwill air NCAA men’s basketball: Stanford-ArizonaState at 10:30pm ET.
ChiefsRB Priest Holmes will be on ESPN’s“Rome is Burning” at midnight ET.
A&E’s“Biography” will profile Rikki Lake at8:00pm ET.
E!’s“True Hollywood Story” will profile ElvisPresley at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Hereare tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Nathan Lane |
| “The Tonight Show” | Madonna (r) |
| “The Late Late Show” | Eddie Griffin |
| “Late Night” | Uma Thurman |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Vanessa Marcil |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Followingthe Angels changing the name of their ballpark from Edison Int’l Field to AngelStadium of Anaheim, the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER’s Gordon Dillow writes, “Angelsmanagement said it might pursue another corporate ‘naming rights’ deal inthe future. … But a number of readers would like to go Arte Moreno onebetter and reallyembrace tradition. They want to permanently rename the stadium after theman who founded the Angels and brought them to Orange County – the late, great GeneAutry” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER).
AS.F. CHRONICLE editorial states of Snoop Dogg, “His 3-minute video forNokia at halftime of Sunday’s Sugar Bowl game was socute and cuddly it was hard to imagine it was the same Dogg who spewsprofanity, thug talk and misogynism with a mischievous grin” (S.F. CHRONICLE).
- Testing drivers just one of six story lines for upcoming PGA Tour season.
- Another golf writer offers five things to watch for on the PGA Tour this season.
- Ranking of Chicago pro teams in terms of on-field performance, fan-friendliness.
- LeBron James following in Bobby Orr’s skates.
SeeThe Daily Insider’s Articles OfInterest for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
SportsBusiness:Which NFL team experienced the greatest attendance increase this season overlast?
- Bears
- Bengals
- Bills
- Broncos
IN OTHERNEWS…
TheHOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Bravo yesterday announced at the TelevisionCritics Association press tour that it has inherited the HBO series “ProjectGreenlight” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 1/8).
TheNashville TENNESSEAN reports that Bridgestone Americas Holding Chair, President& CEO John Lampe will step down March 31. Bridgestone/FirestoneNorth American Tire Chair, CEO & President Mark Emkes will replace Lampe asChair, President & CEO of the “umbrella corporation that overseesBridgestone/Firestone’s operations in North, Central and South America” (NashvilleTENNESSEAN, 1/8).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
Thefollowing lists Billboard Magazine’s top-selling CDs for the week endingJanuary 4 (BILLBOARD.com, 1/8):
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | Speakerboxxx/The Love Below | Outkast | Arista |
| 2) | The Diary Of Alicia Keys | Alicia Keys | J |
| 3) | Shock'n Y'all | Toby Keith | DreamWorks |
| 4) | Now 14 | Various Artists | Columbia/Universal/EMI/Zomba |
| 5) | The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow | Sheryl Crow | A&M |
| 6) | Closer | Josh Groban | 143/Reprise |
| 7) | Metamorphosis | Hilary Duff | Buena Vista |
| 8) | The Singles 1992-2003 | No Doubt | Interscope |
| 9) | Soulful | Ruben Studdard | J |
| 10) | In The Zone | Britney Spears | Jive |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
The Bengals’ average attendance of 59,936 wasa 13.6% increase over last season’s average of 52,779.
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