| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Friday, January 9, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
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| • | New Balance Today Inks Licensing Agreement With New Era For Headwear |
| • | Patriots Cracking Down On Season-Ticket Holders Who Scalp Playoff Tickets |
| • | State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships To Conclude Saturday On ABC |
| • | CFL Looking For Ways To Enforce Salary Cap During Upcoming BOG Meeting |
| • | Critics Weigh In: “Big Fish” And “Chasing Liberty” Receive Mixed Reviews |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Weekend Events/Channel Surfing/The Daily Stat |
NEW ERA TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE NEW BALANCE HEADWEAR
New Balance today announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with New Era, under which New Era will design, develop and manufacture New Balance performance headwear. The line will be sold as a joint effort between the two companies. New Balance’s offerings in ’04 include classic, suburban/collegiate and event-driven headwear, while a full line of performance caps will debut in spring ‘05 (New Balance).
PATS CRACKING DOWN ON SCALPERS, GILLETTE BEEFING UP SECURITY
The BOSTON HERALD noted that local, state and federal law enforcement officials “are mindful of nationwide terror threats and are beefing up security at Gillette Stadium” for Saturday’s Titans-Patriots AFC Divisional Playoff game. Foxboro Police Chief Edward O’Leary said that hundreds of officials “will be on duty. … The army of officers will be assisted by a massive private security force that already has begun cracking down on stadium access” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/7).
BOSTON HERALD gossip columnists Fee & Raposa note that if the Patriots catch season-ticket holders auctioning their seats to Saturday’s game, “they can find themselves out in the cold – literally.” Patriots VP/Media Relations Stacey James: “Reselling your tickets is a revokable offense. If you’re caught, you could stand to lose your ticket account.” The Patriots “constantly monitor the Web sites and try to identify who is selling the seats” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/9).
Boston will sing the National Anthem, and the BOSTON HERALD notes “expect Tom Scholz and Brad Delp to be decked out in Patriots paraphernalia. But bassist Kimberly Dahme is from Nashville and her pals are plying her with Titans tchotchkes and daring her to wear them” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/9).
NFL PLAYOFF NOTES: FOX TO USE “MEGA SUPER SLOW MO CAMERA”
Fox will use its “Mega Super Slow Mo Camera” during coverage of the Packers-Eagles NFC Divisional Playoff game Sunday at 4:30pm ET. The camera, which debuted during the net’s coverage of the MLB Playoffs last year, will be positioned near a Lincoln Financial Field end zone (Fox).
The AHL Phantoms have moved their January 11 game against the Albany River Rats, originally scheduled for 7:00pm ET, to March 8 at the Wachovia Spectrum to “help alleviate crowding at the sports complex” prior to and during Packers-Eagles (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/3).
The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH reported that Saturday’s Panthers-Rams NFC Divisional Playoff game at Edward Jones Dome will “generate $10.3[M] for the regional economy” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/8).
NCAA CONVENTION IS BEING HELD THIS WEEKEND IN NASHVILLE
The 98th annual NCAA Convention continues this weekend at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, and ESPN.com reported that conference commissioners “will make one last attempt … to speed up the alignment shift by a number of schools. The goal is to make the movement in and out of seven conferences coincide with ACC expansion next season. But to make it happen in time for the 2004-05 season, commissioners will need to take a collection from their members to compensate Conference USA upwards of $10[M]” to offset the league’s “potential lost revenue from the NCAA Tournament and [TV] rights” (ESPN.com, 1/8).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that nearly 25% of the presidents of the 420 Div. III schools are attending the convention, “at least twice as many as usual. On the table are nine reforms designed to return D-III to its stated academics-first mission” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/9).
U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS UP AGAINST NFL PLAYOFFS
The State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships conclude Saturday with ABC telecasts at 4:00pm ET and 8:00pm ET, and the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL notes that the event “is going up against the NFL playoffs … for the first time.” A taped feature of Michelle Kwan interviewing Lakers F Karl Malone will air during the 8:00pm telecast (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 1/9).
USA TODAY notes that the NFL competition “would appear to be a ratings problem for ABC, … but a dip from last year’s 6.0% of the USA’s TV homes for the U.S. championships might not be steep when considering the makeup of the two audiences. While nearly two-thirds of viewers for last year’s comparable [Falcons-Eagles] playoff game on Fox were men, an equally high percentage of women viewed the figure skating. And these women are among TV’s most loyal viewers” (USA TODAY, 1/9).
FIRST P.F. CHANG’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL MARATHON TO BE HELD SUNDAY
The inaugural P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Arizona Marathon/Half Marathon will be held Sunday in Phoenix, and the ARIZONA REPUBLIC reported that the marketing cost for the event “is about $1[M], and the total cost for the race is about $3.6[M].” Marathon promoter Elite Racing President Tim Murphy said that because of the large turnout – 28,000 runners are expected – the “company could come close to breaking even, but he declined to disclose financial records” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/7).
CFL EYEING SALARY CAP ENFORCEMENT AT UPCOMING BOG MEETING
The WINNIPEG SUN reports that the CFL will conduct its BOG meeting Sunday through Tuesday in Florida “at one of the homes of Montreal Alouettes Owner Robert Wetenhall.” The governors hope “to find a way to enforce [the league’s] salary cap.” Winnipeg Blue Bombers Chair Gene Dunn: “If we don’t have some kind of agreement in place that’s enforceable, the community owned teams like Winnipeg and Saskatchewan, they’re kind of an island. And if we’re looking at expanding further, how do you attract an owner ... without some kind of program in place that could be monitored” (WINNIPEG SUN, 1/9).
BUZZER BEATERS
MEDIAWEEK reports that ABC’s “Primetime Thursday,” which featured Charles Gibson’s interview with Pete Rose, earned a 6.3/9 Nielsen overnight rating, behind NBC’s “ER” and CBS’ “Without A Trace” in the timeslot. “ER” earned a 16.5/24, while “Without A Trace” earned a 13.3/20 (MEDIAWEEK, 1/9).
The MLB Rangers announced that TV analyst Tom Grieve has agreed to a three-year contract extension to remain with the Rangers TV network. Grieve has been a member of the club’s broadcasting team since ’95 (Rangers).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the Dept. of Justice has “issued several subpoenas that targeted Web sites, radio and TV broadcasters, magazines, newspapers, sports information networks and others. … The subpoenas request all records pertaining to advertisements by Internet gaming establishments dating back to 1997” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/9).
The UHL Columbus Stars today announced that they have suspended operations effective immediately (Columbus Stars).
The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES reports that former Yankees bench coach Don Zimmer is expected to be hired today by the Devil Rays “in something of an on- and off-field advisory capacity” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 1/9).
The COLORADOAN reports that the National Indoor Football League will field a team in Larimer County, the Colorado Venom, starting this spring. The team will play at the Budweiser Events Center (COLORADOAN, 1/9).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The ASPEN DAILY NEWS reports that Aspen Times columnist and local snowboard instructor Alison Berkley was fired by Aspen Skiing Co. because she “apparently went too far last week when she detailed her perceived shortcomings as a local snowboard instructor, writing, among other things, in her weekly column – entitled ‘The Princess’s Palate’ – that she felt like ‘a snowboard whore’ for dressing in red and accepting cold, hard cash from Snowmass Ski Area’s ‘ultrawealthy’” (ASPEN DAILY NEWS, 1/9).
WEEKEND EVENTS
Friday
The Magic will host ‘80s Retro Night during the team’s 7:00pm ET game against the Wizards at TD Waterhouse Centre, where the first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a Tracy McGrady talking bobblehead, courtesy of Office Depot & Bright House Networks. Tone Loc will perform a retro ‘80s concert during halftime.
As January is Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month, NHL team captains will wear a special jersey featuring a Hockey Fights Cancer commemorative patch during select games through Sunday. Following the games, each captain will autograph his game-worn jersey and donate it to the Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction.
Saturday
Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide will make his four-year-old debut in a seven-furlong optional-claiming allowance event at Gulfstream Park (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 1/9).
The ECHL Charlotte Checkers will host “Race Night” during the team’s 7:30pm ET game against the Augusta Lynx at Cricket Arena. Included in the festivities is a pre-game autograph session with select NASCAR drivers and a variety of show cars on display.
UNC-Charlotte will distribute Clay Aiken bobbleheads to the first 9,105 fans in attendance for the team’s 7:00pm ET men’s basketball game against East Carolina. The Charlotte grad will sing the National Anthem and an original song during halftime.
The Mighty Ducks will distribute former G Guy Hebert goalie sticks to the first 5,000 children in attendance for the team’s 5:00pm PT against the Blue Jackets.
The Flyers will distribute C Jeremy Roenick celebriducks to the first 5,000 children in attendance for the team’s 7:00pm ET game against the Oilers at Wachovia Center, and the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reported that the celebriducks “will look nothing like No. 97. Why? Roenick took a puck to the face at practice [Tuesday], which opened a gash big enough to require 25 stitches to close” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 1/7).
Sunday
The Pistons will distribute F Darko Milicic bobbleheads to the first 10,000 fans in attendance for the club’s 6:00pm ET game against the Mavericks (DETROIT NEWS, 1/9).
The fourth annual Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit concert and auction will begin at 7:00pm ET at The Paradise in Boston.
Reebok and the Downtown Athletic Club will launch the Heisman Trophy apparel collection during a 7:00pm ET conference at Friday’s Front Row Sports Grill in Orlando.
CHANNEL SURFING
Friday
NBA HOFer Magic Johnson will appear on CNBC’s “Bullseye” at 6:00pm ET.
ESPN will air second-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championships at 7:00pm ET.
Raiders RB Charlie Garner, Cowboys WR Joey Galloway and Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck will appear on “Wheel of Fortune: NFL Players Week.”
ESPN2 will air Pacers-Mavericks at 8:00pm ET.
The Discovery Channel will explore the “Roots of Racing” at 8:00pm ET.
Former NFLer Herschel Walker, “NFL on Fox” co-host Terry Bradshaw, Chiefs KR Dante Hall, Vikings DL Chris Hovan and Donald Trump are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
ESPN will air Kings-Suns at 10:30pm ET.
Saturday
ESPN will air NCAA basketball: Michigan State-Wisconsin at noon ET.
ABC will air NHL regional coverage: Avalanche-Stars, Red Wings-Bruins or Rangers-Islanders at 1:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NCAA basketball: Temple-Dayton at 1:00pm ET.
ESPN will air NCAA football: East/West Shrine Game at 2:00pm ET.
CBS will air “The Subaru Primal Quest” at 3:00pm ET.
ABC will airthe State Farm U.S. Figure Skating Championships at 4:00pm ET and 8:00pm.
ESPN2 will air NCAA women’s basketball: St. Joseph’s-George Washington at 4:00pm ET.
NBC will air “On the Brink: PGA Tour Qualifying School” at 4:30pm ET.
ESPN will airthird-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championships at 7:00pm ET.
FSN will air NCAA basketball: Vanderbilt-Kentucky at 7:00pm ET.
Boxer Shane Mosley will appear on Fox’ “MAD TV” at 11:00pm ET.
NBA TV will air Sonics-Warriors at 10:30pm ET.
| NFL Divisional Playoffs | Net | Time | Announcers |
| Panthers-Rams | Fox | 4:30pm ET | Dick Stockton-Daryl Johnston |
| Titans-Patriots | CBS | 8:00pm ET | Greg Gumbel-Phil Simms-Armen Keteyian |
Sunday ESPN2 will air NCAA women’s basketball: North Carolina-Duke at 2:00pm ET and Cincinnati-DePaul at 4:00pm.
CBS will air NCAA basketball: Oklahoma-Connecticut at 4:30pm ET.
NBA TV will air Mavericks-Pistons at 6:00pm ET.
ESPN will airfinal-round coverage of the PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championships at 7:00pm ET.
Serena Williams will appear on The Tennis Channel’s “Center Court with Chris Myers” at 7:30pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Avalanche-Blackhawks at 8:00pm ET.
CBS will air The People’s Choice Awards at 9:00pm ET.
| NFL Divisional Playoffs | Net | Time | Announcers |
| Colts-Chiefs | CBS | 1:00pm ET | Dick Enberg-Dan Dierdorf |
| Packers-Eagles | Fox | 4:30pm ET | Joe Buck-Troy Aikman-Cris Collinsworth |
TODAY’S TEASER…
General: What was the name of Gene Autry’s horse?
THE DAILY STAT: TOP TEN GROSSING CONCERT VENUES OF '03
The following presents the top ten grossing concert venues of 30,001 seats or more for ’03. Note: Total gross figures are rounded to the nearest $100,000 (Venues Today, December ‘03 issue).
| RK | VENUE | CAPACITY | # OF SHOWS | ATTENDANCE | TOTAL GROSS |
| 1) | Giants Stadium | 79,646 | 24 | 1,050,041 | $60.7M |
| 2) | Shea Stadium | 55,577 | 3 | 174,892 | $10.9M |
| 3) | Alpine Valley Music Theatre | 40,000 | 9 | 258,757 | $10.7M |
| 4) | Gillette Stadium | 60,292 | 2 | 96,108 | $7.1M |
| 5) | Lincoln Financial Field | 68,532 | 2 | 90,260 | $6.7M |
| 6) | Hershey Park Pavilion-Stadium | 32,218 | 15 | 137,269 | $6.1M |
| 7) | FedEx Field | 80,116 | 2 | 73,712 | $5.3M |
| 8) | Ford Field | 65,000 | 2 | 95,709 | $5.3M |
| 9) | Fenway Park | 33,871 | 2 | 70,827 | $5.2M |
| 10) | Sam Boyd Stadium | 50,000 | 6 | 118,565 | $4.3M |
CRITICS WEIGH IN: “BIG FISH” & “CHASING LIBERTY” OPEN TONIGHT
Director Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” stars Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney as the younger and older versions of an eccentric man who spends his life telling wondrous tales of his past adventures. Meanwhile, Mandy Moore stars in “Chasing Liberty” as a bored daughter of the U.S. President who ditches the Secret Service to go on a road trip through Europe with her boyfriend.
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| “Big Fish” | “Chasing Liberty” |
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| Hollywood Reporter | 
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| N.Y. Times |
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| Rolling Stone | 
| Not reviewed |
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| USA Today |
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What sports movie are you most looking forward to in 2004? Vote in The Daily’s poll.
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Champion
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