Closing Bell, January 16, 2004

CBS, FOX GEAR UP FOR NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

The BOSTON GLOBE notes that CBS will “be more judicious inits use of the ‘Cable Cam’ than it was during last Saturday’s Titans-Patriotsgame.”  Though many fans have expressedtheir dislike of the camera, CBS President Sean McManus said, “Overall Iliked the look of the camera” (BOSTONGLOBE, 1/16).

In San Diego, Jay Posner writes the camera angle “almostruined the telecast of last week’s Titans-Patriots” (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 1/16).

McManus: “Using it judiciously for live action is really thebest way to go” (OTTAWASUN, 1/16).

Fox Sports President Ed Goren said that its SkyCamwill be used “maybe one or twice a quarter” Sunday for Panthers-Eagles.  Goren added, “At times it can betremendously effective, depending on the play that’s called and the executionof that play.  It really gives a uniqueperspective and one that you often see when you’re playing a video game” (L.A.TIMES, 1/16).

McManus, on the match-up he would like to see in the SuperBowl: “You play the hand your dealt, and I’d rather have a close game that goesto the last play, with two small-market teams as opposed to two large-marketteams in a blowout” (BOSTONGLOBE, 1/16).

CIALIS JOINS LEVITRA AND VIAGRA AS SUPER BOWL ADVERTISERS

ADAGE.com reports that all three erectile dysfunction drugs“will advertise on the Super Bowl.”  EliLilly and Icos’ Cialis, “which will make its eagerly anticipated advertisingdebut this Sunday” during the NFL Conference Championship games, will run a30-second spot.  GlaxoSmithKline andBayer’s Levitra, an NFL corporate sponsor, had already bought a 30-second spot,as has Pfizer for Viagra (ADAGE.com, 1/16).

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that the Cialis spot is knownas a “reminder ad,” one that does not “mention the disease being treated – maleerectile dysfunction in this case – or the benefits of the drug.”  The full-branded advertising will not “startfor another week to two months” (INDIANAPOLISSTAR, 1/16).

2012 OLYMPICS: APPLICANT CITIES TODAY UNVEIL THEIR BIDS

The nine cities vying to host the 2012 Olympics todayunveiled their bids.  Today’s MorningBuzz highlighted the bids by London, N.Y. and Paris.  REUTERS offers highlights of the bid ceremonies in Istanbul,Leipzig, Madrid and Moscow:

Turkish Bid Committee General Dir Yalcin Aksoy saidthat as “Istanbul spanned two continents – not only geographically butsocially, culturally and religiously – it was well placed to fulfill Olympicideals” (REUTERS,1/16).

Leipzig Bid Chair Peter Zuehlsdorff said that over90% of the events “would be held within a 10 kilometer radius of the citycenter with heavy security planned including 20,000 police officers and 5,000other security personnel.”  Organizerssubmitted a budget of $2.35B (REUTERS,1/16).

Madrid Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said of thecity’s bid, “Respect for the environment governs all aspects of thisproject.  Madrid will use theopportunity of this candidacy to introduce renewable energies in allinstallations and hydrogen in public transport” (REUTERS,1/16).

Moscow Deputy Mayor Valery Shantsev said that thecity “had the necessary infrastructure and expertise to stage all the Olympicsports, including yachting and soccer, within the city borders” (REUTERS,1/16).

HULA BOWL MOVES INTO PRIMETIME SATURDAY ON ESPN2

ESPN2 will televise the Hula Bowl at 8:00pm ET Saturday, andthe PACIFIC BUSINESS JOURNAL reported that for the “first time, the game willbe televised in Japan on ESPN.” Additionally, Hula Bowl President Richard Schaller said, “The move to an 8:00pm kickoffgives Hula Bowl Maui a prime-time audience in the important East Coasttelevision market.  And, a [5:00pm]start on the West Coast is not too shabby either.  We’re definitely hoping to get bigger ratings numbers this year”(BIZJOURNALS.com,1/15).

RODMAN TO MAKE ABA LONG BEACH JAM DEBUT TONIGHT

Dennis Rodman makes his debut with the ABA Long BeachJam during the team’s 7:30pm PT game against the Fresno Heat Wave at the5,000-seat Long Beach Pyramid, and the LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM reported thatJam GM Steve Chase “expects a sellout” for the game, which “would be afew thousand more than usually show up.” Among the notable people expected to attend are Pamela Anderson, KidRock, Magic Johnson, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, Dir of ScoutingBill Bertka and assistant coach Jim Cleamons (LONGBEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM, 1/15).

BUZZER BEATERS

DiversityBusiness.com has selected MLB as one of the top 50corporations for multicultural businesses, which recognizes the top 50corporate buyers of diversity products and services in the U.S.  MLB has spent more than $300M withminority-owned and female-owned businesses (MLB).

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that U.S.-based UsanaHealth Sciences has guaranteed $1M “for Canadian athletes if one of them has apositive doping test in competition after taking the company’s products” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 1/16).

The ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE reports that the Association of FundraisingProfessionals named Sabres Owner B. Thomas Golisano the ’04Outstanding Professional.  Golisano was recognized forcontributions to a variety of health care and academic institutions (ROCHESTERDEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 1/16).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE reports that Milwaukee’s Mei-LynNelson won the eBay auction for the ‘97 Porsche Boxster – a “gift to[Packers QB Brett] Favre from the NFL – with a high bid of$50,500” (GREENBAY PRESS GAZETTE, 1/16).

WEEKEND EVENTS

The CHL Indianapolis Ice will wear horseshoe logos on theirhelmets in support of the Colts’ run to the AFC Championship Game during theteam’s 7:00pm ET game against the Wichita Thunder at Pepsi Coliseum.  Colts PK Mike Vanderjagt will dropthe ceremonial first puck.

The 19^th annual Cubs Convention begins at theChicago Hilton, and the ILLINOIS DAILY HERALD reports that the club will host“Meet Cubs Management” at 9:00am Saturday, where fans “pack the place for theirchance to grill” GM Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker (ILLINOISDAILY HERALD, 1/16).

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum Legacy Awards will bepresented at 8:00pm CT at the Gem Theater in K.C.

The MLB Cardinals will hold the official groundbreakingceremony for the club’s new ballpark at 11:00am CT, and announce the creationof the Ballpark Founders Program, the club’s PSL initiative.

Golfweek’s Golfest Orlando will begin at 9:00am ET at theOrange County National Golf Center & Lounge.

The re-paving of Pacific Raceways in Kent, WA, will begin at10:00am.

On Location Casting will host an open casting call for thehigh school basketball movie, “Coach Carter,” beginning at 10:30am PT (L.A.DAILY NEWS, 1/13).

The five finalists to host the ’06 World Junior HockeyChampionships – Ottawa, Quebec City, London-Kitchener, Saskaroon and Vancouver– will present their bids to Hockey Canada officials.

Skateboard Mag will announce its launch at a 7:00pm PT newsconference at Premise Intelligence Agency in San Diego.

The National Association of TV Program Executives begins andruns through Tuesday.  Viewthe entire agenda.

The HP Houston Marathon begins at 6:50am CT at the George R.Brown Convention Center, and the HOUSTON CHRONICLE reported that marathonorganizers are “expecting a record turnout of 13,000 this year, with 6,500 inthe marathon, 5,000 in the Halliburton International Half Marathon and 1,500 inthe Houston Press/Metro 5K” (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 1/15).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN will airsecond-roundcoverage of the PGA Tour’s Sony Openat 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air Spurs-Pacersat 7:00pm ET.

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

The Discovery Channel profiles young go-kart racers in “Gold Star Racing” at 8:00pm ET.

NFL Network’s condensed“Game of the Week” features Colts-Chiefs at 9:00pm ET and Titans-Patriots at 10:00pm.

Former NBAer JaysonWilliams will appear on ABC’s “20/20” at 10:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Lakers-Kingsat 10:30pm ET.

Chiefs TE TonyGonzalez, Chargers DE MarcellusWiley, N.Y. Post columnist PeterVecsey and actor Ashton Kutcherare scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

ABC will air T’Wolves-Rocketsat 3:30pm ET.

CSTV will air high school football: Las Vegas All-American Classic at 3:30pm ET.

NBC will air the ChampionsTour Special at 4:00pm ET.

NBC will air coverage of the “Vans Triple Crown” of snowboarding at 5:00pm ET.

ESPN will airthird-roundcoverage of the PGA Tour’s Sony Openat 7:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Sonics-Wizardsat 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air NCAA football: Hula Bowl at 8:00pm ET.

Sunday

ABC will air Spurs-Celticsat 12:30pm ET.

ESPN will air women’s NCAA basketball: Auburn-Vanderbilt at 5:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air women’s NCAA basketball: Houston-TCU at 3:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Trailblazers-Sunsat 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will airfinal-roundcoverage of the PGA Tour’s Sony Openat 7:30pm ET.

ESPN will air international men’s soccer: Denmark-USA at 3:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the Australian Open at 11:00pm ET.

CBS’ will air “35Years and 60 Minutes,” a retrospective of the newsmagazine at 7:00pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Whatis Indiana Jones’ real first name?

THE DAILY STAT: PUBLICLY TRADED MOTORSPORTS COMPANIES

National Speed Sport News offers a capsule of stockperformances among publicly traded motorsports companies in 2003 (NationalSpeed Sport News, 1/7).

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “ALONG CAME POLLY” & “TORQUE”

Ben Stiller stars in “Along Came Polly” as a riskmanager whose new bride cheats on him, prompting him to ask out his childhoodfriend, played by Jennifer Aniston.:  Meanwhile, Ice Cube stars in “Torque” as the leader of a gang of motorcycle bikers, whichchases down another group of bikers after they are framed for the murder of hisbrother.

…TODAY’S ANSWER

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

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