Menu
Closing Bell

Closing Bell, Febuary 12, 2004

The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, Febuary 12, 2004
4:00pm ET

Report Today Shows That 30 NHL Teams Lost Combined $273M Last Season

NBC Today Announces That AFL Week One Ratings Up 31% Over ’03 Opener

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft Today Announces BALCO Indictments

CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders Today Offer Ownership Shares In Team

NBA To Host Annual All-Star Technology Summit Tomorrow In L.A.

Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat


FORMER SEC CHAIR TODAY CONFIRMS NHL REVENUE FIGURES

FormerSEC Chair Arthur Levitt today hosted a press conference at the WestinN.Y. to discuss the results of his study into the finances of the NHL, and theAP reports that Levitt found the league’s 30 teams “lost a combined $273[M]during the 2002-03 season.”  The report saidthat 19 of the 30 teams had operating losses last season and that 75% of itsrevenue is spent on player costs.  Thereport said the league “generated $1.99[B] in revenue last season” (AP, 2/12).


AFL WEEK ONE NIELSEN AVERAGE UP 31% OVER LAST YEAR’S OPENER

NBCtoday announced that its regional coverage of five AFL games Sunday posted a2.1/5 Nielsen rating, marking a 31% increase from the 1.6/4 earned for lastseason’s week one broadcast.  The ratingalso set an AFL record, eclipsing the previous high of 1.7/3, set February 16,2003 (NBC).


JOHN ASHCROFT TODAY ANNOUNCES BALCO INDICTMENTS

TheAP reports that U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft today announcedindictments related to the BALCO investigation.  BALCO President & CEO Victor Conte, VP JamesValente, Barry Bonds’ personal trainer Greg Anderson andint’l track coach Remi Korchemny were indicted.  The charges “include conspiracy todistribute steroids, possession of human growth hormone, misbranding drugs withintent to defraud and money laundering” (AP,2/12).


RUSSELL CORP. POSTS 25% INCREASE INNET INCOME FOR ‘03

TheATLANTA BUSINESS CHRONICLE reports that Russell Corp. posted a 25% increase innet income for ’03, jumping from $34.3M on sales of $1.16B in ’02 to net incomeof $43M on sales of $1.18B.  In Q4 ‘03,the company had net income of $14.5M on sales of $302.4M, compared with netincome of $14.5M on sales of $308.4M in the year earlier period (BIZJOURNALS.com,2/12).


SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS OFFERING OWNERSHIP SHARES

TheCFL Saskatchewan Roughriders today began a share offering of ownership inthe team.  While 20,000 shares priced at$250 each are available, individuals are limited to purchasing 20 class “A”shares.  The class “A” shares carry fullvoting privileges.  Class “B” shares,which are available for corporate or individual purchase, but are non-voting,can be converted to “A” shares once they have been designated to an individualwho does not already own 20 class “A” shares (Roughriders).


NBA TO HOST ALL-STAR TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT TOMORROW IN L.A.

TheNBA will host its annual All-Star Technology Summit tomorrow from 9:00am-3:15pmPT at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in L.A. Ahmad Rashad will host the summit, which includes the followingmoderators and panel discussions (NBA):

Viewthe completeagenda and an alphabetical participant list.

Moderator

Panel Topic

ESPN/ABC’s Mike Tirico

“Remote Control: How Will Fans Watch Sports?”

N.Y. Times’ William Rhoden

“Music Lessons: What Digital Music Means for Video”

CNN’s Larry King

“Where the Boys Are: Marketing Across Fragments”

CNN’s John King

“Market Transformations: The Next Revolution in E-Commerce”

Turner Sports’ Ernie Johnson

“21st Century Literacy: Reading, Technology and a New Education”

CNN’s Jeff Greenfield

“Player Programming: How Fans View Athletes”


BUZZER BEATERS

Asexpected, McDonald’s today officially announced that it has signed Rockets C YaoMing to an endorsement deal.  Yaowill play a role in the company’s global marketing campaign, including Olympicinitiatives (McDonald’s).

Nexteltoday announced that it has selected Carter Ryley Thomas Public Relations &Marketing Counsel as its PR firm for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series.  CRT has offices in Richmond and L.A. (Nextel).

Movingand storage company PODS announced that the company has entered into athree-year endorsement contract with PGA Tour player Kirk Triplett.  Triplett will wear the PODS logo during allpublic golf tournaments, as well as appear in an ad campaign (PODS).

TheFalcons today announced that Hank Aaron has been added to theorganization’s BOD, effective immediately (Falcons).


TONIGHT’SEVENTS

The’04 NBA All-Star Jam Session, the league’s five-day basketball theme park,opens at 4:00pm PT at the L.A. Convention Center.  The event features more than 350,000 square feet of basketballactivities and games.

ShaquilleO’Neal willhost “Rollin’ 24 Deep: GM All-Car Showdown” in L.A., an event that features 12celebrities and 12 athletes showcasing their tricked-out GM vehicles.  At the event, GM will unveil its newadvertising campaign featuring O’Neal.

AmericanExpress will salute Magic Johnson with the “American Express Celebratesthe Rewarding Life of Earvin Johnson” event at the Shrine Auditorium inL.A.  Big Boi of Outkast, JessicaSimpson and Earth, Wind & Fire will perform at the event.

TheFT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that No Jones Tax, a group opposed to the planto use public funding to help build a new Cowboys stadium, will formally kickoff its campaign, “even though there’s no official proposal on the table.”  The rally will begin at 7:00pm CT at theCrowne Plaza in Dallas (FT. WORTHSTAR-TELEGRAM, 2/12).

ThePadres will host the first of four Town Hall meetings from 7:30-9:00pm PT atSouthwestern Community College in Chula Vista. The meeting will provide fans with up-to-date information on parking andtransportation for the ’04 season at Petco Park.

TheSan Antonio Sports HOF will induct its tenth class at 5:30pm CT at the Alamodome.  Inductees include former Spurs C DavidRobinson, former MLBers Gary Bell and Joel Horlen, SanAntonio baseball legend Robert Zamora and female golfer Betty Dodd.

DanMarino willdrop the puck for a ceremonial face-off as part of “Dan Marino FoundationNight” prior to the Penguins-Panthers 7:30pm ET game at the Office DepotCenter.


CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN2will air NCAA men’s basketball WakeForest-Clemson at 7:00pm ET, Louisville-Charlotteat 9:00pm and Gonzaga-San Franciscoat 11:00pm.

ESPNwill air Blues-Avalanche or Flyers-Rangers at 7:30pm ET.

TravelChannel will air “NASCAR’s Thunder Road”at 8:00pm ET, “Race Week: Daytona Beach”at 9:00pm and “Ultimate NASCAR” at10:00pm.

ESPN’sNick Bakay will appear on CNBC’s “DennisMiller” at 9:00pm ET.

NBATV will air Raptors-Sonics at10:00pm ET.

NASCAR Nextel Cup driver DerrikeCope will appear on MSNBC’s “Scarborough

Country” at 10:00pm ET to discussthe use of religion in marketing.

ESPNwill air the first of two episodes of “The Season” featuring the Avalanche at 10:30pm ET.

FSNwill air NCAA men’s basketball: UCLA-ArizonaState at 10:30pm ET.

ChargersDE Marcellus Wiley, Hornets G Baron Davis, former boxer Lennox Lewis and actress Meg Ryan are scheduled to appear onFSN’s “BDSSP.”

PacersF Jermaine O’Neal will appear onCBS’ “Late Show” at 11:35am ET.

Charles Barkley will appear on NBC’s “TheTonight Show” at 11:35am ET.

SportsIllustrated swimsuit issue cover model VeronicaVarekova will appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

T’WolvesF Kevin Garnett, G Sam Cassell and G Latrell Sprewell will appear on “The Late Late Show” at12:35am ET.

NBCwill air the “Buick Invitational LateNight Show” featuring highlights from the first round of the PGA Tour’s Buick Invitational at 12:55am ET.

SnowboarderTara Dakides will appear on NBC’s“Last Call” at 1:35am ET.

E!’s“True Hollywood Story” will profile LisaMarie Presley at 8:00pm ET.


HEADLINERS

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

“Late Show” Bill Murray
“The Tonight Show” Clint Eastwood
“The Late Late Show” Chris Noth
“Late Night” Adam Sandler
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” Veronica Varekova

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

TheWASHINGTON TIMES’ Dan Daly writes of the Maurice Clarett case, “It isnot about whether a college sophomore should be allowed to enter the NFLDraft.  Not really.  It’s about whether the leagueshould be able to run its business as it sees fit.  It’s about control.  No group of owners has a firmer hand on thewheel than NFL owners” (WASHINGTON TIMES).

CBS SPORTSLINE’s Rick Horrow writes of NASCAR, “From the businessperspective, NASCAR continues at an unprecedented 90[%] growth rate overprevious comparable five-year periods. … Last year’s stability was remarkablegiven the Iraq War, economicturbulence and other debilitating business factors.  The key question remains whether thenetworks can continue to afford the high rights fees, with Fox claiming a$297[M] loss projected over the remainder of the deal” (SPORTSLINE.com).

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


TODAY’S TEASER…

SportsBusiness: Whowill drive the TNT NBA All-Star car during the Daytona 500?

  1. Jeff Burton
  2. Ward Burton
  3. Bobby Labonte
  4. Terry Labonte

IN OTHER NEWS…

TheN.Y. POST reports that N.Y. state troopers “probing labor racketeeringallegations executed several search warrants” yesterday at MSG.  The probe focused on “no-show jobs allegedlyarranged by the powerful stagehands union and possible bid-rigging by theelectricians union.”  Several peopleincluding MSG Head of Building Operations Jim Arneman were “escortedfrom the building and had their access cards revoked.”  All were suspended from their MSG jobs (N.Y. POST, 2/12).


THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS

Thefollowing lists Billboard Magazine’s top-selling CDs for the week endingFebruary 8 (BILLBOARD.com, 2/12):

RK ALBUM ARTIST LABEL
1) When The Sun Goes Down Kenny Chesney BNA
2) A Crow Left Of Murder… Incubus Immortal/Epic
3) Kamikaze Twista Atlantic
4) Closer Josh Groban 143/Reprise
5) Only You Harry Connick Jr. Columbia
6) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Outkast Arista
7) Fallen Evanescence Wind-up
8) The Very Best Of Sheryl Crow Sheryl Crow A&M
9) Shock'n Y'all Toby Keith DreamWorks
10) Soulful Ruben Studdard J

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Jeff Burton

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

The Closing Bell providesan afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Fridayat approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert tothe Closing Bell, go to MyAccount and personalize your e-mail alert options.

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2004/02/12/Closing-Bell-Febuary-12-2004.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2004/02/12/Closing-Bell-Febuary-12-2004.aspx

CLOSE