Closing Bell, April 13, 2004

FOOT LOCKER TO BUY ABOUT 350 STORES FROM BANKRUPT FOOTSTAR

FootLocker today announced that it has signed an agreement with Footstar topurchase approximately 350 of its Footaction stores for $160M in cash.  Since Footstar filed for Chapter 11bankruptcy protection, the agreement is subject to approval by the bankruptcycourt at an April 21 hearing.  Banc ofAmerica Securities is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Foot Locker(Foot Locker).

RAVENS TODAY OFFICIALLY NAME DICK CASS AS TEAM PRESIDENT

WithSteve Bisciotti officially assuming control last Thursday, the Ravenstoday officially named attorney Dick Cass as team President, replacing DavidModell, who will remain as a team consultant for the next two years.  Cass comes to the Ravens from the DC-basedlaw firm of Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering. Cass has previously served as counsel to NFL team owners and the leagueoffice (Ravens).  The hiring was firstreported by sister publication SportsBusiness Journal.

TheRavens today also announced a six-year contract extension with McDaniel Collegeto continue to hold their training camp at the school in Westminster, MD.  The contract includes the installation ofSportexe Momentum Turf – the same surface used at M&T Bank Stadium – on thecollege’s main athletic field (Ravens).

MIKE DITKA TODAY REFUTES BRANDWEEK PIECE ON LEVITRA DEAL

Respondingto a report in this week’s issue of Brandweek regarding his status as a Levitraendorser, Mike Ditka today issued a statement that read in part, “The reporter obviously didn’t check herfacts.  If the reporter would havebothered to ask, I would have explained how pleased I am with my current roleas the spokesperson for both Levitra and Tackling Men’s Health.  I have at no time indicated any desire todiscontinue this role now or in the future” (Levitra).

BRANDWEEK's Christine Bittar reported that Levitra will replace Ditka withan “attractive 40-ish woman in a new round of creative hitting TV this week”because Ditka said that he “doesn’t want to continue as spokesman afterthis year” (BRANDWEEK,4/12 issue).

BUZZER BEATERS

TNTtoday announced that its 52-game NBA regular-season schedule averaged a 1.4national Nielsen cable rating, a 17% increase from the net’s 1.2 average for 54games last season (TNT).

CBSSports today announced that it will broadcast 13 PGA Tour events inhigh-definition, beginning with the MCI Heritage this weekend.  As it did with The Masters, Argent MortgageCompany will sponsor the HDTV broadcasts (CBS Sports).

ATHOCtoday announced that 1.8 million tickets have been sold so far for the ’04Athens Olympics (REUTERS, 4/13).

Licensedsports photography manufacturer and marketer Photo File today announced that ithas entered into a licensing agreement with Giants LF Barry Bonds (PhotoFile).

TheAutoZone Liberty Bowl today unveiled its new logo (AutoZone Liberty Bowl).

TheProfessional Bowlers Association and the American Bowling Congress todayannounced that Miller Brewing will title sponsor the first major of the ’04-05season, the Masters.  The event, whichruns October 27-31 in Milwaukee, will now be called the PBA Miller High LifeMasters (PBA).

TheAP reports that Lakers F Karl Malone and his agent Dwight Manleyare partners in a southern California restaurant.  Kill Devils Frozen Custard & Beach Fries in Temecula, CA,will specialize in North Carolina barbeque (AP, 4/13).

TheSAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that a “majority of speakers told the San Diego City Councilyesterday that negotiators for the city and the Chargers should resume talks assoon as possible on a lease amendment for the team’s use of QualcommStadium.”  Sports organizationsrepresented included the Holiday Bowl, the San Diego Hall of Champions and theSan Diego Int’l Sports Council (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/13).

TheNational Women’s Football Association today announced that it has awarded ateam license to the Antelope Valley Bombers, which will play in Palmdale,CA.  It is the league’s first team onthe West Coast (NWFA).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Pistonscoach Larry Brown wore a Steve Yzerman home Red Wings jersey forhis postgame news conference yesterday, after wearing a Tigers home jersey andhat during Friday’s news conference (DETROIT NEWS,4/13).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

TheBaseball Tomorrow Fund will be honored for its support of the Boys & GirlsClubs of Hall County during the opening day and field dedication ceremonies at PositivePlace Partnership Park in Gainesville, GA, at 4:00pm ET.

TheAAU will present the 74^th Sullivan Award at the N.Y. Athletic Clubfrom 6:30-9:30pm ET.  Finalists includeCavaliers G LeBron James, Olympic speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno,Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, 56-year-old track & field athlete PhilRaschker and UConn G Diana Taurasi.

CHANNEL SURFING

FSNArizona will debut the weekly 30-minute magazine “Diamondbacks Insider” at 6:30pm MT.

ESPN2will air the NHL playoffs: Bruins-Canadiensat 7:00pm ET and Canucks-Flames at10:00pm.

CSTVwill air NCAA baseball: Rice-Texasat 7:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air the NHL playoffs: RedWings-Predators at 7:30pm ET.

ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile BillWalton at 8:00pm ET.

ProFootball HOFer Eric Dickerson, Basketball HOFer Cheryl Miller,Pacers F Ron Artest, Rams G Kyle Turley, racecar driver DanicaPatrick and N.Y. Post columnist Peter Vecsey are scheduled to appearon FSN’s “BDSSP.”

NBA TV will air Grizzlies-Mavericksat 8:30pm ET.

PresidentBush’s press conference will air at 8:30pm ET.

Proskateboarder Andy Macdonald will appear on CNBC’s “Dennis Miller” at 9:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air Mariners-Angels at 10:00pm ET.

HBO’s“Real Sports” with Bryant Gumbel will profile Chiba LotteMarines manager Bobby Valentine, who left ESPN last year to manage inJapan, at 10:00pm ET.

PhilMickelsonwill appear on NBC’s “The Tonight Show”at 11:35pm ET.

A&E’s “Biography”will profile John Belushi at 8:00pmET.

HEADLINERS

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

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

TheARIZONA REPUBLIC’s Pat Flannery writes of the NFL Cardinals’ new stadium inGlendale, “The stadium is going up in an unconventional way to makeconstruction more economical and efficient, and it will give builders more timeto finish off the inside of the publicly subsidized facility before it opensfor the [‘06 NFL] season.  Instead ofbuilding Cardinals Stadium in circles, one layer at a time like a layer cake,the stadium is being built in sections, somewhat likemaking a pie slice by slice” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC).

TheL.A. TIMES’ Shav Glick writes, “If the new owners of Champ Cars succeed inbreathing life into the seemingly moribundremnants of CART, they may view the defining moment as the decision by MichelJourdain Jr. to turn his back on a lucrative Indy Racing League offer andremain with Champ Cars” (L.A. TIMES).

TheIllinois DAILY HERALD’s Kent McDill writes, “Solidifying their position as apro sports phenomena, the Cubs announced they virtually are out of tickets forthe season.  Last year’s playoff run, anaggressive off-season of talent procurement and the everlasting hope of Cubsfans has created a seller’s market unlike any seen in baseball history. … TheCubs actually had to stop selling season tickets this spring because ofconcerns over having enough seats available for postseason games” (IllinoisDAILY HERALD).

• USA TODAY’s annual survey of MLB player salaries.
• Arte Moreno’s ownership model differs from that of other $100M payroll clubs.
• In addition to salaries, several star MLB players’ contracts include perks.
• Architecture critic Inga Saffron reviews Citizens Bank Park.

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

TODAY’S TEASER…

Sports& Entertainment: After starring in “The Bad News Bears” trilogy as Kelly Leak, actor JackieEarle Haley appeared in another sports-themed film in ’79.  Name it.

IN OTHER NEWS……

TheBOSTON HERALD reports that the N.Y. Times Co. said yesterday that its Q1 ‘04earnings fell 15% “as rising newsprint costs and other expenses offset advertising revenuegains in March.”  The company said netincome fell to $58.4M compared with $68.8M in the same period last year.  Total revenue for Q1 ’04 rose 2.3% to $802M(BOSTONHERALD, 4/13).

TheWASHINGTON POST reports that the SEC is preparing documents alleging that TimeWarner “booked more than $400[M] in questionable advertising revenue” followingthe company’s January ‘01 merger with AOL. The most prominent single item in the matter is a $400M deal with Germanmedia giant Bertelsmann AG.  The SECplans to “send a formal letter of notification to Time Warner by early summer”(WASHINGTONPOST, 4/13).

THE DAILY STAT: TOP SPORTS SITES FORWEEK ENDING MARCH 28

Thefollowing are the top five sports Web sites ranked according to home uniqueaudience for the week ending March 28, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Unique Audience = the number of persons in thousands accessing the site ornetwork, with each counted only once.  Average time spent = the averageamount of time a visitor has spent at that property for the week.  Thisdata is based on 37,000 home users with Internet access. Note: Traffic to theSportsLine.com does not include traffic to its network of sites, such as theNFL Internet Network and PGA Tour (Nielsen//NetRatings).

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Haley appeared in “Breaking Away,” as well asthe ’80 TV series by the same name.

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

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