Closing Bell, April 14, 2004

CHIEFS, GIANTS AND JETS POST ’04 SCHEDULES BEFORE ANNOUNCEMENT

Whilethe release of the ’04 NFL regular-season schedule was supposed to be embargoeduntil 5:00pm ET today, when NFL Network will broadcast the announcement, threeteams – the Chiefs, Giants and Jets – posted their respective schedules ontheir Web sites earlier this afternoon. Today’s N.Y. Daily News published the Giants’ and Jets’ schedules, and Giants VP/Communications Pat Hanlon told The Daily it was the team’s intention not topost the schedule until after 5:00.  Hanlon said, “Once we confirmed that [the N.Y. Daily News] report wasaccurate, it made absolutely no sense not to put it up.”  Hanlon also said the schedule was discussed onseveral N.Y. radio stations today.

AChiefs spokesperson told The Daily that the N.Y. Daily News’ publishingof the Giants’ and Jets’ schedules created some confusion as to when theschedules were supposed to be posted.

Meanwhile,in addition to NFL Network, Sirius Satellite Radio, a new NFL partner, willalso broadcast the announcement of the schedule at 5:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

ADMINISTAFF TO TITLE SPONSOR HOUSTON CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT

Houston-basedAdministaff today announced that it has signed a three-year deal to titlesponsor the Champions Tour event at Augusta Pines Golf Club in Houston.  The event, which will be held October 4-10,will now be called the Administaff Small Business Classic.  The Golf Channel will air the tournament,which features a purse of $1.6M.  FormerPresident George Bush will serve as Honorary Chair this year (Administaff).

HARDEE’S TO BREAK NEW TV SPOT TODAY FEATURING BIG MAC

St.Louis-based Hardee’s today will break a new regional TV spot featuring formerMLBer Mark McGwire, whose nickname is Big Mac.  The 30-second spot, via Mendelsohn | Zien Advertising, L.A.,mentions that despite McGwire’s nickname, his favorite hamburger is theHardee’s Thickburger.  In addition tothe TV spot, Hardee’s is sponsoring a McGwire ball giveaway Saturday at BuschStadium (Hardee’s).

DAKTRONICS TO PROVIDE SCOREBOARD FOR NFL CARDINALS’ STADIUM

SouthDakota-based Daktronics today announced that the Arizona Tourism & SportsAuthority has chosen it to provide an integrated scoring, video and informationdisplay system for the NFL Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale.  The value of the project is estimated at$5.1M.  The system will feature twoend-zone scoreboards, fascia displays, play clocks, delay of game clocks,locker room clocks, ticket window displays and control system components (Daktronics).

U.S. ARMY TO ANNOUNCE DEALS TOMORROW WITH PBR AND PRCA

The U.S. Army tomorrow willannounce a partnership with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) and ProfessionalRodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).  Bothorganizations will name the Army as their exclusive military partner, and themilitary branch will be the official pre-event pageantry provider and will begiven authorization for recruiting booths at various PRCA and PBR events.  The Army will also have a branding presenceat events and across all PRCA and PBR properties, including both Web sites (U.S.Army).

DAVID STERN ON “HOT SEAT” DURING 6:00pm ET “SPORTSCENTER”

NBACommissioner David Stern will be onthe “Budweiser Hot Seat” duringtonight’s 6:00pm ET “SportsCenter” on ESPN. The following is an excerpt from his conversation with Dan Patrick:

Patrick: “I thought it was wrongfor MLB to have the Yankees start the regular season in Japan.”  Stern: (interrupting) “Can I ask youa question?  Why are you so easilyoffended?”  Patrick: “I’mnot.”  Stern: “What’s the bigdeal then?”  Patrick: “What am Ioffended at?”  Stern: “You’reoffended because Major League Baseball had the good sense to take this enormousstar (Hideki Matsui) and in a sort of transcendental act of friendshiphave its team play in Japan” (ESPN).

BUZZER BEATERS

SportingNews this week offers its NFL Draft preview, and features Pitt WR LarryFitzgerald, Ole Miss QB Eli Manning and Iowa T Robert Galleryon the cover.

ESPNThe Magazine this week also offers its NFL Draft preview, featuring Fitzgeraldon the cover, with the header, “Forget 40s and Reps … Larry Fitzgerald CanFlat-Out Play.”

SportsIllustrated this week features Phil Mickelson on the cover, with theheader, “Masterstroke … Mickelson Wins His First Major.”

Sporting News	ESPN Magazine

Sports Illustrated

ATHOCExec Dir Marton Simitsek announced that the organizing committee hasachieved 75% of its ticket-sales target, 1.8 million tickets sold (Mult.,4/14).

TheSausalito Challenge, which begins sailing trials for America’s Cup this year,yesterday placed its exclusive sponsorship and marketing rights package oneBay with a “Buy It Now” price of $35M. The first bid came in early this morning at $18M, but has since beentrumped by a bid of $18,500,100 (THE DAILY).

TheAP reports that the French Open will “offer more prize money than last year,but women will still take home less than men.”  The event will distributeapproximately $16M in prize money, with the men’s champion taking home $1.02M,while the women’s champion will receive $998,000 (AP, 4/14).

TheSalesmanship Club of Dallas today announced that American Airlines has extendedits sponsorship of the PGA Tour EDS Byron Nelson Championship, under which itremains the official airline of the championship (Salesmanship Club ofDallas).

Speedotoday announced that three-time volleyball Olympic Gold Medalist KarchKiraly has renewed his endorsement deal with the company through ’05.  Kiraly, who will provide commentary duringNBC’s Olympic coverage, is the company’s longest-standing endorser.  He first signed with the company in ’92 (Speedo).

TheAHL today announced a three-year extension with New Hampshire-based AMIGrafx,the official supplier of dasherboard graphics and arena signage (AHL).

TheORLANDO SENTINEL reports that the Indians have “broken off negotiations withthe city of Winter Haven to build a new spring-training home” (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 4/14).

TheST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that today’s continuation of the Twins andVikings stadium debate at the Minnesota legislature “has been postponed due tothe death in the family of Sen. Jim Vickerman” (ST. PAUL PIONEERPRESS, 4/14).

TheAP reports that the family of Brittanie Cecil, the 13-year-old girl whodied in March ’02 after being struck by a hockey puck at a Blue Jackets game,“got $1.2[M] in a settlement with the [NHL] and other groups, according to acopy of the agreement made public [today] under an appeals court order” (AP,4/14).

TheVitalis Sun Bowl today unveiled its new logo (Vitalis Sun Bowl).

TheNTRA today announced that the 34^th annual Eclipse Awards will beheld January 24, 2005, at the Regent Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills (NTRA).

TONIGHT’S EVENTS

Thefirst of nine Blue Jays games not included in their regular TV package will airon Rogers’ digital package at a cost of $5.95 per game (TORONTO STAR, 4/9).

ThePhillies will host the first night game at Citizens Bank Park against the Redsat 7:05pm ET.  Of note, the same clubsplayed in the first MLB night game May 24, 1935, at Crosley Field in Cincinnati(Phillies).

TheSAN ANTONIO BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that Basketball HOFers George Gervin,Bill Russell, Julius Erving, Clyde Drexler and MosesMalone will be among those scheduled to “jet into San Antonio [today] in aspecially painted Southwest Airlines plane on the initial stop of the 2004 NBALegends Tour: Destination Finals” (BIZJOURNALS.com,4/14).

CHANNEL SURFING

NBACommissioner David Stern will be onthe “Budweiser Hot Seat” duringESPN’s “SportsCenter” at 6:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air the NHL playoffs: Flyers-Devilsat 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air the NHL playoffs: Avalanche-Starsat 7:30pm ET.

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

PBSwill air the documentary “Small Ball: ALittle League Story” at 8:00pm ET.

Pro Football HOFer Eric Dickerson, BasketballHOFer Cheryl Miller, NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth, Oregon State RB StevenJackson, former Reds GM Jim Bowden, Miss USA Shandi Finnesseyand actors Laura Harring and Cedric The Entertainer are scheduledto appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

Broncos G Dan Neil will appear on CNBC’s “DennisMiller” at 9:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air Mavericks-Rockets at 9:30pmET

ESPN2will air Dodgers-Padres at 10:00pmET.

A&E’s “Biography” will profile Chris Farley at 8:00pm ET.

HEADLINERS

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

TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The PORTLAND TRIBUNE’s KerryEggers writes, “The ‘Jail Blazers’ are no more.  Gone are RasheedWallace, Bonzi Wells and Jeff McInnis.  In their place are Theo Ratliff, Shareef Abdur-Rahim and DariusMiles.  Portland’s reputation as a first-classorganization is slowly returning, as is its standing in the community.  Some of the fans are coming back.  The Rose Garden … again is a spirited placefor its denizens” (PortlandTRIBUNE).

Conover-TuttleAdvertising co-Owner Chip Tuttle, an NTRA consultant, writes inBLOODHORSE, “Even with the loss of a few year-round Turf writers, mainstreammedia coverageof racing is up substantially over the last three years.  (Trust me on this, no one watches it moreclosely.)  Some of it is for fortunatereasons (Funny Cide, Seabiscuit) and some for less fortunate (attempted fraudof the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Ultra Pick 6, the death of Bill Shoemaker,Seattle Slew, et al.)” (BLOODHORSE.com).

TheCleveland PLAIN DEALER’s Bill Livingston writes of outgoing Browns President& CEO Carmen Policy, “Although not as bad as his worst critics say,Policy has to be on the shortlist of the top Cleveland sports disappointments in recent years.  It was implied that he would make the Brownsthe 49ers East, which means Super Bowls. Or, at least, Super Bowl.  Hedidn’t come close.  One bottom-seededplayoff loss on the road was all that resulted from his five years” (ClevelandPLAIN DEALER).

• DC Mayor Anthony Williams’ ballparkplan ups the ante for the district.
• One columnist comparesFreddy Adu and David Beckham phenomena.
• Maryland personal-injurylaw firm advertising with NASCAR.
• MLB team owners have notacted to stop the use of steroids