| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Thursday, June 24, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | NBA Draft Tips Off Tonight At 7:00pm ET From Madison Square Garden |
| • | IOC Today Confirms Rumors That Michael Payne Will Resign To Take F1 Post |
| • | GE Announces Today That It Will Provide Energy Services For Athens Games |
| • | Giants LF Barry Bonds Today Re-Signs With Beverly Hills Sports Council |
| • | MassMutual Today Inks Sponsorship Deals With Mets And SS Kaz Matsui |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
NBA DRAFT TIPS OFF TONIGHT ON ESPN AT 7:00PM ET FROM MSG
The NBA Draft begins tonight at 7:00pm ET from the Theatre at Madison Square Garden. USA TODAY’s Rudy Martzke noted that ESPN will cover the event with 12 announcers - including Jim Gray at the draft rooms of both L.A. teams. Mike Tirico returns as host with analysts Jay Bilas and Tom Tolbert. Stephen A. Smith replaces Greg Anthony as the third analyst (USA TODAY, 6/23).
The following represents a five-year Nielsen ratings trend for NBA Draft coverage on ESPN and TNT. Also presented are the five markets that scored the highest local-market ratings for draft coverage in the past two years. In ’02, viewership in Houston did not rank in the top five even though the Rockets had the No. 1 pick. The high rating for Raleigh-Durham in '02 came for a draft that saw two Duke players – Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy – selected second and third, respectively (THE DAILY).
| NBA DRAFT RATINGS TREND: 1999-2003 |
| YEAR | DAY (DATE) | NETWORK | RAT/SHR | HHs |
| '03 | Thursday (6/26) | ESPN | 2.6/5 | 2,290,000 |
| '02 | Wednesday (6/26) | TNT | 2.1/4 | 1,787,000 |
| '01 | Wednesday (6/27) | TNT | 2.1/4 | 1,696,000 |
| '00 | Wednesday (6/28) | TNT | 2.2/4 | 1,747,000 |
| '99 | Wednesday (6/30) | TNT | 2.3/4 | 1,749,000 |
| space |
| TOP FIVE MARKET RATINGS |
| '03 RANK | MARKET (PICK NO.) | RAT | '02 RANK | MARKET (PICK NO.) | RAT |
| 1) | Detroit (2) | 5.9 | 1) | Memphis (4) | 5.8 |
| 2) | Milwaukee (8) | 4.8 | 2) | Washington, DC (11) | 5.4 |
| 3t) | Washington DC (10) | 4.6 | 3) | Chicago (2) | 4.3 |
| 3t) | Cleveland (1) | 4.6 | 4t) | Louisville (NA) | 4.2 |
| 5) | Louisville (NA) | 4.5 | 4t) | Raleigh-Durham (NA) | 4.2 |
| NOTE: Pick No. = For local market team's first-round selection. |
A record nine high-schoolers have entered the draft, and ESPN.com’s Andy Katz noted that a “record eight high school players are likely to go in the first round.” For the “third time in four seasons, the No. 1 pick could be a high school senior” (ESPN.com, 6/23). Reebok Senior Dir of Grassroots Basketball Sonny Vaccaro said, “This is the best class of high school basketball players since 1979” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/20). But In N.Y., Chris Broussard notes that this year’s draft “may be remembered more for its trades than for its selections” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/24).
NBA Commissioner David Stern, who is in favor of a 20-year-old age limit, said, “I don’t agree with the observation that shooting or play has gone down because of the youngsters – because the very good ones get to play and improve the game. The ones who aren’t that developed sit on the bench” (BusinessWeek.com, 6/24).
ESPN.com’s Darren Rovell noted that over the past six years, 25 foreign players, or 14.5% of those drafted overall, have been first-round selections. The Sonics and Mavericks have each drafted six foreign players since ’98, the most in the league, while only the Hornets have yet to draft a foreign player (ESPN.com, 6/22).
NBA partners Verizon Wireless and Nokia will keep fans updated with draft alerts on Verizon Wireless phones and video highlights on the Nokia 6600 video phone (NBA). The dairy industry’s “Got Milk” is activating its partnership with a satellite media tour with Heat G Dwyane Wade and ESPN’s Anthony (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/24).
With the Bobcats announcing their expansion selections Tuesday night, the team’s Web site logged a combined 1,649,637 page views Tuesday and Wednesday, easily topping the club’s single-month record of 1,197,399 in May. As of last night, BobcatsBasketball.com had logged 3,308,965 page views for the month of June, including 265,232 page views on Monday, when the team traded up to get the No. 2 pick in tonight’s NBA Draft (THE DAILY).
IOC CONFIRMS RUMORS, MICHAEL PAYNE TO STEP DOWN FOR F1 POST
The IOC today announced that Dir of Global Broadcast & Media Rights Michael Payne will step down from his post on August 31, following the conclusion of the Athens Olympics. Payne will join F1 as a special advisor to F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone (IOC).
IOC TOP SPONSOR GE TO PROVIDE ENERGY SERVICES IN ATHENS
IOC TOP sponsor GE today announced that its GE Energy rental business will provide the temporary and backup energy services for the Athens Olympics and Paralympics. As an official supplier, GE will supply the NBC broadcast of the Games, three Athens Olympic Broadcasting secondary compounds and 50% of the lighting power needs for 35 sports venues (GE).
BARRY BONDS RE-SIGNS WITH BEVERLY HILLS SPORTS COUNCIL
By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
Beverly Hills Sports Council has re-signed Giants LF Barry Bonds, a spokesman for the agency which represented him throughout most of the ‘90s confirmed. BHSC agent Jeff Borris will serve as Bonds’ primary agent. Bonds was represented by the agency from ’92-00, before signing with Scott Boras.
BHSC also has re-signed Astros P Octavio Dotel. Dotel left BHSC in ‘03 and was represented by Boras for less than a year, but has returned to his old agency. BHSC agents Dominic Torres and Danny Horwits will serve as Dotel’s primary agents.
MASSMUTUAL & MASSMUTUAL JAPAN INK METS AND KAZ MATSUI
As first reported in sister publication SportsBusiness Journal, MassMutual today announced a sponsorship deal with the Mets and SS Kaz Matsui, under which the company and its Japan-based arm become official financial services sponsors of the team and player. MassMutual and MassMutual Japan will be featured on rotating signage at Shea Stadium, with their names and logos appearing in both English and Japenese – the first English-Japanese ad ever at the ballpark. Additionally, Matsui will be featured in MassMutual Japan’s print campaign in Japan, as well as in its marketing materials and annual report (MassMutual).
TODD BERTUZZI CHARGED WITH ASSAULT FOR ON-ICE ATTACK
The CP reports that Canucks RW Todd Bertuzzi today was charged with assault causing bodily harm for his March 8 on-ice attack of Avalanche C Steve Moore. Bertuzzi was ordered to appear in provincial court July 9 (CP, 6/24). NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly released a statement that read in part, "We believe the league rendered an appropriate [punishment]. ... We, therefore, would have preferred that the Crown not take this action. Having said that, the Vancouver authorities have made their decision and we remain committed to offering our full cooperation in any way we can” (NHL).
ROGERS SPORTSNET SIGNS THREE-YEAR AHL BROADCAST EXTENSION
The AHL and Rogers Sportsnet today announced a three-year extension of their broadcast agreement, keeping the AHL on the net through the ’06-07 season. The net will televise a minimum of 12 regular-season games per season and the annual All-Star Classic. Sportsnet also has the option to carry games during the Calder Cup Playoffs (AHL). AHL CEO Dave Andrews did not reveal financial terms of the deal, but said that it “would be ‘significantly’ more if there is a lockout,” because the net would carry more games (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/21 issue).
BUZZER BEATERS
The NFL today announced a sponsorship agreement with Black & Decker, making the company the league’s official power tools and accessories partner in Canada (NFL).
The Predators today signed a three-year deal with US LEC, which will provide various telecommunications services and become the team’s official broadband partner (US LEC).
FanBuzz today announced deals with the Bulls and Wizards to manage all aspects of the teams' online stores, including development, back-end fulfillment and customer care (FanBuzz).
DIGITAL MEDIA EUROPE reports that Swedish mobile operator Telia free of charge to its mobile customers “will offer live broadcasts of SVT, the Swedish public service television company,” from the Athens Games (DMEUROPE.com, 6/24).
The Portland OREGONIAN reports that the NCAA is placing the Univ. of Oregon on probation for two years for assistant football coach Gary Campbell’s “attempt to sign a junior-college player after the January 2003 signing period had ended” (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/24).
Actor Denzel Washington will present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to Liberian soccer star and UNICEF ambassador George Weah at the ‘04 ESPY Awards (ESPN).
ATTENDANCE WATCH: · The ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE reports that a crowd of 14,426 attended last night’s exhibition between DC United and the A-League Rochester Rhinos at Frontier Field in Rochester, where United F Freddy Adu scored a goal. The crowd was the third largest in stadium history (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 6/24).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
Select Blue Jays players will host the first Canadian screening of “Spider-Man 2” for 300 children at Toronto’s Famous Players Paramount Theater at 7:00pm ET.
The 2nd Annual Slumber Party at SBC Park begins after the 4:05pm PT Dodgers-Giants game. Participants will receive a Slumber Party duffle bag with a Giants toothbrush, water bottle, t-shirt and coupon for an official photo on the field. The team will air “Sandlot” and “Little Big League” during the event.
CHANNEL SURFING
Reebok Senior Dir of Grassroots Basketball Sonny Vaccaro will appear on FSN’s “I, Max” at 6:00pm local time.
ESPN2 will air the NCAA World Series: Cal State Fullerton-South Carolina at 7:00pm ET.
ESPN Classic’s “SportsCentury” will profile Sandy Koufax at 8:00pm ET.
Mavericks G Jerry Stackhouse, Marlins LF Jeff Conine, FSN’s Max Kellerman and actor Don Stark are scheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”
Tennis player James Blake and actors Jon Favreau, Andy Richter, Tom Everett Scott and Maura Tierney will appear on Bravo’s “Celebrity Poker Showdown” at 9:00pm ET.
Former MLBer Steve Garvey will appear on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 12:05am ET.
E!’s “True Hollywood Story” will profile Elizabeth Hurley at 8:00pm ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “The Late Show” | Shawn Wayans |
| “The Tonight Show” | Will Ferrell |
| “The Late Late Show” | Vince Vaughn |
| “Late Night” | Marlon Wayans |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Steve Garvey |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
The RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH’s Nate Ryan writes David Letterman "provides means for attracting attention, but his eight-year involvement” with the IRL’s Rahal-Letterman Racing “isn’t a celebrity stunt. … After relocating to New York and becoming the merry prankster of late night, his affair with Indy didn’t fade. He regularly invited Indy 500 winners onto his set, which is how he met Rahal in 1986. Their racing partnership began in 1996 and has yielded 13 victories and 15 poles. The team’s crowning achievement has resulted in an extra boost for the IRL through Letterman’s support of the sport” (RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH, 6/24).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Sports Business: Sports Illustrated released its list of the "101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports" this week. Can you identify the person who failed to make SI's rankings last year, but then managed to find his name among the top-15 of this year's list?
IN OTHER NEWS……
The TV coverage of
Ronald Reagan’s one-hour funeral service at the National Cathedral on June 10 was directed by former ABC Sports producer
Criag Janoff. Most kown for his work on "MNF," Janoff's feed went to five news channels - NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox (
NY OBSERVER, 6/28 issue).
THE DAILY STAT: BILLBOARD CHARTS
The following lists Billboard Magazine’s top-selling CDs for the week ending June 20 (BILLBOARD.com, 6/24).
| RK | ALBUM | ARTIST | LABEL |
| 1) | To The 5 Boroughs | Beastie Boys | Brooklyn Dust |
| 2) | Confessions | Usher | LaFace |
| 3) | Contraband | Velvet Revolver | RCA |
| 4) | Here For The Party | Gretchen Wilson | Epic |
| 5) | Under My Skin | Avril Lavigne | Arista/RCA |
| 6) | Musicology | Prince | NPG/Columbia |
| 7) | The Reason | Hoobastank | Island |
| 8) | D12 World | D12 | Shady |
| 9) | Los Lonely Boys | Los Lonely Boys | Or/Epic |
| 10) | A New Day … Live In Las Vegas | Celine Dion | Epic |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
Giants LF Barry Bonds, who checks in at No. 14.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
The Closing Bell provides an afternoon recap of the latest news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 4:00pm ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Closing Bell, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
