Closing Bell, June 25, 2004

RATTLERS, SABERCATS TO PLAY FOR ARENABOWL XVIII TITLE

The AFL Arizona Rattlers will host the San JoseSaberCats in ArenaBowl XVIII Sunday at 4:00pm ET at America West Arena. NBC will broadcast the game live, and eightplayers and coaches will wear wireless microphones during the game allowingannouncers to question them. Last year’sArenaBowl on NBC earned a 1.3/3 final Nielsen rating (THE DAILY).

In Ft.Worth, David Thomas writes, “That’s part of the access the [AFL] offersviewers. If there were such a thing as scratch-and-sniff television, the AFLand NBC would bring it to you for Sunday’s big game” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/25).

In Dayton,Marc Katz writes, “Arenas may be sold out if the athletes are accessible ornot. What’s needed are more televisionviewers … an indoor football game between Arizonaand San Jose isn’t going to bring them” (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 6/25).

During the “American Glory” pregame show, U.S. Army veterans will escort eight starters from the Rattlers onto the field through a U.S. Army inflatable helmet. All fans in attendance will receive a U.S. Army rally towel, and the Army will utilize multiple displays throughout the concourse during the game (AFL).

NHL DRAFT BEGINS SATURDAY AT THE RBC CENTER IN RALEIGH

The NHL Draft begins Saturday at noon ET at the RBC Center in Raleigh with ESPN2 airing live coverage from noon-3:00pm ET. In Pittsburgh, Dave Molinari wrote, “Many team officials across North America apparently plan to approach this summer pretty much the way they would any other” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/20).

Professional Hockey Writers’ Association President Kevin Allen said, “There’s a cloud of uncertainty hovering over things, no doubt about it. Everyone realizes this is a different draft. The reason is everybody knows this world is going to change.” But Coyotes GM Mike Barnett said that he hasn’t noticed the “cloud of uncertainty” and that he spent “most of Thursday afternoon on the phone with other GMs laying the foundations for trade talks” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/25).

Kevin Allen writes, “The big-name trade, long astaple of NHL draft weekend, is expected to be absent this weekend because ofthe uncertainty surrounding the [CBA]” (USA TODAY, 6/25).

In Toronto,William Houston writes, “The [NHL] entry draft is not overburdened withstories. In face, there’s only one ofany significance – the destination of top-ranked player, Alexander Ovechkin”(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/25).

RBC CenterGM Dave Olsen “hopes about 15,000 people will turn out” for the first day of the draft. The Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the event will bring $3.6M to the city (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/25).

IPG CFO CHRISTOPHER COUGHLIN TO RETIRE AT END OF YEAR

Interpublic Group of Cos. announced today that CFO Christopher Coughlin will retire at the end of the year. Coughlin was hired as CFO in July ’03 to oversee the company’s multiyear turnaround strategy. IPG also will split the Chair and CEO roles, naming MONY Group CEO Michael Roth Chair. David Bell remains President & CEO (REUTERS, 6/25).

NBC SET TO BROADCAST U.S. OLYMPIC GYMNASTIC TRIALS

NBC will broadcast the finals of the U.S. Olympic gymnastic trials Saturday from 8:00-10:00pm ET and Sunday from 7:00-9:00pm at Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, and MEDIA LIFE notes that NBC will likely “play up the drama factor, just as it always does with gymnastics.” Viewership for the first three nights of gymnastics in Sydney in ’00 were 32% lower than the ’96 Olympics and “never really recovered, with the U.S. failing to medal in the team competition” (MEDIALIFE.com, 6/25).

ONLINE WAGERING CO. YOUBET.COM JOINS NTRA AS SPECIAL MEMBER

NTRA announced today that Youbet.com has joined the organization as a special member, giving the online wagering company access to the use of NTRA advertising and logos, participation in NTRA consumer promotions and fan education on NTRA.com, among other things. Additionally, Youbet will work with the NTRA on various legislative and regulatory programs in state and federal jurisdictions (NTRA).

ABC AUDITIONING COREY PAVIN FOR GOLF ANALYST ROLE

Corey Pavin will audition to replace Curtis Strange on ABC’s golf broadcasts during the net’s coverage of this weekend’s PGA Tour Booz Allen Classic. Paul Azinger will audition at a later date. A source added that the net “also approached Butch Harmon about the job, but the instructor – an analyst for Sky Sports in the U.K. – declined, citing the potential impact on his relationship with players” (GOLF WORLD, 6/25 issue).

BUZZER BEATERS

HBO today announced that itwill debut the documentary “Half Staff: The 2001 World Series” September 14 at10:00pm. The presentation includes interviewswith then-N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, President Bush, Yankees manager Joe Torre, D’Backs manager Bob Brenly and select players involvedin the D’Backs-Yankees series (HBO).

NATO has given the “greenlight to reinforce security for the Athens Olympic Games through a range ofmeans including surveillance aircraft” (ABCRadio Australia,6/25).

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that the MLS Fire’s plans to break ground on a soccer-specific stadium this fall “appear to be on track.” Fire GM Peter Wilt: “Right now we're going through the site acquisition process. Parallel to that, we're working on the actual stadium designs and the planning for the areas around the stadium” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/25).

Following the release ofAustralian magazine Black + White’s issue featuring WNBA Storm C Lauren Jackson posing nude, Jackson setthe all-time WNBA record for weekly visits to a player page on WNBA.com – registeringmore than 90,000 during the week of June 14 (WNBA).

YONHAP NEWS reported that Nike has signed a five-year endorsement deal with Japan’s Pacific League Giants baseball player Lee Seung-yeop (YONHAP NEWS, 6/24).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

TheDodgers begin their 18^th annual Think Blue Week with their 7:10pm PTgame against the Angels, and continue the festivities through Wednesday’s gameagainst the Giants. As part of thepromotion, participants can win a pitching workout with P Jose Lima, a batting practice session with hitting coach Manny Mota, or a variety of otherinteractive prizes.

UnitedInt’l Pictures’ and Universal Home Video’s “Pele Eterno,” a docudrama aboutsoccer legend Pele,hits Brazilian cinemas, and DAILYVARIETY reported that Universal Home Video Brazil “expects the pic to break VHSand DVD sales records, estimating sales of 500,000 copies domestically” (DAILYVARIETY, 6/3)

Saturday

Sierra Mist will debut a series of 30-second spots,“The Sierra Mist Rookie Album,” featuring DC United F Freddy Aduon ESPN2’s coverage of MLSBurn-DC United and on the Sierra Mist Web site.

Churchill Downs will host Construction WorkerAppreciation Day during day-two of the track’s Brew & BBQ Festival. Those who worked on the track’s renovationproject, contractors and their families will be provided free admission and arace will be named in their honor.

The Canadian Baseball HOF& Museum will induct its ’04 class at the Lind Sportsplex in St. Marys, Ontario,where former MLB President Paul Beestonwill be a presenter.

USA Football concludes“Huddle 2004: The National Conference on Youth & Amateur Football” at theCincinnati Marriott in Covington, KY.

Sunday

DC United F Freddy Adu will host a soccer clinic at RFK Stadium, where he may award $100,000 to a contest winner who kicks a soccer ball through a challenge target. Proceeds will benefit America SCORES, which promotes physical and community service.

CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

USANetwork will air second-round coverage of the PGA Tour Booz Allen Classic at 4:00pm ET.

Magic Senior VP PatWilliams will appear on FSN’s “I, Max” at 6:00pm local time.

NFLCommissioner Paul Tagliabue willappear on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” at 7:00pm ET.

NBA TVwill air WNBA Sparks-Fever at 8:00pmET.

Bobcats F/C Emeka Okafor,Buccaneers DE Simeon Rice, musician Gene Simmons and designer Cary Mitchellarescheduled to appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

The Discovery Channel will document a recent trip toSanta Anita Park by a group of Las Vegas-area horseplayers on “American Casino”at 8:00pm ET.

Saturday

ESPN2will air early-round coverage of Wimbledon from 8:00am-noon ET, with ESPN continuingcoverage from noon-3:00pm.

ESPN2will air coverage of the NHL Draftat noon ET.

Fox willair MLB regional interleague coverage: Mets-Yankees(54%) or Phillies-Red Sox (14%)at 1:00pm ET; or Angels-Dodgers (19%)or Astros-Rangers (11%) at 4:00pmET.

ABC willair “PGA Tour: Young Lions” at2:00pm ET.

ABC willair third-round coverage of the BoozAllen Classic at 3:00pm ET.

NBCwill air early-round coverage of Wimbledon at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air second-round coverage of the WegmansRochester LPGA at 3:00pm ET.

LightningC Brad Richards and LW Chris Dingman will appear on VH1’s “Top20 Video Countdown” at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air MLS United-Burn at 4:00pmET.

ESPNwill air the NCAA World Series: Texas-CaliforniaState-Fullerton at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air IRL SunTrust Indy Challengeat 7:30pm ET.

NBC willair the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trialsat 8:00pm ET.

OLN willair the PBR Bullnanza-Nashville at8:00pm ET.

FX will air the NASCAR Busch Series Alan Kulwicki 250 at 8:30pm ET.

NBATV will air WNBA Silver Stars-Mercury at10:00pm ET.

HDNetwill air MLS Wizards-Earthquakes at10:00pm ET.

Sunday

NBCwill air early-round coverage of Wimbledon at 1:00pm ET.

CBSwill air the American Le Mans Series at2:00pm ET.

ABC willair final-round coverage of the Booz AllenClassic at 3:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air the NCAA World Series: Texas-CalState-Fullerton at 3:00pm ET.

Foxwill air the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Dodge/SaveMart 350 at 3:30pm ET.

NBCwill air Arena Bowl XVIII: SaberCats-Rattlersat 4:00pm ET.

ESPN2 willair final-round coverage of the WegmansRochester LPGA at 4:00pm ET.

NBATV will air WNBA Sun-Shock at 6:00pmET.

NBC willair the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trialsat 7:00pm ET.

ESPNwill air Mets-Yankees at 8:00pm ET.

FSN’s“Beyond the Glory” will profile NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth at 8:00pm local time.

HDNetwill air the NASCAR Grand National BushNorth Series 150 at 8:30pm ET.

OLN will air the PBR Bullnanza-Nashville at 9:00pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Through Wednesday’s episode of “Jeopardy!,” Ken Jennings had set the record for earnings on the show with a total of $512,959 for 16 successful episodes. Who held the previous “Jeopardy!” earnings record, and how much was it?

THE DAILY STAT: “SPIDER-MAN” COSTS AND REVENUES

WithSony’s “Spider-Man 2” hitting theatres nationwide next Wednesday, the WALLSTREET JOURNAL notes that the franchise “has quickly risen to the ranks of Hollywood’s most valuableassets, spawning everything from video games to skateboards. The first movie garnered $820[M] at the boxoffice alone, including the single biggest opening weekend ever.” The following offers how the first“Spider-Man” fared (WALLSTREET JOURNAL, 6/25). The homevideo revenue figure is gross revenue from VHS and DVDs shipped to stores fromNovember ’02-January ’03.

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “FAHRENHEIT 9/11” & “WHITE CHICKS”

Michael Moore’s documentary, “Fahrenheit9/11,” examines hatred and terrorism towards the U.S., and depicts alleged dealings between two generations of the Bush and bin Laden clans that led to PresidentBush and Osama bin Ladenbecoming mortal enemies. Shawn and Marlon Wayans star in “White Chicks,” a comedy about a pair ofblack FBI agents who go undercover as white hotel heiresses to catch a criminal.

…TODAY’S ANSWER

DC’s Tom Walsh set the previous “Jeopardy” record by raking in $184,900 in seven shows in January.

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