| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
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| • | CNBC Tonight To Debut John McEnroe’s Nightly Talk Show At 10:00pm ET |
| • | OLN Today Signs Saturn As Presenting Sponsor For This Year’s Gravity Games |
| • | ISC Cites One-Time Charges For More Than 50% Decrease In Q2 Earnings |
| • | Comcast Inks Primary Sponsorship Deal For Jeff Burton’s Roush Racing Ford |
| • | Survey Designates Wrigley Field As Favorite Ballpark Of MLB Players |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
CNBC SET TO BEGIN “MCENROE” ERA TONIGHT AT 10:00PM ET
CNBC debuts “McEnroe,” a talkshow hosted by John McEnroe, tonight at 10:00pm ET. McEnroe will bejoined by co-host John Fugelsang of VH1 fame. Actor Will Ferrelland Sting will be the guests on tonight’s episode.
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reportedthat McEnroe “envisions his show as a hybrid of Letterman (one of hisheroes), Chris Matthews’ ‘Hardball’ and [Bill] Mahergarnished with a little Jon Stewart wackiness” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 7/5).
NBC President Jeff Zucker:“This show is going to live and die on John’s ability to be true to himself, toexpress his opinions and to poke fun at himself” (N.Y.TIMES, 7/4).
McEnroe: “It’s still CNBC, soI’ll definitely be covering politics. But my three loves are sports, art andmusic. If I have my way, I’ll have at least one athlete and a musical segmenton every show” (SI, 7/5 issue).
More McEnroe: "I'm alittle bit controversial, a little bit unpredictable, but in a good way. Theonly chance for success is to be myself" ("Today," NBC, 7/7).
CNBC VP/Primetime ProgrammingBob Meyers: “We are just trying to be different. People look at us likewe are crazy. Having the same old thing in terms of news and information isn'tsomething that appealed to me” (DAILYVARIETY, 7/1).
The AP reported that CNBCdoes not “have much to lose in McEnroe’s time slot: The current businessprogram is averaging 189,000 viewers this year” (AP, 7/5).
In Toronto, Andrew Ryanwrites, “This new talk show has all the signs of a train wreck. McEnroe is verygood on tennis broadcasts because he knows the game. But interviewingsupermodels and big-name Hollywood phonies? Come now. That's for professionals”(TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 7/7).
OLN SIGNSSATURN AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF GRAVITY GAMES
OLN today announced Saturn asthe presenting sponsor of the ’04 Gravity Games, which will be held September15-19 in Cleveland. Saturn receives event signage, TV commercials and theSaturn Mobile events tour, and Saturn vehicles will be used for localtransportation of athletes, VIPs and staff. Saturn also is title sponsoringOLN’s “Gravity Files” program, which began profiling action sports athletes onMonday (OLN).
ISC CITESONE-TIME CHARGES FOR MORE THAN 50% EARNINGS DROP
ISC today reported Q2 ’04earnings, and REUTERS reports that the company’s net earnings “fell more than50[%] as one-time charges [related to the closing off Nazareth Speedway] offsethigher broadcast and attendance revenue.” ISC earned $6.1M in the quarter,down from $12.5M in the same period a year earlier. Revenue rose 11% to$132.7M, while attendance revenue rose 6% to $46.2M (REUTERS,7/7). As of presstime, ISC shares were trading at $49.80, up 1.3% (THEDAILY).
ADIDAS EXPANDS PARTNERSHIPWITH UNIV. OF SAN DIEGO FOR ALL SPORTS
adidas America and the Univ. of San Diego today expanded and extended their multiyear partnership toinclude all 16 of the school’s varsity sports. While only football wasincluded in the previous deal, adidas will outfit all the school’s programshead-to-toe with footwear, apparel and accessories (adidas).
COMCAST THE LATEST PRIMARY SPONSOR FOR JEFF BURTON’S CAR
Roush Racing today announcedthat Comcast will serve as the primary sponsor for the company’s No. 99 Forddriven by Jeff Burton at the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Tropicana 400. Without a season-long primary sponsor, Roush Racing has inked one-race dealswith TNT, Hot Wheels, Pennzoil, Team Caliber Racing, Duke Children’s Hospitaland Coca-Cola, as well as a two-race deal with SKF and a four-race deal withScotts’ Roundup FastAct for Burton’s car. NASCAR has rejected an attemptedprimary sponsorship of the car by Diageo’s Crown Royal brand (THE DAILY).
PONY UNVEILSHALL OF FAME TEAM TO PROMOTE ’05 APPAREL LINE
Pony today unveiled the “PonyHall of Fame,” which is comprised of former athletes such as Darryl Dawkins,Bob McAdoo and Spud Webb, among others who previously wore thebrand. The personalities will promote the brand’s Spring/Summer ’05 line atvarious appearances through ’05, as well as in promotional and ad campaigns andspeaking engagements (Pony).
NEW YORK COURT RULING POSES PROBLEMS FOR TRACKVLTs
BLOODHORSE.com reports thatthe New York Supreme Court’s Appellate Division today in a 5-0 decision ruledthat the revenue-sharing agreement for racetrack video lottery gambling isunconstitutional. The law “gives a portion of revenue from VLTs to purses andbreeding funds. But the court, in declaring VLTs to be considered a form ofstate lottery gambling, said revenue from such devices can only go to the statefor public school funding.” The decision “could pose new risks for MGM Mirage,the Las Vegas company NYRA tapped to run its VLT parlor at Aqueduct” (BLOODHORSE.com, 7/7).
BUZZER BEATERS
Sporting News this weekfeatures Steve Yzerman on the cover, with the header “How’s That Feel?In their own words, the select few who have been there, done that tell you whatit’s like.”
Sports Illustrated this weekfeatures Maria Sharapova on the cover, with the header “Star Power:Maria Sharapova Takes Wimbledon At 17.”
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| Sporting News | Sports Illustrated |
The Coyotes today hired IRLVP/Sales & Business Development Michael Bucek as the club's newSenior VP & CMO. Bucek will oversee marketing, broadcasting,branding, community relations, fan development, licensing, advertising andpromotions (Coyotes).
SI today launched ScorecardDaily on its Web site. The new feature will be updated Monday-Friday withoriginal content similar to the magazine’s Scorecard section (SI).
The London TELEGRAPH notesthat Toyota has inked a three-year deal with F1 driver Ralf Schumacherto drive for the car manufacturer’s team beginning with the ’05 season (LondonTELEGRAPH, 7/7).
PLB Sports’ & PrioritySports’ Jake’s Flakes Cereal, featuring Panthers QB Jake Delhomme, hitretail today at Bi-Lo stores throughout North and South Carolina. One sidepanel of the box is devoted to providing information on the Special Olympics (PLBSports).
Nuggets spokesperson EricSebastian said that the team has not received any negative feedback fromfans following reports that Nuggets Owner Stan Kroenke and GM KikiVandeweghe traveled to free agent G Kobe Bryant’s residence to courthim (DENVERPOST, 7/7).
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNEnotes that the San Diego Port Commission yesterday voted 6-1 to “reaffirm itscommitment to maritime cargo trade” at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal and to“cease any discussion of it being used for a football stadium or othernon-maritime use” (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/7).
CHANNELSURFING
Rangers manager BuckShowalter will appear on the “Hot Seat” during ESPN’s “SportsCenter” at6:00pm ET.
ESPN will air A’s-Red Soxat 7:00pm ET.
Heat F Lamar Odom,Hornets coach Byron Scott, D'Backs LF Luis Gonzalez and actors JeffGarlin and Michael Rapaport are scheduled to appear on FSN’s“BDSSP.”
Former Olympian JanetEvans will appear on CNBC’s “Dennis Miller” at 9:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air Astros-Padresat 10:00pm ET.
HDNet will air MLS Burn-Earthquakesat 10:30pm ET.
NBA TV will air WNBA Mercury-Sparksat 10:30pm ET.
NESN relaunches “The BostonGlobe: Sportsplus” at 11:00pm ET.
A&E’s “Biography” willprofile Larry Hagman at 8:00pm ET.
ESPN’s “OTL Nightly” willexamine Maria Sharapova at midnight ET.
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headlineguests on the following talk shows:
| “The Late Show” | Bette Midler (r) |
| “The Tonight Show” | Will Smith |
| “The Late Late Show” | Avril Lavigne (r) |
| “Late Night” | Christina Applegate |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Clay Aiken (r) |
TODAY’SARTICLES OF INTEREST
Greek Prime Minister KostasKaramanlis writes in the London TELEGRAPH, “Organizing a successful andsafe Olympic Games in Athens has been a goal that united all Greeks. In orderto fully stand up to the demandingorganizational standards and our own aspiring vision for the Games, we havebeen working hard, taking good care that all necessary provisions are well met.By putting myself at the top of the Olympic preparations, I intended to send aclear message, on behalf of the Greek government, that in spite of overblownand unjust criticisms, everything will be prepared on time” (LondonTELEGRAPH).
The WASHINGTON POST’s AndrewBeyer writes, “The legalization of slot machines in Pennsylvania is a momentousevent for the horse racing industry, one that will change the face of thesport on the East Coast and produce reverberations throughout the country.” The bill “virtually ensures that Pennsylvania will become a major racing state,and that Philadelphia Park will become a colossus. Its ascension will almostsurely be accompanied by a corresponding decline of the tracks in neighboring Maryland” (WASHINGTON POST).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
Mindbenders: Move one shortline to make this statement correct:
5 + 5 + 1 = 546
THE DAILY STAT: MLB PLAYERS’ FAVORITE BALLPARKS
MLB.com conducted a survey of90 MLB players – three from each team – asking them to reveal their favoriteballpark to play in. The following are the results (MLB.com,6/29):
| RK | BALLPARK | VOTES | RK | BALLPARK | VOTES |
| 1) | Wrigley Field | 16 | 9) | Kauffman Stadium | 3 |
| 2) | Safeco Field | 13 | 9) | Fenway Park | 3 |
| 3) | Yankee Stadium | 10 | 9) | Bank One Ballpark | 3 |
| 4) | PNC Park | 7 | 14) | SBC Park | 2 |
| 5) | Dodger Stadium | 5 | 14) | Angels Field | 2 |
| 5) | Busch Stadium | 5 | 14) | Minute Maid Park | 2 |
| 7) | Jacobs Field | 4 | 14) | Miller Park | 2 |
| 8) | Shea Stadium | 3 | 14) | Camden Yards | 2 |
| 9) | Coors Field | 3 | 19) | Pro Player Stadium | 1 |
| 9) | Citizens Bank Park | 3 | 19) | Qualcomm Stadium | 1 |
The following ballparks didnot receive any votes: Tropicana Field, SkyDome, Turner Field, Olympic Stadium, Comerica Park, Metrodome, U.S. Cellular Field, Great American Ball Park, McAfee Coliseum, Ameriquest Field in Arlington and Petco Park.
…TODAY’SANSWER
Bymoving the cross portion of the “+” in between the second “5” and the “1” to afraction mark in the answer, you get the following correct statement:
5 + 5 - 1 = 54/6
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions,please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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