Closing Bell, August 13, 2004

NBC KICKS OFF ATHENS COVERAGE WITH OPENING CEREMONY

NBC formally kicks off its 1,210 hours of ’04 Olympics coverage tonight with an 8:00pm ET tape-delayed broadcast of the Opening Ceremony from the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Bob Costas and Katie Couric will co-host the net’s coverage, as a record 202 nations participate in the Parade of Nations before the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

The following presents average ratings and shares for coverage of the previous ten Opening Ceremonies (THE DAILY):

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the coverage will “begin with Tom Brokaw’s report on security issues and Athens’ last-minute dash to prepare for the Games.” NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol “promises a ‘breathtaking’ show, highlighted by the ‘moment of sheer hope that comes from watching the best athletes of the world assemble on that infield as one group’” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/13).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that NBC “will divide the screen and offer graphic information about all the countries, leaving Costas and Couric to chat about other things. Down the side of the screen, NBC will offer a running list of the order in which the nations will march. If that sounds like something you've seen on ESPN's NFL Draft coverage, that's because it is” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/13).

NBC will “cut out a brief scene of nudity that is set to occur” (USA TODAY, 8/13).

Because WFLA-NBC is airing continuous coverage of Hurricane Charley, the Opening Ceremony will not be seen tonight in the Tampa area (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 8/13).

Visa will break its 30-second “Injury” spot, via BBDO, N.Y., during NBC’s coverage. The spot promoting Visa check cards features Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner and manager Joe Torre in the club’s training room. In the spoof, Torre plays the concerned manager of what is believed to be an injured pitcher. Later, we come to find that the injured arm is the check-writing arm of Steinbrenner (THE DAILY).

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO SPIKES ITS COVERAGE WITH KERRI WALSH

Sirius Satellite Radio today announced that women’s beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh will provide regular reports from the Athens Olympics for the company’s Faction station, a music channel created for action sports fans. After the Games, Walsh will continue her relationship with Sirius, joining Tony Hawk and Kelly Slater, who host shows on the station (Sirius Satellite Radio).

CONDON DROPS PATRIOTS PICK OVER TEAM'S DESIRE FOR SIX-YEAR DEAL

By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

IMG President & NFL player agent Tom Condon decided to part ways with Patriots first-round draft pick Ben Watson, after the team insisted on signing the TE to a six-year deal. An IMG spokesperson said Condon “refuses to do anything other that a five year deal” for players picked in that area of the draft. Watson was the No. 32 pick. The spokeperson continued, “Tom said, ‘He is a great guy. He will do well in the NFL, but it is not a good contract.’” NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen recently said that the union is concerned about a trend of NFL clubs seeking and getting longer-term deals for rookies in the later rounds of the draft.

AUSTIN THROWING A PARTY IN LANCE ARMSTRONG’S HONOR

Austin, TX, tonight will honor Lance Armstrong with a parade from the Congress Avenue Bridge to the Capitol. ESPN’s Chris Fowler will serve as master of ceremonies, while the Steve Miller Band and Robert Earl Keen headline a free concert near the Capitol.

A crowd of 100,000 is expected to attend the procession, which begins with Armstrong riding his bike along with Austin Mayor Will Wynn and Texas Governor Rick Perry. That trio will be followed by fellow cancer survivors and vehicles sponsored by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/13).

Meanwhile, the HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that Austin “has plans for a $3.2[M], six-mile-long cross-town greenbelt to be called the Lance Armstrong Bikeway to also promote the city” as the “Bicycle Capital of Texas” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/13).

ESPN DEBUTING “MIKE & MIKE IN THE MORNING” IN PRIMETIME

ESPN will debut “Mike & Mike in the Morning … at Night” tonight at 8:00pm ET. Following an “Odd Couple”-themed opening, the show will feature elements from the pair’s radio show, including “Just Shut Up!” and “Five-Point Stance.” Yankees SS Derek Jeter will be among the guests. “Mike & Mike in the Morning” is simulcast weekdays from 6:00-10:00am ET on ESPNews (ESPN).

BUZZER BEATERS

EJ Krause & Associates Senior VP & Int’l Sport Summit Chair Craig Tartasky passed away this morning after a long bout with cancer. A memorial service will be held in his honor Sunday at American Univ. in Washington, DC (THE DAILY).

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jerry Brown yesterday ruled in favor of New Orleans Fair Grounds’ request to “put off a hearing on confirmation of the track’s plan to reorganize through” an auction, postponing the auction. The auction was scheduled for Monday with Churchill Downs expected to open with a $45M bid (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/13).

Kobe Bryant’s attorneys today filed a motion stating that Bryant “will not waive his right to a speedy trial on a rape charge and he wants” Judge Terry Ruckriegle to “deny a prosecution request to delay the trial’s start date” (REUTERS, 8/13).

Greece is “demanding a [$245] fee before they allow any professional cameras” on Athens landmarks like the Acropolis. All other media are welcome (DETROIT NEWS, 8/13).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

Kraft Sports Productions will produce the 8:00pm ET Eagles-Patriots preseason game, which will air on WCVB-ABC in Boston, WMUR-ABC in Manchester, WMTW-ABC in Portland and WNAC-Fox in Providence. Kraft Sports Productions Exec Producer Matt Smith: “The Kraft family wants all their telecasts to be of network quality. We’ll have ten cameras, including a wireless one on the sidelines to give reporter Mike Lynch more freedom” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/12).

The Braves will debut Fanfoto during the club’s weekend series against the Cardinals at Turner Field.  Fanfoto photographers will be available before and during every Braves home game to take digital pictures of fans.  The images will appear online less than two hours after the game ends, and can be ordered as high-quality prints or put on customized gift items like coffee mugs, t-shirts and calendars.

The Triple-A Int’l League Toledo Mud Hens have invited the Tigers’ singing hot-dog vendor, Charley Marcuse, to sing his famous song “as many times as he wants to this weekend.” The Tigers allow him only one rendition of “HoOoOtT DoOoOgGs” per game. Marcuse said that he will “belt out his song three times an inning” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/13).

The Triple-A PCL Nashville Sounds will distribute 4,000 copies of the Heart of the Outdoors Bible prior to the team’s 7:00pm ET game at Greer Stadium.

Saturday

Philadelphia Park will host a retirement party for Smarty Jones. The horse will parade “down the backstretch of the track in the middle of the race card.” The park will open at 10:30am ET, 30 minutes earlier than usual (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 8/4).

The College Football HOF will enshrine 22 former players and coaches, including Joe Theismann and Barry Sanders, at 8:30pm ET at the Century Center in South Bend.

The Mariners’ 50 millionth fan in regular-season history is expected to pass through the SafeCo Field gates. The fan will be honored at Home Plate Gate, given a prize pack of Mariners merchandise, a pair of tickets for the Commissioner’s box and will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the team’s 1:05pm PT game against the Yankees.

The Single-A Midwest League Dayton Dragons continue their Hometown Heroes program by honoring the family of Technical Sergeant Lisa Womble during the team’s 7:05pm ET game against the West Michigan Whitecaps at Fifth Third Field.

CHANNEL SURFING

Friday

U.S. Olympians Dawn Staley and Jenny Thompson will appear on NBC’s “Nightly News” at 6:30pm ET.

NBC will air the Athens Games Opening Ceremony at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will debut “Mike & Mike in the Morning ... at Night” at 8:00pm ET.

Lakers Exec VP Jeanie Buss,Titans coach Jeff Fisher and poker player Howard Lederer will appear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

Saturday

Click here for a listing of Saturday’s Olympic coverage across the NBC Universal networks.

TNT will air third-round coverage of the PGA Championship at 11:00am ET with CBS continuing coverage at 2:00pm.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Semifinals at 2:00pm ET.

ABC will air “NTRA Super Saturday” at 4:00pm ET. The broadcast features live coverage of the Arlington Million and Beverly D. Stakes from Arlington Park, as well as the Alfred Vanderbilt Handicap and Sword Dancer Handicap from Saratoga Springs.

Fox will air MLB regional coverage: Dodgers-Cubs (39%), Cardinals-Braves (31%) or Giants-Phillies (8%) at 1:00pm ET or Yankees-Mariners (20%) at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air MLS Earthquakes-Wizards at 4:00pm ET.

OLN will air the PBR Bullnanza at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air the Little League New England Regional Final at 8:00pm ET.

Sunday

Click here for a listing of Sunday’s Olympic coverage across the NBC Universal networks.

Speed Channel will air the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary at 7:30am ET.

TNT will air final-round coverage of the PGA Championship at 11:00am ET with CBS continuing coverage at 2:00pm.

CBS’ “Topspin” will feature WTA stars at 2:30pm ET.

HDNet will air the Champ Car Grand Prix of Denver at 2:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air coverage of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Final at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air the IRL Belterra Casino Indy 300 at 3:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air the Little League Mid-Atlantic Regional Final at 5:00pm ET.

TNT will air the NASCAR Nextel Cup Sirius at the Glen at 2:00pm ET.

OLN will air the PBR Bullnanza at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Cardinals-Braves at 8:00pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: What were the four finalists besides Athens for the ’04 Olympics?

THE DAILY STAT: FIVE-YEAR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP RATINGS TREND

The 86th PGA Championship began Thursday at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI. TNT has live coverage today from 2:00-8:00pm ET, and the net will air weekend coverage each day from 11:00am-1:30pm. CBS will air live weekend coverage from 2:00-7:00pm each day. The following presents a five-year Nielsen ratings trend for CBS' weekend coverage of the fourth and final major (THE DAILY):

CRITICS WEIGH IN:

In “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” Anne Hathaway again plays Mia, Princess of Genovia, who learns she must get married before she can be crowned. Japanese animation film “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” an adaptation of the popular card game, has Yugi battling the awakened spirit of Anubis with the fate of the world at stake.

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Rome and Stockholm

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