| | The Daily Insider
Afternoon News & Headlines
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
4:00pm ET | |
| |
| • | Diageo’s Crown Royal Brand To Serve As Primary Sponsor For NASCAR Team |
| • | MLS’ Landon Donovan Today Announces Intentions To Return To German Club |
| • | Reebok Replaces adidas As Footwear & Apparel Provider For Paris Marathon |
| • | NBPA Today Files Appeal Of Suspensions On Behalf Of Three Pacers Players |
| • | David Letterman To Grill Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger On “Late Show” |
| • | Buzzer Beaters/Tonight’s Events/Channel Surfing/In Other News/The Daily Stat |
The Closing Bell will notpublish Wednesday, Thursday or Friday in observance
of the Thanksgivingholiday. We will return Monday, November29.
DIAGEO’S CROWN ROYAL BRAND TO SPONSORNEXTEL CUP ENTRY
Diageo today announced thatits Crown Royal brand will serve as the primary sponsor for Roush Racing’s No.97 Sharpie/Irwin Ford, driven by ’04 Nextel Cup Champion Kurt Busch, for select races during the ‘05 season, including theBrickyard 400. For the races Crown Royalis not the primary sponsor, it will be an associate sponsor. Crown Royal is the first hard liquor brand toenter NASCAR since the governing body lifted its ban on spirits companies asteam sponsors. Diageo’s Smirnoff Icebrand has served as a primary and secondary sponsor for Roush Racing’s No. 17Ford, driven by Matt Kenseth (Diageo).
MARQUEE MLS PLAYER LANDON DONOVANRETURNING TO GERMAN CLUB
MLS Earthquakes F Landon Donovan announced this afternoonthat he will return to German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen when his currenttwo-year co-sharing agreement with MLS expires on January 1. Leverkusen, afternegotiating a second two-year co-sharing agreement with MLS for Donovan in ’02,exercised its option on him earlier this summer. MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis said Donovan “has embracedhis role as the face of MLS and of soccer in the United States. ... Landon has madea huge difference to where this league is, and we find so much positivemomentum in so many areas of our business and in the development of the game inthe United States,and Landon is big part of that.”
Donovan, on whether theuncertainty of the Earthquakes’ future in San Joseaffected his decision to return to Germany: “It’s about more thanthat. You don’t make a decision this big because there’s uncertaintyabout your team. Clearly, it’s an uncomfortable situation for everyoneinvolved, but we understand that it’s not going to be perfect in soccer in thiscountry yet. We’ve got a long way to go.” When asked if moving hisprofessional career to Germany would have any impact on his sponsorships – includingNike, Gatorade Chiquita and EA Sports – Donovan said, “A few have been awareand I don’t know if there’s financial or other ramifications orconsequences. I would hope generally that everyone’s just happy for meand excited for me” (THE DAILY).
REEBOK REPLACES ADIDAS WITH PARIS MARATHONPARTNERSHIP
Reebok today announced amultiyear partnership with the Paris Marathon, for which the shoe companybecomes the exclusive footwear and apparel supplier, replacing adidas. Reebok will develop and market a line ofMarathon de Paris products for the event, and the 35,000 race participants willreceive apparel from the line. Thecompany also will supply footwear and apparel for the 3,000 race volunteers andevent teams. Additionally, Reebok willrun a customer outreach booth at the Marathon Expo Village. As of presstime, adidas was still listed asan official sponsor on the race’s Web site (THEDAILY).
NETS PARTNER WITH APOLLO THEATER FORPOSTGAME CONCERT SERIES
The Nets today unveiled plansto host a series of postgame concerts at Continental Airlines Arena inconjunction with Apollo Theater. Beginning with a performance by DougE. Fresh, Slick Rick and Rob Base on December 4, fans withtickets to Nets games on the nights of the concert series can stay free ofcharge for the 30-minute performances. The following details the schedule for the concert series (Nets):
| DATE | NETS OPPONENT | POSTGAME PERFORMER |
| 12/4 | Hawks | Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick & Rob Base |
| 12/10 | Hornets | Dietrick Haddon |
| 1/7 | Warriors | Yolanda Adams |
| 1/21 | Celtics | Hezekiah Walker & the Love Fellowship Crusade Choir |
| 2/5 | Pistons | JoJo |
BUZZER BEATERS
The NBPA today filed anappeal with the NBA on behalf of Pacers RonArtest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal, asking for reductionsin the players’ suspensions. Artest wassuspended for the remainder of the season, while Jackson and O’Neal weresuspended for 30 and 25 games, respectively (AP,11/23).
The City of Anaheimtoday announced that it has retained the services of financial advisory firm MZSports and strategic marketing firm Sports Business Group, which will act asconsultants to the city in its attempt to land an NFL franchise (City of Anaheim).
Pony today inked a two-yearextension of its endorsement deal with boxer James Toney, who began his endorsement of the shoe and apparel firmshortly before his September 23 bout against Rydell Booker. Toney willappear in Pony’s upcoming campaign (Pony).
Steiner Sports Marketing hassigned a memorabilia and trading card deal with Red Sox P Curt Schilling. Schilling will sign exclusively for SteinerSports and will take part in a clinic at Fenway Park(Steiner Sports Marketing).
CFL Commissioner Tom Wright is “working to helpfacilitate a sale of the Calgary Stampeders to local interests.” One source said Wright’s influence is “beingused to ‘encourage’ Calgary buyers – including Ted Hellard, John Forzaniand Dave Sapunjis – to strike a dealwith Owner Michael Feterik” (CALGARY SUN, 11/23).
World TeamTennis todayannounced that Allstate Stadium at Sunrise Marketplace in Citrus Heights,California, will host the September 16-17 Pro League Finals (WTT).
Everlast today announced thatit has expanded its licensing deals with Hong Kong-based firms Muse Marketingand Stelux Watch. Muse will introduceEverlast apparel in Hong Kong next year, while Stelux will launch Everlastwatches in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan,Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand,Japan and Europenext year (Everlast).
TONIGHT’S EVENTS
Eagles WR Terrell Owens will sign copies of hisbook, “Catch This: Going Deep With the NFL’s Sharpest Weapon,” from 6:00-8:00pmET at Lincoln Financial Field.
CHANNEL SURFING
ESPN will air the MauiClassic: Texas-Iowa at 7:00pm ET and North Carolina-Tennessee at9:00pm.
ESPN2 will air NCAA football:Bowling Green-Toledo at 7:00pm ET.
NBA TV will air Raptors-Wizardsat 7:00pm ET.
ESPN2 will air NCAAbasketball: St. Joseph’s-Kansasat 10:00pm ET.
The life of USC coach PeteCarroll and former MLBer Cecil Fielder’s financial woes will beexamined on HBO’s “Real Sports” at 10:00pm ET.
SteelersQB Ben Roethlisberger will appearon CBS’ “Late Show” at 11:35pm ET.
Pete Carroll and Fox’ HowieLong will appear on “BDSSP.”
HEADLINERS
Here are tonight’s headlineguests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Kevin Spacey |
| “The Tonight Show” | Snoop Dogg |
| “The Late Late Show” | Rachel Hunter |
| “Late Night” | Kelsey Grammer |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Jon Cryer |
TODAY’S ARTICLES OF INTEREST
ESPN.com’s Adrian Wojnarowskiwrites, “There isn't another sport where thecommissioner commands such a respect out of the unionrank and file, brings such a presence to it all like David Stern does with the [NBA]. The ballplayers don't always likewhat they hear from him, but they always get a clear-minded and resoluteresponse. Test him, test his and the public's patience for lawlessness, andthey have to know that Stern will take back the game every time” (ESPN.com).
The LouisvilleCOURIER-JOURNAL’s Marcus Green writes the New Orleans Fair Grounds “opens a new era Thursday with the start of racingunder the ownership of Churchill Downs, which has ambitious plans for itsseventh racetrack. … For Churchill, it's the start of a new era as well. FairGrounds will be the company's first track with winter racing and expandedgambling, while the Louisiana Derby in March gives it a key Kentucky Derbytune-up. Churchill has historically lostmoney during the first three months of the year, lacking steady winter racingat its tracks” (LouisvilleCOURIER-JOURNAL).
See The Daily Insider’s Articles ofInterest section for more sports business-related links.
TODAY’S TEASER…
If David Stern’s 73-gamesuspension of Ron Artest stands, itwill be the longest in league history. To date, what is the longest suspension of a player for an in-gameaction in league history?
IN OTHER NEWS…
CBS’ Dan Rather today announced that he will step down as anchor andManaging Editor of CBS’ “Evening News” on March 9, 2005, 24 years after hisfirst broadcast in that position. Ratherwill continue to work as a full-time correspondent for the net’s “60 Minutes”program. A successor has yet to be named(CBS).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notesthat the total national box office for the fall season was $1.39B, down 14%from the record $1.63B last year, and off 12% from the $1.59B tallied in‘02. The ’04 session was the third-bestfall box office total on record (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 11/23).
THE DAILYSTAT: MOST GENEROUS PHILANTHROPISTS
BUSINESSWEEK reports that Bill Gates “made history this year by giving [his] estimated $3[B]Microsoft Corp. dividend to their foundation. It's one of the largest donationsin history by a living donor. To put it into perspective, that one gift isthree times bigger than the amount that America's richest family, thedescendants of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton, has given during their entire lifetimes.” The following details the most generousphilanthropists in the U.S.,based on how much they have given and/or pledged since ’00, followed by otherson the list with sports-business ties (BUSINESSWEEK,11/29 issue):
| RK | DONOR | BACKGROUND | GIVEN/PLEDGED |
| 1) | Bill Gates | Microsoft co-Founder | $10,085,000,000 |
| 2) | Gordon Moore | Intel co-Founder | $7,046,000,000 |
| 3) | Warren Buffett | Berkshire Hathaway CEO | $2,721,000,000 |
| 4) | George Soros | Investor | $2,301,000,000 |
| 5) | James Stowers | American Century Founder | $1,346,000,000 |
| 6) | Eli Broad | SunAmerica, KB Home Founder | $1,333,000,000 |
| 7) | Michael Dell | Dell Founder | $933,000,000 |
| 8) | Alfred Mann | Medical devices | $830,000,000 |
| 9) | Paul Allen | Microsoft co-Founder | $735,000,000 |
| 10) | Walton Family | Family of Wal-Mart Founder | $650,000,000 |
| 33) | Phil Anschutz | AEG Chair | $226,000,000 |
| 35) | Arthur Blank | Falcons Owner | $183,000,000 |
| 45) | Ted Turner | CNN Founder | $121,000,000 |
…TODAY’S ANSWER
According to the AP, former NBACommissioner Lawrence O’Brien’s60-day, 26-game suspension of KermitWashington for punching RudyTomjanovich in ’77 stands as the longest suspension for an act committedduring a game in league history.
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dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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