Closing Bell, March 4, 2005

NASCAR BUSCH SERIES, LPGA THIS WEEKEND GOING SOUTH OF THE BORDER

The NASCAR Busch Series and LPGA are both holding events in Mexico City this weekend.  NASCAR’s inaugural Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 will be run at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course, while the LPGA holds the MasterCard Classic, its first event in the country since ’75.  Fox has coverage of the Busch race Sunday at 3:00pm ET.

USA TODAY writes in a sports Cover Story that NASCAR and the LPGA “join several U.S. sports leagues trying to capture the attention of Hispanic sports fans at home and abroad.”  NASCAR COO George Pyne: “We’re not going to Mexico City to run a Busch race.  We’re going to Mexico City to build our awareness in the Hispanic community, reach out to them.”  LPGA Commissioner Ty Votaw, whose tour will play in Mexico twice this year, said, “We wouldn’t be in Mexico if it wasn’t for Lorena Ochoa” (USA TODAY, 3/4).

The ST. PETE TIMES reports NASCAR team Owner Felix Sabates, a Cuban-American, “claims he had long lobbied and was rebuffed by former [NASCAR] CEO Bill France Jr. about racing in Mexico but found a more receptive audience in Brian France,” who took over for his father as NASCAR Chair & CEO before last season (ST. PETE TIMES, 3/4).

CBS SPORTSLINE reported Sunday’s race is expected to attract 150,000-200,000 fans, “a record for a Busch Series race.” While “several Hispanic companies have signed one-race deals with NASCAR teams, several of NASCAR’s top sponsors are also along for the ride.” Lowe’s is putting Mexican driver Adrian Fernandez in its Hendrick Motorsports car, and its racing Web site is translated into Spanish this week (CBSSPORTSLINE.com, 3/2).

SPORTING NEWS notes a Busch Series-record $2M purse “helped attract Nextel Cup regulars Rusty Wallace, Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, Michael Waltrip and Kevin Harvick.”  There is no Cup race this weekend (SPORTING NEWS, 3/11 issue).

The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER noted Fernandez, “an open wheel star who is one of the biggest sports celebrities in Mexico, is among the 10 drivers entered in Sunday’s race who have roots in Mexico.”  Michael Jourdain, who drives a ppc Racing Ford, is “the only Hispanic driver competing full time in the series” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 3/2).

COWLITZ INDIAN TRIBE CONSIDERING PLAN TO BUILD NASCAR TRACK

The AP reports the tribal council of the Cowlitz Indian tribe during a retreat Saturday will discuss a proposal to build a NASCAR track near the tribe’s proposed $400M casino and resort near La Center, Washington. Tribal spokesperson David Barnett met Tuesday with Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch, who also serves as Senior VP of Great Northwest Sports, an ISC subsidiary created to develop a speedway in Oregon or Washington. Barnett said that it is “not yet clear how the track would be financed” (AP, 3/4).

NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN SITS DOWN SUNDAY WITH CSTV

NBA Commissioner David Stern will appear on CSTV’s “One2One” on Sunday at 4:30pm ET, where he will discuss a possible minimum age requirement for NBA players, the influx of high school and overseas players to the NBA, the migration of college coaches to the NBA and his biggest accomplishments as commissioner. Stern, on his biggest accomplishment: “The greatest overall success that we have had here is that we had a sport that people said was too Black, and it could never succeed in America. And we stayed with it, and America proved exactly the opposite, that talent will be respected and endorsements will flow to celebrities regardless of the color of their skin” (CSTV).

RAIDERS INK THREE-YEAR RADIO-RIGHTS EXTENSION WITH KSFO-AM

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports the Raiders and KSFO-AM have announced an agreement that will keep the team on the station through the ’07 season. The Raiders had a one-year deal with KSFO in ’04 after parting ways with KTCT-AM (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/4).

CAL RIPKEN JR. INKS NEW THREE-BOOK DEAL WITH PENGUIN GROUP

The BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL reports Cal Ripken Jr. has signed a new three-book deal with the Penguin Group, which published his autobiography, “The Only Way I Know.” Under the new deal, Penguin’s Gotham Books division will publish two books to be written for adults, while its Philomel Books division will publish the third book, written for children. The first book will be titled “Parenting Young Baseball Players the Ripken Way.” The second and third books will be “motivational books about perseverance, one for children and one for adults” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/4).

BUZZER BEATERS

An NHL source said of the June 25 NHL entry draft, “There’s not going to be a draft. No way. They should just cancel it now and get it over with because they’re not going to have an agreement in place and if they do they’re going to have a huge fight over who gets the No. 1 pick” (OTTAWA SUN, 3/4).

The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER reports the Hurricanes this week shut down the Crabtree Valley Mall location of The Eye, the team’s store. Hurricanes President & GM Jim Rutherford: “When the season was canceled, we felt that despite the fact we still have a few months left on our lease, that was the time to do it” (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/4).

The SACRAMENTO BEE reports the Maloof family this week unveiled a $600M expansion of the Palms Casino Hotel in Las Vegas that will include 347 new hotel rooms and suites, as well as 599 luxury condos that will sell for as much as $7M each. Palms President George Maloof said that there is “no connection between” the expansion and the family’s desire for a new arena for the NBA Kings (SACRAMENTO BEE, 3/4).

ESPN360 for the first time this weekend will deliver live streaming video of the THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross Series from the Edward Jones Dome (Clear Channel Entertainment).

Time Warner Cable’s interim carriage agreement signed last November to air Cablevision’s MSG and FSNY on its N.Y. and upstate cable systems expires Sunday (Mult., 3/4).

NOW HEAR THIS

The following are notable quotes from today’s news:

With Bain Capital and Game Plan offering $3.5B to purchase the NHL and all 30 teams, Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs said, “It takes a 30-zip vote to do what is being sought. I know there are not 30 votes. It’ll never happen” (BOSTON HERALD, 3/4). Read the full story.

TD Banknorth yesterday announced that it will rename the FleetCenter TD Banknorth Garden, and while some suggest fans in Boston will simply call the arena “The Garden,” FleetCenter President & CEO Richard Krezwick said, “We fully expect that fans will shorten the name and Banknorth accepts that” (PORTLAND PRESS HERALD, 3/4). Read the full story.

WEEKEND EVENTS

The Wizards will host an NBA “Hardwood Classics Night” against the Warriors, including retro uniforms and Wes Unseld bobblehead dolls. The Wizards are one of eight teams partnering with The History Channel to present the promotion throughout the season (Wizards).

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will meet the media prior to attending the Giants-Cubs spring training game in Mesa, Arizona (USA TODAY, 3/4).

The Nets will hold the first of three “Hockey Nights,” when they host the Magic. On “Hockey Nights,” fans who wear their favorite hockey team’s apparel receive 50% off of an upper bowl ticket (Nets).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPN2 will air first-round coverage of the Davis Cup: U.S.-Croatia at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN2 will air a two-hour “College GameDay” special in conjunction with the launch of ESPNU at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Kings-Heat at 8:00pm ET and Mavericks-Lakers at 10:30pm.

ESPN2 will air Friday Night Fights: Rocky Juarez-Juan Carlos Ramirez at 9:00pm ET.

ESPN Classic will air first-round coverage of the Davis Cup: U.S.-Croatia at midnight ET.

“BDSSP” host Tom Arnold will appear on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

Boxer Bernard Hopkins and Ravens LB Terrell Suggs will appear on “BDSSP.”

ESPN will air “College GameDay” from Oklahoma State Univ.

NBC will air the finals of the Sports Illustrated for Kids NextSnow Search, a national talent search for extreme skiers and snowboarders, at 2:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Euroleague basketball: FC Barcelona-CSKA Moscow at 2:30pm ET.

NBC will air third-round coverage of the Ford Championship at Doral at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air the NTRA’s Santa Catalina Stakes, Fountain of Youth Stakes and Swale Stakes at 5:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Bulls-Bucks at 8:30pm ET.

OLN will air PBR: Heart of the West Ford Invitational at 9:00pm ET.

Speed Channel will air the F1 Australian Grand Prix at 9:30pm ET.

ESPN2 will air first-round coverage of the Davis Cup: U.S.-Croatia at 10:00pm ET.

SUNDAY

NBC will air regional coverage of the AFL: San Jose SaberCats-Orlando Predators or New York Dragons-Philadelphia Soul at noon ET.

ESPN will air PBA: Baby Ruth Real Deal Classic at 12:30pm ET.

NBC will air final-round coverage of the Ford Championship at Doral at 3:00pm ET.

ABC will air Mavericks-Rockets at 1:00pm ET and Pistons-Kings at 3:30pm.

ESPN will air the IRL IndyCar Series Toyota Indy 300 at 2:00pm ET.

Fox will air the NASCAR Busch Series Telcel Motorola Mexico 200 at 3:00pm ET.

ESPN will air Heat-Cavaliers at 7:30pm ET.

OLN will air PBR: Heart of the West Ford Invitational at 8:00pm ET.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Steve Park and Supercross/Motorcross racer Bubba Stewart will appear on Speed Channel’s “Wind Tunnel” at 9:00pm ET.

ESPN will air first-round coverage of the Davis Cup: U.S.-Croatia at 11:00pm ET.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER’s Dan Wood writes of the steps remaining before Henry Samueli can purchase the Mighty Ducks, “The sale of the team by the Walt Disney Co., announced a week ago, requires approval by the [NHL BOG] before the Samuelis can assume franchise operations.  Given multiple embarrassments caused by former club owners in recent years, the league’s due-diligence process is plenty more than a formality” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER).

• AHL providing sporting opportunity for NHL-starved fans.
• Florida sports fans have stopped cheering for tax subsidies.
• College basketball thriving in its relationship with ESPN.
• Should all professional sports reduce the number of games played?

THE DAILY STAT: FAVORITE FEMALE SPORTS STARS

The following presents results from an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive in which 2,209 U.S. adults were polled January 11-16.  The first chart lists respondents’ favorite female sports star. The second chart lists the favorite female sports stars among specific demographics. NR =  Not ranked in ’04 (Harris Interactive). 

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “BE COOL” & “THE PACIFIER”

In the sequel to "Get Shorty," John Travolta once again plays Chili Palmer, a Miami loan shark, who grows tired of the film industry and takes a stab into the music business. In "The Pacifier," Vin Diesel plays a Navy SEAL who has been assigned to protect the family of a high profile American scientist who was assassinated over his secret invention.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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