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                                   __________         __________
Stone Cold                       |            TOP STORY           |
  NASCAR peeved at NBC’s         |          Viva La Visa          |
“Dateline” for sending Muslim-   |   Visa has signed on to        |
Americans to races for feature   | replace MasterCard as the      |
on racial tension. (#5)          | official payment card of the   |
                                 | FIFA World Cup, and the        |
She Got Game                     | company, whose TOP sponsorship |
  NCAA women’s hoops tourney     | runs through the 2012 London   |
continues to draw strong         | Games, will now own marketing  |
ratings for ESPN. (#6)           | rights to the two biggest      |
                                 | global sporting events.  As    |
Seattle Storm                    | recently as December,          |
  Sonics hire advisers to look   | MasterCard said it was in      |
at sale, relocation. (#11)       | serious talks to continue its  |
                                 | FIFA partnership, but its      |
Monumental Steps                 | rights will expire after this  |
  N.Y. City Council approves     | summer’s World Cup.  FIFA      |
construction of new Yankees      | lands the fourth of the six    |
ballpark in Bronx. (#17)         | top-tier Partners it seeks     |
                                 | before the event begins in     |
Casey At The Bat (#19)           | Germany, and the new program   |
  After acquiring football       | should help the organization   |
practices of Tom Condon and Ken  | boost sponsorship revenue by   |
Kremer, CAA looks to add IMG’s   | 40%.  See (#1) for more.       |
lead baseball agent Close.       |________________________________|
                                                  
Hootie & The Grow-fish (#18)           ==== QUOTE OF THE DAY ====
  Augusta National buying up                      
nearby land for expansion.            “We did the right thing.
                                    When history’s going to judge
Search For Tomorrow                 this man and this man’s life,
  Jerry Richardson, Dan Rooney    they’re going to be able to look
head committee that will name      at something like this and say,
new NFL commissioner. (#9)          ‘I know something more about
                                    the guy than I knew before.’”
Second Term Blues                                 
  Nationals’ home opener                 -- ESPN Exec Editor
nowhere near sold out. (#13)          John Walsh, on EOE’s new
                                       “Bonds on Bonds” series
Bayside High                         (“Mike & the Mad Dog,” YES
  ESPN Exec Editor John Walsh              Network,” 4/5).
goes on “Mike & the Mad Dog” to                   
defend “Bonds on Bonds.” (#7)

1.   VISA REPLACES MASTERCARD AS FIFA’S PAYMENT CARD PARTNER
          Visa has signed on as a FIFA Partner –- the governing
     body’s top sponsorship designation –- under an eight-year
     deal that begins in January ’07 and expires at the end of
     2014.  Visa replaces MasterCard as FIFA’s payment card
     sponsor; MasterCard holds those rights through this summer’s
     World Cup in Germany.  Visa gains global rights to all FIFA
     events, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, and
     joins adidas, Hyundai and Coca-Cola in the FIFA’s top
     marketing tier.  FIFA plans on signing two more official
     Partners before the World Cup begins June 9 (THE DAILY).
     The AP’s Chris Lehourites reported Visa’s deal with FIFA is
     “worth up to $200[M]” (AP, 4/5). BLOOMBERG NEWS’ Gregory
     Viscusi reports FIFA has raised $770M from the 15 sponsors
     of this year’s World Cup.  The new system that includes the
     Partner designation “will raise that figure by 40[%] for
     each of the next two World Cups.”  Visa joins Coca-Cola and
     McDonald’s as the only companies to sponsor both the World
     Cup and the Olympics (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/6).  MasterCard said
     in a statement only, “Sponsorship programs related to the
     2010 and 2014 FIFA world Cup are a long way away, and we
     have many options to review prior to then.  Right now,
     MasterCard is focused on the many programs associated with
     our sponsorship of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany on
     behalf of our customer financial institutions and loyal
     cardholders around the globe” (THE DAILY).

2.   GEORGIA HEAT: BURK PRESSURES EXXONMOBIL AS MASTERS TEES OFF
          Former National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO)
     Chair Martha Burk has filed a stockholders’ resolution with
     Dallas-based ExxonMobil and the SEC, “calling on the company
     to provide a detailed report on funds ‘spent at or in
     conjunction with venues that discriminate against women,’”
     according to Leonard Shapiro of the WASHINGTON POST.  Burk
     now serves as Dir of the NCWO’s Corporate Accountability
     Project, which was formed to “organize stockholder pressure
     on public corporations that sponsor the Masters, or their
     chief executives who are members at Augusta National, to end
     their relationship with the club.”  Former ExxonMobil CEO
     Lee Raymond is an Augusta National member, and the company
     sponsors The Masters.  Burk noted ExxonMobil has a three-
     year deal with Augusta National, “and I’d be very surprised
     if they renewed it.”  But ExxonMobil Media Relations Adviser
     Dave Gardner said in a statement, “In response to Ms. Burk’s
     complaint, ExxonMobil prohibits discrimination of any kind
     in its employment policies everywhere in the world. ...
     ExxonMobil chose to sponsor the Masters Tournament because
     it provides a unique opportunity to promote the company’s
     messages, including ExxonMobil’s support for education, to
     its wide international audience.”  Burk said that the NCWO
     “will target other public companies that do business with
     Augusta National, have executives who are members, sponsor
     the tournament or use corporate funds to entertain at the
     event” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6).

3.   TAYLOR-MADE GETS EMOTIONAL IN AD CAMPAIGN FOR NEW BALL
     By Bob Seligman, Correspondent

          TaylorMade-adidas Golf is appealing to the emotional
     and promoting the practical in two new major campaigns
     designed to highlight the brand and introduce a new golf
     ball that marks a change in the company’s direction in that
     category.  TaylorMade Exec VP Sean Toulon said the campaign
     is an effort to connect the brand, company and products with
     whom he calls “the soul of the authentic, passionate,
     committed golfer. We’re letting our hearts come a little bit
     closer to the sleeve and let people see it, touch it, feel
     it. We think they’re going to want to jump in the car and go
     for a ride with us.”
          EMOTIONAL RESCUE: Toulon said the company is spending
     “millions” on the campaign, called “I Am A Golfer,” and will
     have 16 worldwide print variations of the ad, plus four, 30-
     second commercials. One ad begins with “I am a golfer. I
     love this game. Its history is my history.  Its rules are my
     laws.  The course is my home. Golfers are my family,” and it
     ends with, “Some say I care too much but they don’t
     understand. Golf doesn’t begin on the first tee and it
     doesn’t end on the 18th green. It is a lifelong journey. I
     am a golfer.”  Bob Wilson, a double amputee cancer survivor
     with prosthetics for both legs, talks about the sacrifices
     he has made to be able to play golf. Another ad features a
     U.S. soldier in Iraq dressed in full fatigues hitting golf
     balls in the middle of the Iraqi desert. “More than a
     soldier, I am a golfer,” part of the copy reads. TaylorMade
     staff pros like Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, Paula Creamer
     and others also play prominent roles in the campaign.
          MAJOR PLAY: The campaign will have network advertising
     in and around The Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and
     British Open. A large buy on The Golf Channel will last
     through the end of the year and will include all LPGA
     tournament broadcasts. Print ads will be in major golf
     publications like Golfweek, Golf World, Golf Digest, Golf
     Magazine and others. There is also a Web site,
     www.TaylorMadegolf.com/iamagolfer.

4.   MARKETPLACE ROUND-UP
          Roger Federer appeared in-studio on ESPNews Tuesday
     night after filming a “This is SportsCenter” ad.  Federer,
     on whether he is trying to get more exposure in the U.S.:
     “Maybe a little bit in the (U.S.) The season is so global
     for us that we travel from January to November so we can’t
     spend all the time here in the (U.S.) But for me it’s been
     very successful and in a way maybe it’s an approach to get
     into the American market a little bit more” (ESPNews, 4/4).
          WILSON: Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods has signed
     Mets 3B David Wright as an ambassador for the Wilson brand.
     He will start the ’06 season with his own signature glove,
     the Wilson A2K DW5 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/6)....The ITF and
     Wilson have inked a three-year deal making Wilson the
     official ball of the Fed Cup.  The deal also extends
     Wilson’s partnership with the Davis Cup through ’08 (ITF).
          TO THE TRACK: In Boston, David Exum reports former
     MLBer Mike Greenwell “will likely make his debut” in the
     NASCAR Craftsman Truck series May 27 at Mansfield
     Motorsports Speedway in Ohio.  Greenwell will compete in
     three other events for Green Light Racing.  Yankee Candle is
     sponsoring Greenwell’s truck at the September 16 truck race
     at New Hampshire Int’l Speedway (BOSTON HERALD, 4/6).

 

5.   NASCAR OBJECTS TO REPORT TARGETING RACE FANS AS ANTI-MUSLIM
          NASCAR “strongly objected” to a planned series of
     reports from NBC’s “Dateline” that “targets race fans as
     potential sources of harassment of Muslim-Americans,”
     according to Tim Lemke of the WASHINGTON TIMES.  Muslim and
     Arab-American volunteers are being filmed in public places,
     including last week’s DirecTV 500 at Martinsville Speedway,
     and possibly Sunday’s Samsung/Radio Shack 500 at Texas Motor
     Speedway, “in an attempt to record discrimination or
     harassment.”  NASCAR Managing Dir of Corporate
     Communications Ramsey Poston said, “I think it’s outrageous
     for a news organization of NBC’s stature to go around and
     create news as opposed to reporting the news.  Every
     legitimate journalist should be offended by this.”  NBC said
     in a statement, “We will be visiting a number of locations
     across the country and are confident that our reporting team
     is pursuing this story in a fair manner.”  Arab-American
     Anti-Discrimination Committee spokesperson Laila Al-Qatami
     said that her organization “provided ideas to NBC but was
     not involved in the decision to place people at NASCAR
     events.”  Al-Qatami added that “Dateline” also plans to film
     at “other sporting events, including football games, and
     will explore issues such as discrimination in housing and
     employment” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/6). Poston said “no one
     bothered” the people sent by NBC at Martinsville (WASHINGTON
     POST, 4/6).  Notably, NBC’s six-year, $1.2B partnership with
     NASCAR expires this year (THE DAILY).

6.   TURTLE POWER: WOMEN’S NCAA FINALS RATINGS UP 19% FROM ‘05
          ESPN earned a 3.1/ (2,767,000 HHs) final Nielsen cable
     rating for its coverage of Tuesday night’s NCAA women’s
     basketball championship, in which Maryland defeated Duke 78-
     75 in overtime.  The rating marks increases of 19.2% and
     16.8%, respectively, from a 2.6 rating and 2,369,099 HHs for
     last year’s Baylor-Michigan State championship game.  The
     women’s tournament was the most viewed ever on ESPN, as the
     net averaged a 1,322,717 HHs, up 31% from last year. The 1.5
     average rating for the tournament is up 15.4% from last year
     and ties the ’04 tournament as the highest-rated ever.  For
     women’s Final Four coverage, ESPN drew a two-game average of
     2.1/ (1,842,586 HHs).  Maryland-North Carolina posted a 2.0/
     (1,777,000) in the earlier window, down 9.1% from a 2.2/
     (1,938,000) for Baylor-LSU last year. The late game
     featuring Duke-LSU garnered a 2.1/ (1,931,000), down 22.2%
     from a 2.7/ (2,455,000) for Michigan State-Tennessee last
     year (THE DAILY).
          SUNDAY SCHOOL: ESPN2’s broadcast of the Indians-White
     Sox MLB season opener Sunday night earned a 1.2/ (1,092,000
     HHs) Nielsen rating while airing opposite the Final Four
     (THE DAILY).  In Cleveland, Roger Brown wrote, “That’s not
     bad for a game that had a three-hour rain delay and didn’t
     end until 2:10am [ET]” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/5).  SI’s
     Peter King wrote that he “found it incredible that the
     semifinals of the women's Final Four, not the opening game
     of the baseball season, featuring the world champion White
     Sox, was on ESPN Sunday night, shuttling the baseball game
     to ESPN2.”  Since “most cable subscribers don't get ESPN2 in
     high-def,” King added, “This is a major slap in the face to
     baseball” (SI.com, 4/3).

7.   WALSH ON BONDS: ESPN EXEC EDITOR DEFENDS NEW SERIES
          ESPN Exec Editor John Walsh appeared on WFAN’s “Mike &
     the Mad Dog” to discuss “Bonds on Bonds,” EOE’s weekly
     series on Barry Bonds produced by Tollin/Robbins.  Walsh
     stressed the network’s philosophy that EOE is separate from
     ESPN’s news division and said, “This is an authorized
     biography very similar to what a publishing company would
     do.”  Bonds did not address his alleged use of steroids on
     Tuesday’s premiere episode, and Walsh said, “It doesn’t seem
     that he’s open to talking about (steroids) and certainly our
     news operation is as aggressive as we can possibly be to try
     and get (answers to his steroid allegations).” WFAN’s Chris
     Russo asked Walsh, “It doesn’t make your skin crawl that you
     made a deal with (Bonds)?”  Walsh responded, “We did the
     right thing.  When history’s going to judge this man and
     this man’s life, they’re going to be able to look at
     something like this and say, ‘I know something more about
     the guy than I knew before.’” Walsh, on many at ESPN not
     agreeing with the decision to move forward on the show: “We
     have a culture at ESPN where if people want to speak their
     mind they can speak their mind and we listen to all points
     of view before making decisions.”  Walsh said ESPN “will
     lose money” on the project but the network went ahead with
     it because “we think it’s an interesting document for
     history” (YES Network, 4/5).
          BONDS RATINGS: ESPN2’s premiere of “Bonds on Bonds”
     earned a 0.4/ (336,000 HHs) cable Nielsen rating on Tuesday,
     even with what ESPN2 normally gets in the time slot.  Among
     18-34 year olds, the show rated a 0.6 and among 18-49 demo
     it got an 0.4 (THE DAILY).  The show earned a 1.2 in the Bay
     Area (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/6).
          BONDS REVIEWS: In N.Y., Charles McGrath writes the
     “Bonds on Bonds” series “won’t do much to repair [Bonds’]
     already tarnished image.  Bonds makes an effort here to open
     up and reveal the maligned and misunderstood inner Barry -–
     or he makes a show of making an effort, at any rate –- but
     he whiffs all the same” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6).  In Dallas, Kevin
     Blackistone writes the show is “hardly the ‘documentary’
     that ESPN has tagged it.”  It “is not journalism. ... At
     best, it is the idea of a pro athlete’s Web site ... taken
     to information technology’s newest nth degree: video blog.
     At worst, which is where it appears to be, ‘Bonds on Bonds’
     is no more than a situational comedy, save the laughs”
     (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/6).  The Boston Globe’s Jackie
     MacMullan said of the show’s debut, “How many times is
     (Bonds) going to tell us, ‘I don’t care.’ ...  If you don’t
     care what people think, you don’t sign a contract with ESPN
     for millions of dollars to have a reality show” (“Around the
     Horn,” ESPN, 4/5).  ESPN’s Michael Wilbon added, “The show
     is not going to do anything for me to change what I think
     about Barry Bonds” (“PTI, ESPN, 4/6).  But in California,
     Michael Lev writes the show is “about as balanced as can
     be.”  There are “inherent conflicts in a show like this –-
     but you can say that about a lot of programming and content
     at ESPN.”  Tollin/Robbins “tried hard to present both sides
     of the various Bonds-related controversies” in the first
     episode (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 4/6).
          NEXT UP FOR EOE: EOE, again in conjunction with
     Tollin/Robbins, is developing “The Bronx is Burning,” a
     scripted eight-episode series about the Yankees’ first World
     Series championship under George Steinbrenner in ’77, which
     came amid the Son of Sam serial killings, racial tension in
     N.Y., a mayoral race among Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo and Bella
     Abzug and a city-wide blackout.  The series is based on the
     book, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning” by
     Jonathan Mahler (THE DAILY). The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Paul
     Gough reports EOE is working on a multiplatform documentary
     series on Muhammad Ali’s “musical contributions” and a
     fantasy-sports show debuting during the NFL season.
     ESPN.com is planning to debut a “state-of-the-art media
     player that will be used across all of its digital assets”
     (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/6).

8.   MEDIA NOTES
          ESPN has re-signed NFL analyst Michael Irvin to a new
     multi-year contract.  Irvin said that he will stay on as an
     analyst for “Sunday NFL Countdown” and will be part of the
     net’s new “MNF” pregame show (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,
     4/6)....In a review of Mobile ESPN, USA TODAY’s Edward Baig
     writes, “As a sports nut, I cheer many of the ESPN phone’s
     features.”  But the service is “pricey and hamstrung in a
     few ways.”   Finding ESPN content “is a slam dunk.  You
     press a dedicated ‘E’ button above the phone’s menu/ok
     button.”  If you “live for sports ... [Mobile] ESPN is just
     the right ticket” (USA TODAY, 4/6).
          NOT-SO-CANDID CAMERA: The Society of Professional
     Journalists sent letters to the NFL, team owners and
     government officials yesterday protesting the league’s ban
     on local TV cameras on the sidelines during games (BOSTON
     HERALD, 4/6).  Meanwhile, representatives from the APSE
     “plan to discuss the issue this month” during a meeting with
     NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  APSE President and
     Minneapolis Star Tribune Sports Editor Glen Crevier said,
     “We will certainly make our feelings known and express our
     concerns” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/6).
          MLB: Dish Network has agreed to carry the 55 Marlins
     games that have moved from WPXM-Pax to either FSN Florida or
     Sun Sports.  DirecTV and Atlantic Broadband are the only
     carriers who are currently not televising those games (MIAMI
     HERALD, 4/6)....FSN South viewers in North Carolina did not
     see the final innings of Braves-Dodgers on Monday because of
     the net’s “contractual obligations” to switch to the start
     of Capitals-Hurricanes.  Braves-Dodgers started at 4:00pm
     ET, but ran for three hours and ten minutes, overlapping
     with the 7:00pm start for Capitals-Hurricanes.  FSN South
     Dir of PR Jamie Kimbrough said, “We normally budget three
     hours for a baseball game. ... We gambled and got bitten”
     (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/6).

 

9.   ROONEY, RICHARDSON TO LEAD SEARCH FOR NEW NFL COMMISSIONER
          Steelers Chair Dan Rooney and Panthers Owner Jerry
     Richardson will co-chair the committee to find a new NFL
     commissioner to replace Paul Tagliabue.  The committee is
     expected to hire an executive recruitment firm soon.  The
     chart below lists the eight members of the committee.

          THE SEARCH: In N.Y., Judy Battista notes Tagliabue
     “will not make a recommendation to the owners.”  Kraft said
     that each committee member will be “assigned at least three
     other owners with whom he will communicate throughout the
     process.”  Kraft said, “There’s no prototype [for an ideal
     candidate].  I don’t think it’s much like corporate America
     filling a standard position.  You have to have knowledge in
     media, labor relations, finance and construction of new
     stadiums, sponsorships” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6).  In Pittsburgh,
     Joe Bendel writes the committee’s “makeup is designed to
     avoid the kind of deadlock that occurred in 1989” when
     Tagliabue was elected.  This committee “represents a broader
     spectrum than the last one, including insiders (Rooney,
     Richardson, Kraft and Hunt) and outsiders (Davis and
     Jones).”  It also includes “different perspectives on the
     revenue-sharing debate” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/6).
     ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli wrote, “The makeup of the
     committee appears to be fairly balanced among various
     ownership factions.  Notable, however, is the exclusion of
     some of the more vocal owners from low-revenue franchises,
     including [Bengals Owner Mike Brown and Bills Owner Ralph
     Wilson], the lone dissenters in the recent extension to the
     league’s [CBA]” (ESPN.com, 4/5).  In S.F., Nancy Gay writes
     Davis’ presence on the committee “ensures that the
     California franchises ... will have a voice in seeing that
     the new commissioner addresses their ongoing stadium-funding
     issues” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/6).  Kraft, on the search: “I
     think all of us involved would like to see it be done by mid-
     summer if possible and try to meet Commissioner Tagliabue’s
     deadline of July 31.  But in the end the important thing is
     that we choose the right person.”  Kraft said the “main job”
     of the search committee is to “help collate the ideas and do
     that in a way where everyone has the proper input” (“NFL
     Total Access,” NFL Network, 4/5).

      

10.  DONNA ORENDER ADDRESSES STATE OF LEAGUE AT WNBA DRAFT
          WNBA President Donna Orender said that the league
     issued an estimated 78 media credentials for yesterday’s
     WNBA Draft at TD Banknorth Garden, up from 22 credentials
     last year, according to Monique Walker of the BOSTON GLOBE.
     This was the first year that the WNBA Draft was held the day
     after the NCAA women’s basketball championship game in the
     same city.  Orender: “It’s been tremendous.  There were a
     lot of promotional benefits and a lot of great business
     benefits as well.”  Orender added that there “has not been a
     decision on the future site of the WNBA Draft, but she was
     pleased with the event” in Boston (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/6).
          STATE OF THE LEAGUE: In her state of the league address
     before the draft, Orender said, “Our business has grown
     substantially since 2005.  Global distribution, Internet --
     when you begin to look at audiences that consume sports, you
     really have to look at the aggregated base that does take
     you in because we’re a mobile society now. But to give you
     some specifics: The number of viewers doubled for our All-
     Star Game last year; playoff ratings were up 30% on ESPN2;
     and regular-season ratings increased in all demographics.
     But specifically, we’re showing significant and encouraging
     growth in key, female demographics. For the sixth
     consecutive year, WNBA programming was shown in more
     countries and more languages than ever before –- a record
     193 countries, 78 more than our distribution in 1999.
     WNBA.com saw double-digit growth as well in visitors to the
     site, and Webcasted a record number of our games.  And with
     the re-design that we have planned for this year, we
     anticipate that our WNBA.com business will continue to grow
     exponentially.” Orender, on expansion: “We continue to have
     discussions with multiple ownership groups. ... We feel
     optimistic that in the next several years we will have a
     couple of new teams.”  Orender noted partnerships signed
     over the last year with Toyota, T-Mobile and Ocean Spray and
     said, “Over the next few weeks there are several more to
     come” (WNBA).
          HITTING HOME: Meanwhile, several teams chose players
     with regional connections in the first round of the draft,
     including the Sting at No. 3 with Duke G/F Monique Currie;
     the Silver Stars at No. 4 with Baylor F Sophia Young; and
     the Sparks at No. 5 with UCLA G Lisa Willis (THE DAILY).
     Sting GM Trudi Lacey said that Currie attending Duke “was
     just a bonus.”  Lacey: “We based our decision solely on
     making our team better.”  Silver Stars coach Dan Hughes said
     that there “was no plan it just worked out that way.”
     Hughes: “Those three picks are good for the kids, good for
     the franchises and good for the league” (USA TODAY, 4/6).
     Notably, the Bobcats, who are under the same ownership as
     the Sting, selected two Univ. of North Carolina players -–
     Raymond Felton and Sean May –- in last year’s NBA Draft.
          AD TIME: The WNBA yesterday unveiled a new brand
     campaign called “Have You Seen Her?” during draft coverage
     on ESPN2, ESPNU and NBA TV.  Both the 60-second version on
     ESPN2 and the 30-second version on ESPNU and NBA TV feature
     the song “Rush,” by Aly & AJ, and focus on the abilities and
     personalities of WNBA players. The spots going forward will
     air during nationally-televised NBA and WNBA games on ABC,
     ESPN, ESPN2, TNT and NBA TV (WNBA).

         To view and grade one ad in the campaign, visit 
    SportsBusinessDaily.com.

11.  SONICS HIRE ADVISERS TO LOOK AT SALE, RELOCATION OPTIONS
          Sonics President Wally Walker said that the team “has
     hired advisers to ‘explore options,’ including a possible
     sale of the team,” according to Jim Brunner of the SEATTLE
     TIMES. Walker added that the team “also will consider
     building an arena elsewhere in the region instead of staying
     at Seattle-owned KeyArena after the team’s lease expires in
     2010.”  Walker said a sale of the Sonics and WNBA Storm “has
     never been our preferred option, but given time running
     short on our current lease, we must contemplate all
     scenarios.  This ownership group has no interest in owning
     professional basketball franchises outside of the state of
     Washington.”  He said that the team “has received ‘numerous
     inquiries’ about the franchise,” but provided no details
     (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/6).  Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire
     said that Seattle “should forge a deal with the Sonics about
     a $200[M] KeyArena remodel or the city should throw in the
     towel so the ... team can pursue other options” in the
     state.  Gregoire spokesperson Holly Armstrong said,
     “Something’s got to move.  The outcome becomes worse for the
     state the longer it’s put off.  This is the city’s deal.
     And the governor encourages them to do something sooner than
     later” (McGann & Galloway, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/6).

12.  NBA FRANCHISE NOTES: NETS’ “INFLUENCER” CONCEPT CATCHING ON
          The Rockets will hold 15-20 “influencer” parties
     between now and the start of next season to “persuade guests
     to become Rockets season-ticket holders,” according to David
     Kaplan of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Nets Sports & Entertainment
     President & CEO Brett Yormark is credited with creating the
     concept, and NBA Senior VP/Marketing & Team Business
     Operations Scott O’Neil said that this summer, “a number of
     NBA teams” will hold similar parties.  The host of the
     Rockets’ first party last week, Woodforest National Bank,
     owns a suite, club seats and floor seats at Toyota Center
     and is a team sponsor.  Rockets G Tracy McGrady said, “I
     didn’t hesitate to participate. The Rockets do a lot for
     me.”  Nets VP/PR Barry Baum said that the Nets sell “about
     $75,000 worth of tickets per event, and the parties are a
     big reason ticket sales jumped 20[%] this year over last”
     (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/6).
          MAGIC: The Magic will offer a “franchise-high 9,752
     seats at $30 or less per game next season,” and will add 140
     courtside seats, bringing the total to 226.  The new
     courtside seats increase TD Waterhouse Centre’s seating
     capacity from 17,283 to 17,423.  Some ad signage will be
     “eliminated to create room” for the seats.  Also, a new $20
     ticket in the lower bowl will be offered.  The average
     ticket price for ’06-07 will be $45.67 -- $1.87 less than
     this season (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/6).
          BLAZERS: In Portland, Kerry Eggers wrote with NBA
     Commissioner David Stern withdrawing “from the process of
     attempting to help broker” a Rose Garden deal between the
     city of Portland and the Trail Blazers, “Could it be that
     [Stern], frustrated that [Portland Arena Management]
     officials didn’t immediately cave in and provide whatever
     deal he envisions, is merely posturing, trying to apply
     pressure to the Rose Garden operators?”  PAM attorney Rich
     Josephson said, “I have a hard time finding another
     explanation for it.”  In a letter to PAM, Stern wrote that
     the NBA “made a proposal for selling the team and arena
     together for as much as $300[M], with a 50-50 split between
     the Blazers and PAM.”  But Josephson said, “In a separate
     conversation in which (Stern) was not involved, the 50-50
     concept was thrown out.”  Eggers: “My guess is, Stern will
     be back at some point, trying to help [Trail Blazers Owner
     Paul] Allen sell to a party that will own both the team and
     the building” (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 4/4).

13.  NATIONALS SAY ALMOST 10,000 SEATS UNSOLD FOR HOME OPENER
          Almost 10,000 of RFK Stadium’s 45,520 seats remain
     unsold for the Nationals’ home opener April 11 against the
     Mets, according to Thomas Heath of the WASHINGTON POST.
     While Nationals President Tony Tavares expects a “surge in
     sales in the last few days before the game,” SportsCorp
     President Marc Ganis said, “This indicates the newness of
     the Nationals having worn down a bit and of not having an
     owner in place to give it (an) identity and to market the
     team aggressively, and of playing in what many consider to
     be a substandard stadium.  Until they get a new owner and a
     new stadium, this team is going to have challenges.” Tavares
     expects to draw 2.6 million fans this season, compared to
     2.73 in ’05, and said that the team’s 85% season-ticket
     renewal rate is below the 90% mark “that most baseball teams
     consider” successful.  The team has sold about 18,000 season-
     ticket packages for this season, down from about 21,000 last
     year.  Heath notes that some “prime seat locations” that
     were supposed to be reserved for season-ticket plans were
     “released to the general public and bought on an individual
     game basis,” which made it “difficult for the Nationals to
     sell the rest of the games as part of a season ticket plan.”
     Tavares: “I can sell you a 81-game season ticket package,
     but for six or seven of the games you are going to be
     sitting somewhere else.  It complicates and diminishes our
     ability to sell season tickets.”  Tavares indicated that the
     “problem stemmed” from the conversion from Ticketmaster to
     MLB-owned Tickets.com as the official ticket distributor
     this season, but some Nationals employees said that ticket
     sales “could have been better organized by the team’s front
     office” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6).

14.  AVERAGE SALARY FOR MLBERS UP 9% OVER START OF LAST SEASON
          The average Opening Day salary for an MLB player this
     season is $2,866,544M, up 8.9% from last year’s $2,632,655,
     according to Ronald Blum of the AP.  The three highest-paid
     players all play for the Yankees: 3B Alex Rodriguez ($25.7M)
     tops the list for the sixth-straight year, followed by SS
     Derek Jeter ($20.6M) and 1B Jason Giambi ($20.4M).  Giants
     LF Barry Bonds is forth ($20M) and Astros 1B Jeff Bagwell
     ($19.3M) is fifth.
          TEAM GAME: The Yankees’ MLB-high Opening Day payroll
     dropped from $205.9M last season to $198.7M this season,
     according to AP figures.  The Red Sox are second with
     $120.1M, followed by the Angels ($103.6M), White Sox
     ($102.9M) and Mets ($100.9M).  The Marlins’ league-low
     $14.9M is the “lowest figure for any team at the start of a
     season since” the Pirates and Expos in ’98.  MLB President &
     COO Bob DuPuy: “There are still concerns at both the top and
     the bottom.  The goal would be to get a tighter range that
     would ensure that even more than 20 clubs at Labor Day still
     have a chance to compete for playoff spots, that playoff
     spots are based on skill and talent and blossoming stars and
     not just on plugging holes with economics.”  The following
     presents the AP’s estimate of Opening Day team salaries with
     comparisons to the data from last season (AP, 4/5).

          See yesterday’s issue of THE DAILY for USA Today’s
     salary survey.
          LEAGUE DIVIDE: SI’s Tom Verducci in an examination of
     AL and NL teams writes, “Rarely has the imbalance between
     the leagues been so pronounced.  In an SI poll in which
     [GMs] were asked to rank the game’s 10 best teams, eight of
     the top 11 clubs were in the AL.”  One AL advance scout
     said, “The National League is a joke, and you really see the
     difference when you’re in interleague play.  Put it this
     way: We’re always looking to go 10 games over .500 in
     interleague play when we start the season.”  The Yankees and
     Red Sox each spent over 20% more on payroll last season than
     any other team, and Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd said, “They have
     an effect.  You saw it with [the White Sox] last year and a
     team like [the Blue Jays] this year.  It forces you to raise
     the level of your play” (SI, 4/10 issue).

      

15.  PIRATES’ FULL-SEASON EQUIVALENTS UP 20% FROM LAST SEASON
          The Pirates have sold 11,071 full season-ticket
     equivalents, up 20% from 9,251 last year and a 42% increase
     over the ’04 season.  This season’s total marks the most
     season-ticket equivalents since PNC Park opened in ’01.  The
     Pirates host the All-Star Game this season and one of the
     only teams in MLB that has not raised ticket prices over the
     past four seasons (Pirates).  In Pittsburgh, Kevin Gorman
     reports the Pirates are “eyeing an attendance goal of 2
     million and are hoping the PNC Park improvements help their
     cause.”  The team introduced “new, high-tech amenities
     designed to improve game-day operations and a new playing
     surface, lights and a paint job” at PNC Park.  At the
     ballpark’s ten ticket kiosks, fans for a $1 service fee can
     “bypass the will-call window and pick up pre-paid tickets or
     purchase new tickets by simply sliding a credit card.”  PNC
     Park also has new blue paint on steel structures, new lights
     in all seven light towers, new padding on the infield and
     outfield walls, and new carpeting in the suites and club-
     level seating (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/6).

16.  MLB FRANCHISE NOTES: D’RAYS EYEING POSSIBLE NAME CHANGE
          D’Rays President Matt Silverman said that the team “met
     a March 31 deadline to inform [MLB] it was considering”
     changing its name.  The team has until May 31 to commit to a
     name change, which would take place for the ’07 season.  The
     club will “begin studying a potential name change and begin
     asking fans for ideas” after its April 10 home opener
     against the Orioles.  Silverman said, “We’ll go through an
     exhaustive study of it and also engage our fans in the
     process before we make any final decisions” (Tisch, Weimar &
     Hau, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/6).
          DO IT AGAIN: In Chicago, Mark Konkol reported the White
     Sox have a new marketing campaign titled “Again,” via Two-by-
     Four, Chicago.  While last year’s campaign, “Win or Die
     Trying,” revolved around players, the new campaign will
     center on fans.  The campaign includes print, TV, radio and
     outdoor elements.  Season tickets are sold out, but the
     team’s marketing goal “remains to build fan support and sell
     remaining seats” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/5).
          ONE GAME AT A TIME: The Yankees will stop selling
     season-ticket packages at midnight on Sunday.  The team has
     sold over 33,000 full-season equivalents and wants to keep
     tickets available for individual games (Mult., 4/6).

 

17.  HOUSE BUILDERS: NEW YANKEES BALLPARK WINS COUNCIL APPROVAL
          The N.Y. City Council “overwhelmingly authorized” the
     construction of a new ballpark for the Yankees in the Bronx
     “despite opposition from parks advocates and residents in
     the surrounding community,” according to Winnie Hu of the
     N.Y. TIMES.  The ballpark plan gained support in the council
     after the Yankees agreed to contribute $50M over 20 years
     “to underwrite programs for Bronx community groups.”  The
     team will pay for the construction of the park through $930M
     in city-issued bonds, of which $860M is tax exempt.  The
     club will “pay back the bonds through payments in lieu of
     taxes to the city,” forcing taxpayers to “bear some of the
     costs.”  The Yankees will not pay rent for the stadium, but
     will be “responsible for the maintenance and operation costs
     and any capital improvements.”  N.Y. will spend at least
     $138M to tear down Yankee Stadium and on park initiatives.
     The state of New York will contribute $70M towards the $320M
     needed to build four parking garages, with the remainder
     coming from developers.  Council members said that their
     approval of the stadium financing plan at an April 26
     meeting “was more of a formality at this point.”  Yankees
     President Randy Levine said that construction on the new
     ballpark “could begin as soon as this spring” (N.Y. TIMES,
     4/6).  Opponents of the ballpark plan are “plotting a court
     battle and also hope to persuade the federal government to
     stall the project” (N.Y. POST, 4/6).

18.  AUGUSTA NATIONAL IN MIDST OF BUYING SPREE FOR CLUB EXPANSION
          Augusta National Golf Club is “engaged in an
     unprecedented buying spree of neighboring commercial and
     residential properties” to accommodate new practice areas,
     parking lots and “possibly for further course expansion and
     buildings to house corporate hospitality,” according to Ron
     Sirak of GOLF WORLD.  Real-estate records show Augusta
     National since ‘99 has bought 53 lots for $22.9M “either
     directly or through surrogate corporations.”  The land would
     allow the club “to build an expanded, state-of-the-art
     practice range by 2011.”  Augusta National’s plans for a new
     practice facility “were delayed after the club released its
     television sponsors of their financial obligations” for the
     ’03 and ’04 Masters.  After bringing sponsors back last
     year, the club “moved into action for an expansion plan that
     will increase its total land area by more than 60 acres.”
     Augusta National Chair Hootie Johnson last year said, “We
     could go on indefinitely without sponsors. ... [But] this
     will be pretty demanding financially.  It would stretch out
     a long time without the sponsors.”  Sources said that the
     club is “intent on improving” the Washington Road commercial
     area that fronts the club’s main gate, where a “significant
     portion” of the acquired land is located.  However, the
     sources “denied knowledge of any plan to create off-course
     corporate hospitality facilities” (GOLF WORLD, 4/7 issue).

 

19.  CAA IN TALKS TO ACQUIRE ANOTHER BIG HITTER AT IMG
     By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

          Creative Artists Agency, which announced Wednesday that
     it had acquired the practices of IMG football agent TOM
     CONDON and his longtime partner KEN KREMER, may be close to
     a deal to acquire the practice of IMG baseball agent CASEY
     CLOSE, sources said.  JEFFREY KESSLER, attorney for Close,
     would not comment on that, but said Close was talking to a
     number of different entities. “Casey Close has not made a
     decision yet. He will make a decision about what he is doing
     in the next few days.” Kessler also represented Condon, as
     well as IMG broadcast agent SANDY MONTAG in their
     discussions with potential acquirers.  Montag, meanwhile,
     confirmed that he will not leave IMG. “I have been at IMG
     for 20 years and I will continue to stay at IMG,” he said.
     Montag would not say whether the company re-negotiated his
     contract in order to keep him.  CAA becomes the third
     Hollywood agency with a dedicated sports department, joining
     the Gersh Agency and William Morris.

20.  THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH NASCAR DRIVER BILL LESTER
          Two days after Bill Lester became just the sixth
     African-American driver to start a race in the 57-year
     history of NASCAR’s elite series and the first in 20 years,
     the media glare surrounding his accomplishment still shone
     brightly. The Atlanta resident started 19th and finished
     38th in the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on
     March 20.  Lester, 45, graduated with an electrical
     engineering and computer science degree from the Univ. of
     California at Berkeley and in a previous professional life
     worked for Hewlett-Packard, but 18 years ago he left the
     trappings of a high-paying corporate job to pursue his dream
     of driving professionally. After becoming the first black
     driver to compete in a NASCAR Busch Series race at Watkins
     Glen in ‘99, he moved in ‘02 to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
     Series. His goal now is to land a full-time ride in the
     Nextel Cup Series.  With support from Houston-based Waste
     Management, primary sponsor of his Bill Davis Racing truck
     series entry and for three scheduled Cup races this season,
     Lester is auditioning for a seat in one of BDR’s Toyota
     Camrys next season. With the manufacturer coming into Nextel
     Cup in ‘07 and at a time when NASCAR is working hard to
     drive diversity, Lester could be at the forefront of a stock-
     car racing revolution. As correspondent Kris Johnson
     discovered during a March 22 phone conversation, however,
     Lester is much more interested in proving himself as a race
     car driver than being recognized as a pioneer for social
     progress.

          Favorite song: “Stay Fly” by Three 6 Mafia.
          Personal hero: My two heroes are my father and the late
     AYRTON SENNA, the Formula One driver from Brazil.
          Pet peeve: People on cell phones while they’re driving.
          Favorite vacation spot: The fact is, since I live out
     of a suitcase, I don’t really like to vacation. I like to be
     at home [in Atlanta]. That’s pretty much it: I like to be at
     home.
          Best piece of advice you’ve received: Stay focused and
     determined.

          Q: You finished 38th at Atlanta and said afterward that
     you were embarrassed to be in the post-race news conference
     with MARK MARTIN and DALE EARNHARDT JR. Why did you feel
     that way?
          Lester: The attention that I got or that I was getting
     [then], I didn’t really feel was deserved. The fact is, the
     winner, KASEY KAHNE, and second and third place should have
     been up there. The attention that I’ve got has been
     overwhelming. It was embarrassing because I’m not all that
     particularly proud of a 38th-place finish.

          Q: Do you feel like a symbol of social change as
     someone who is helping to create acceptance in the NASCAR
     realm?
          Lester: I’ve been thrust into that position, but that’s
     nothing that I signed up for. But it’s essentially
     [something] that goes along with the territory. It’s a
     responsibility that I understand I now pretty much have to
     hold, so I accept it.

          Q: Is there pressure on you carrying that banner at
     all?
          Lester: There’s no pressure. Nobody can put more
     pressure on me than the pressure I put on myself.

          Q: Have you ever been confronted with racism directly
     in the garage or by fans?
          Lester: Absolutely not.

          Q: Let me ask you about NASCAR’s “Drive for Diversity”
     program. It seems like they’ve done a lot in a short amount
     of time. What have you seen as the most tangible gains since
     that effort started a few years ago?
          Lester: I’d say probably just the changing of the hue
     in the garage area with regard to crew members and the like,
     officials and crew members, and not just from the standpoint
     of color but as far as gender, too.

          Q: What remains left to do in the short term?
          Lester: Just continue to change, that’s really what it
     comes down to. ... I mean, Rome’s not built in a day, and
     it’s going to take a while for the situation to be that we
     no longer talk about diversity and inclusion. That’s when we
     know that the program has been successful.

          Q: Shifting over to the ownership side of things, and
     the story of JULIUS ERVING and JOE WASHINGTON trying to
     launch a Cup team stands out in particular, why do you think
     it has been such a struggle for minorities?
          Lester: Well, I mean, [TROY AIKMAN- and ROGER STAUBACH-
     led] Hall of Fame Racing took three years or so to do it.
     They didn’t do it overnight. It took a long time for them
     and they finally secured the sponsorship. And that’s what it
     is all about: This sport is driven by money. As long as
     there isn’t equal opportunity to procure it, and what I mean
     by that is you have to have a situation where a program
     that’s non-mainstream has the same opportunity, the same
     chance of getting that sponsorship than mainstream [groups].
     At this point, that’s not the case. The accessibility hasn’t
     been the same.

          Q: Would you ever have an interest in ownership?
          Lester: It’s too early to tell, but more than likely
     not. People tell me that my career will probably be in front
     of a camera. ... My interest [now] is singularly focused on
     driving, but I’ve had the experience and exposure of
     television and I’ve enjoyed that. More than likely I would
     venture that that’s where my future might go, but it’s
     entirely too early for me to be talking about that. I
     haven’t really spent much time thinking about it.

          Q: How do you assess your chances of being in one of
     Bill Davis Racing’s Toyota Cup cars next year?
          Lester: Well, I have to demonstrate that I deserve the
     opportunity. So far, I’ve yet to feel comfortable that I’ve
     done that. I need to have more opportunities to show my
     talent, and once that occurs, that’s probably a better time
     to ask me the question.

          Q: What advantages, if any, do you have as an African-
     American in attracting new sponsorship dollars?
          Lester: I would say probably just the uniqueness of
     being able to appeal to even a broader market than my white
     counterpart would.

          Q: Waste Management has been with you as a sponsor in
     trucks since ‘04. How active are you with them? What are
     some of the activities and programs that go along with that
     sponsorship?
          Lester: I’ve done a number of speaking engagements.
     I’ve also supported their “Support the Corps” function that
     took place in San Diego. So, whatever it is they like me to
     do and however they want to continue to integrate me, I’m
     there to support them.

          Q: What companies have you been involved with during
     your time in NASCAR?
          Lester: Dodge, Discount Auto Parts, Coca-Cola,
     Valvoline, Precision Tune Auto Care, RaceDay on Fox, Sears
     Craftsman. There’s been a number of companies that have been
     supportive of what I’ve done and what I’m doing.

          Q: What else can NASCAR do to attract fans of color to
     the sport? Is there a way they can make inroads as a
     sanctioning body to bring in more minorities?
          Lester: Not that I can think of.

21.  EXECUTIVE TRANSACTIONS
          ESPN announced a new executive management structure.
     ESPN/ABC Sports Customer Marketing & Sales with ED ERHARDT
     is continuing in his role as ESPN/ABC Sports Customer
     Marketing & Sales President.  Senior VP MICHAEL ROONEY was
     promoted to Exec VP/Multimedia Sales.  The group also named
     SEAN HANRAHAN Senior VP/Marketing & Promotions; JEFF SIEGEL
     Senior VP/Regional Sales, Direct Response & Emerging Media;
     OLIVER DIZON Senior VP/Strategic Sales Planning & Revenue
     Enhancement; MICHAEL FOX VP/ESPN Int’l Advertising Sales;
     and LORI LEBAS Senior VP/Strategy & Business Operations.  In
     addition, ESPN Enterprises Senior Dir of Finance & Business
     Development RAPHAEL POPLOCK will now oversee ESPN
     Interactive Gaming as Senior Dir (THE DAILY).
          NGB: The USOC appointed JENNIFER GABRIUS and AMY SAVELA
     Interim co-General Counsels, where they will oversee all
     legal issues concerning the organization.  Gabrius will also
     serve as Corporate Secretary.  Savela joined the USOC in ’04
     as Assistant General Counsel (USOC)....USA Swimming named
     Urban League VP/Programs JOHN CRUZAT to the newly-created
     position of Diversity Specialist (USA Swimming).

          Do you have an executive announcement? If so, please
     send to editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
                                                                 

22.  NAMES IN THE NEWS
          IOC President JACQUES ROGGE said that baseball “needs
     to address concerns about doping among athletes if the sport
     wants to be reinstated to the Olympics.”  Rogge: “We still
     have issues about doping.  Progress has been made, but not
     to the level where the Olympic family would accept it” (AP,
     4/6)....Vice President DICK CHENEY will throw out the first
     pitch for the Nationals’ home opener at RFK Stadium next
     Tuesday (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/6)....Former 76ers Owner PAT
     CROCE last night led a video presentation at a community
     meeting in Philadelphia regarding his and DONALD TRUMP’s
     TRUMPSTREET casino proposal.  The meeting “quickly
     deteriorated into a shouting match between sign-waving
     proponents and opponents of the project” (PHILADELPHIA
     INQUIRER, 4/6)....The GOLF WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
     presented JACK NICKLAUS with the ASAP SPORTS/JIM MURRAY
     AWARD, given annually to a golfer for his “cooperation,
     quotability and accommodation of the media, and for
     reflecting the most positive aspects of the working
     relationship between athlete and journalist” (AUGUSTA.com,
     4/6).

 

23.  MISSING THE CUT: PGA TOUR NIELSEN RATINGS SEASON-TO-DATE
          The following presents PGA Tour event ratings through
     April 2, with comparisons to ’05.  Also presented are
     tournament finishes for Tiger Woods in ’06 and ’05.  Final-
     round ratings declined for nine of the 13 events presented
     (THE DAILY).

          NOTES: Marks for cable networks are coverage area
     ratings and are not provided to the hundredth decimal.  DNP
     = Did not play.  ^ = ABC provided coverage in '05.  ^^ = No
     golf played during ’05 Saturday coverage due to rain.
     Sunday coverage featured the tournament’s second- and final-
     round of play.  ^! = Saturday and Sunday coverage aired from
     11:00pm-1:00am.  ^$ = NBC’s ‘05 Saturday coverage of The
     Players Championship is considered second-round play, while
     Sunday’s coverage is of second- and third-round play.  The
     final round took place the following Monday and earned a 2.5
     rating.  + = Saturday '05 coverage was of first-round play,
     while Sunday coverage was of second-round play (THE DAILY).

      

25.  STREET & SMITH’S SPORTS BUSINESS GROUP HAS IMMEDIATE OPENING
          Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness
     Daily has an immediate opening for a sports media and hockey
     beat writer.  Candidates should have three to five years
     experience covering a sports business beat and have
     established industry sources and contacts. Emphasis will be
     on breaking exclusive news and advancing stories, balanced
     by reporting on trends and handling personality pieces.
     Position is based in New York City. If interested, please
     send resume, clips and salary history to
     jobs@sportsbusinessjournal.com, with the subject headline:
     Media/Hockey Writer.

26.  MAY 1 SBJ EXAMINES THE STATE OF ACTION SPORTS IN THE U.S.
          As the ESPN X Games grow globally and with year two of
     the NBC/Clear Channel Dew Action Sports Tour in the United
     States set to begin, the action sports space is competitive
     as ever. SBJ will look at the state of participation,
     professional development, manufacturing and licensing, as
     well as the global growth, increasing sponsorship and
     television support. Where is corporate spending supporting
     action sports? What is being done at the grass roots level?
     What are the next trends you need to be aware of that the
     key personalities and deal makers to watch? Publishing Date:
     May 1.  Closing Date: April 17.  To advertise, call your
     local SportsBusiness Journal sales representative or ad
     director Julie Tuttle at 212-500-0711.



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