Quote of the Day
"If you ask a 17-year-old boy, 'Do you want to go to the X Games or the Olympics?' They'd say the X Games."
-- Edge Marketing President Mike Burg, on teens’ decreasing interest in the Olympics (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/30).
Top Stories
Annual X Games Begin Tomorrow In L.A. The annual X Games begin tomorrow in Southern California, and it is clear that action sports are part of the established American sports culture. ESPN today announces a new venture to create a top online home for all things extreme sports. The Action Sports Network launches this fall and will include such aspects as a social networking system and more original videos. Meanwhile, with the X Games preparing its 14th iteration, the event continues to try to find consistency in its offerings. Long-time X staples like skateboarding and BMX certainly remain at the heart of the event, but newcomers like Rally Car provide a much larger purse. The success of the event, though, is not in question, as sponsors like New Balance, Subaru and Taco Bell all return for ’08. And as part of THE DAILY’s ongoing action sports roundtable, adding action sports to the 2012 Olympics is discussed.
Ringing Endorsement
NBCU has sold 96% of total Games ad inventory, hopeful to surpass $1B in sales revenue.
Nash-ville Bridges
TENNESSEAN report on Predators sale reveals Bettman unaware of AEG/Leipold loans to troubled investor Boots Del Biaggio.
Room Service
Courtyard by Marriott becomes first nonofficial NFL partner to sign deal with NFL Net.
Big Men On Campus
NCAA will allow CBS to use player names in latest college football fantasy game.
Family Business
Details emerge of family tie between Rutgers AD Mulcahy, Nelligan Sports.
Radio Waves
Dispute between Griffey, Reds broadcaster brings into question acceptable limits for team-controlled media properties.
No Fun & Games
Will tightened restrictions, police clampdown in Beijing result in "fun-free" and “killjoy” Games?
New Year Resolutions
The '09 IndyCar schedule highlighted by longer season, near even number of oval, street tracks.
