Quote of the Day
“I mean, you don't
go buy a Ferrari
and expect to get a Volkswagen price."
-- Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan, on the $190 price of his new Air Jordan 2009 sneakers (CNBC.com, 1/8).
Top Stories
Fox' Overnight Rating Up 9% Over Last Year Florida's BCS National Championship win over Oklahoma earns Fox a healthy 17.0 overnight rating, up 9% from last year, but the news is not all positive for the network. The coverage of the title game is roundly criticized, as observers pan everything from the announcers to the camerawork. Play-by-play man Thom Brennaman takes the most heat for his excessive "deification" of Florida QB Tim Tebow and his confusion over the downs, though former OU coach Barry Switzer also earns criticism for his lack of objectivity. Meanwhile, the title game sets a benchmark as the first live, nationally distributed 3-D HD telecast. The nascent technology draws mixed reviews early, as the coverage is marred by missed plays and occasional bad angles. Still, it's clear 3-D HD is the wave of the future, as Mark Cuban acknowledges the technology is only in the "first inning" of its evolution.
Rocky Mountain Low
The Bonham Group shutters operations; Dean Bonham opens European shop.
Running With The Bulls
Fenway Sports Group joins PBR as its exclusive third-party sponsorship sales agency.
Placing Their Bet
Brewers land presenting sponsorship deal with Potawatomi Bingo Casino.
My Work Here Is Done
Redskins laying off at least 20 employees; Indy Motor Speedway, WWE also make staff cuts.
Call Of The Wild
Opening weekend of NFL playoffs draws average of 25.8 million viewers per game, most since '03.
Help Coverage
Verizon, Coca-Cola sponsoring NFL towel giveaways this weekend as companies continue to activate around the playoffs.
Better In Small Packages?
Ratner may scale back enormity of Barclays Center in order to keep project afloat.
Twin Billing
Carl Pohlad remembered as a caring person and a "brilliant businessman" at funeral service.
