The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, June 28, 2001
9:00am ET
| • | Youth Is Served At The NBA Draft |
| • | SFX A Perfect 10 On Draft Night |
| • | Where’s My Elephant? Collins Puts Conditions On NJ Sports Deals |
| • | Foudy Wants To Make Soccer More Intimate |
| • | Flames Execs Work Phones To Recruit Fans |
| • | Go To Cleveland To Get Those Cards Mom Threw Out |
| • | Saints and LA Officials Back On Speaking Terms? |
| • | It Takes Less Than A Week For Rocker To Fire Back At Braves |
AS PREPSTERS DOMINATE NBA DRAFT, LEAGUE SEES NO SOLUTION
While high school players were selected one-two in the NBA Draft last night and represented a total of five overall picks, NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik was asked during TNT’s coverage on whether the NBA should institute an age limit. Granik: "We would have to do it with agreement with the (NBPA). They told us they have no interest in discussing that and so at least until the next time we go into bargaining, which is three or four years away, looks like it's not going to happen." NBPA President Billy Hunter said, "Our position has been the same throughout ... and that is we feel that any player who is capable of performing in the NBA ... then he should be permitted to play." Meanwhile, TNT's Charles Barkley said, "You know what's amazing, all these guys talk about they're leaving high school or college because they want to make life better for their families. Well, God bless them. But they all got on $2,000 suits so their family's doing alright I think" (TNT, 6/27).
SFX A WINNER ON DRAFT NIGHT IN REPRESENTING FIRST-ROUND PICKS
ESPN.com reports SFX Basketball Group "blew away the competition" at the NBA Draft last night, as the agency represents 46% of the players selected in the lottery, including No. 1 pick Kwame Brown. Overall, SFX had ten clients selected in the first round, "breaking its standard set last year of nine" (ESPN.com, 6/28).
NJ SENATE LEADER TIES SPORTS PROJECTS TO HIS OWN PORK
The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports NJ Assembly Speaker Jack Collins "unexpectedly put the brakes on legislation" for the Newark arena and improved Meadowlands Sports Complex. Sources claim Collins has a "wish list" of projects for his South Jersey area before giving his support for the sports plans. The projects include two zoos, a minor league hockey rink and improvements to a rowing facility (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 6/28).
FOUDY CALLS FOR SMALLER SOCCER STADIUMS
WUSA Spirit MF Julie Foudy said on ESPN last night that soccer needs more intimate facilities in the U.S.: "Part of the key [to WUSA’s success] is they obviously have to make soccer-friendly stadiums. Right now, we're trying to play in 80,000-seat stadiums and it's not a great environment. I think eventually when we build some soccer stadiums and it becomes like 'tickets in demand’" ("Up Close," ESPN, 6/27).
GM & COACH CALL FLAMES SEASON-TICKET HOLDERS
The CALGARY SUN reports that Flames coach Greg Gilbert and GM Craig Button "are helping the club’s marketing department by speaking personally with those who cancel their seats." Flames VP/Marketing & Sales Garry McKenzie: "The hockey guys have been outstanding to work with and have done everything asked of them to help sell the game" (CALGARY SUN, 6/28).
NATIONAL SPORTS COLLECTOR’S CONVENTION OPENS TODAY
USA TODAY reports the 22nd Annual National Sports Collector’s Convention opens today in Cleveland. The four-day show has more than 900 dealers and "is the World Series of card shows." Overall attendance during the convention is expected to be 40,000 (USA TODAY, 6/28).
BENSON OFFERS TRUCE TO WAR OF WORDS WITH LA OFFICIALS
The New Orleans TIMES PICAYUNE reports "a day after talks between the state and the Saints collapsed in acrimony, team owner Tom Benson sent Gov. Foster what he called his final offer for keeping the National Football League franchise in New Orleans and asked for a meeting today." Both sides "said they are interested in reviving talks" (New Orleans TIMES PICAYUNE, 6/28).
OFF HIS ROCKER, PITCHER TAKES SHOT AT ATLANTA’S TEAM
Interviewed on WKLS-FM in Atlanta yesterday, Indians P John Rocker took some shots at his former Braves teammates by saying, "Unless you’re one of their golden boys like (Greg) Maddux and (John) Smoltz and Chipper (Jones) or (Tom) Glavine, you know that a series of mess-ups might get you a ticket out of there." Asked about the comment later, Glavine: "Why should I sit here and dog Rocker. He doesn't deserve my response" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/28).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Padres OF Tony Gwynn told USA Today Baseball Weekly that he will retire following the ’01 season. Gwynn: "I knew this would be my last year before the year started. It was predetermined" (Long Beach PRESS-TELEGRAM, 6/28)….Former XFL announcer Matt Vasgersian, on crowd behavior at the games, "There was a lot of drinking and groping in those stadiums" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/28)….The Phillies will unveil the design of their new ballpark in a press conference today at noon. The team plans to emphasize "cozy charm," and any employee "caught calling the new ballpark a stadium is fined $1, with the proceeds going to charity" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/28)….The NASDAQ will cut 137 jobs "due largely to a drastic falloff in fees collected" from IPOs (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/28).
LAUGH TRACK
NBC’s Jay Leno, on high school athletes entering the NBA Draft: "I don't like that idea. See, these kids will never attend college going right from high school. See, I think they're going to miss out on a lot. Skipping class, getting paid under the table, being choked by Bobby Knight -- you can't put a price on that" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/27).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Famous Couples."
"The inscription on their crypt reads, 'Together Again' with the dates 1902-1964 & 1896-1996."
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
All three of the national news shows, FSN’s 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report," ESPN’s 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" and CNN/SI’s 11:00pm ET "Sports Tonight" led with the NBA Draft.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who were George Burns and Gracie Allen?"
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