The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, June 29, 2001
9:00am ET
| • | Would Falk Make A Better Talent Evaluator Than Krause? |
| • | First Slam Dunk For Grizzlies In Memphis |
| • | A Pound Of Restraint For Toronto Olympic Bid |
| • | Werner & Otten Make Boston Road Trip |
| • | Will Sunshine Dull Citrus In Orlando? |
| • | NHRA Furious About New Movie |
| • | Will It Take A Lott For New Saints Deal? |
FALK BRANDS BULLS AS DISLOYAL AFTER DRAFT DAY TRADE
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that SFX Sports Group’s David Falk said "the Bulls will be perceived as disloyal" for trading his client F Elton Brand to the Clippers in exchange for F Tyson Chandler and F Brian Skinner. Falk noted that Brand was selected as the NBA’s co-Rookie of the Year after the ’99-00 season and "his reward was for the team to say, ‘Thanks a million for the past two years…but we think we’re better off taking an unproven player.’ Do I think that sends a positive message that hard work will be rewarded? No, but I’m not running the team" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/29).
Meanwhile, Clippers Owner Donald Sterling said the team sold 300 season tickets Thursday following announcement of the Brand trade (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/29). NBC’s Jay Leno, on Chandler being traded to the Bulls: "Kids, let that be a warning to you. You don't go to college, you don't get a good education you could wind up in a dead-end job like playing for the Chicago Bulls" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/28).
GRIZZLIES GET UNANIMOUS RECOMMENDATION
The Memphis COMMERCIAL-APPEAL reports that the Grizzlies received "a unanimous recommendation for league approval" yesterday for their move to Memphis. Now, the NBA BOG has until Tuesday to vote on the recommendation, with a three-quarters majority of the votes required to approve the measure (Memphis COMMERCIAL-APPEAL, 6/29).
POUND EVENHANDED ABOUT TORONTO’S '08 BID
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Canada’s senior IOC member Dick Pound "was not exactly promoting" Toronto’s ’08 Games bid yesterday in telling city bid officials, "It’s difficult to assess the chances…It’s hard for the IOC to come back to a small country for the third time in 30 years." Beijing is considered the favorite for the ’08 Games and China has never hosted the Olympics (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/29).
RED SOX BIDDERS SEARCH FOR SUPPORT IN HUB
The BOSTON HERALD reports that "high powered bidders" for the Red Sox are "turning on the charm and turning up the heat" in the search for corporate and political support in Boston. Former Padres Managing Partner Tom Werner and former American Skiing President Les Otten met with MA House Speaker Thomas Finnernan and MA Chief of Staff Peter Forman recently. The two have also met with Mayor Tom Menino and Treasurer Shannon O’Brien (BOSTON HERALD, 6/29).
ORLANDO INVESTIGATES HOSTING SECOND BOWL GAME
The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that Florida Citrus Sports is discussing "rescuing" the Sunshine Football Classic by playing it in Orlando. While the city currently hosts the Citrus Bowl, FCS Exec Dir Chuck Rohe said of a second bowl game, "We’re looking at it, but it’s a long way from being done. Right now, there are a lot of things to work through. You’re talking about a game that needs a TV partner and a sponsor or corporate partner" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/29).
NHRA DENOUNCES “THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS”
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that the NHRA joined the IHRA in denouncing the new racing movie "The Fast and the Furious," which came in No. 1 at last weekend's Box Office. NHRA President Tom Compton said the NHRA "does not endorse the illegal street racing activities depicted" in the movie. Compton: "Drag racing is an organized sport for high-performance vehicles conducted on a safer, controlled race course" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/29).
SAINTS, FOSTER MAKE PEACE, MS ATTORNEY INTERESTED IN TEAM
The Baton Rouge ADVOCATE reports that Saints Owner Tom Benson and LA. Gov. Mike Foster, "who were at odds earlier this week, have agreed to a face-to-face meeting July 9 to hash out differences over how much the state should pay to prop up the National Football League team’s balance sheet and keep the team in New Orleans" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 6/29). Meanwhile in Biloxi, Karen Nelson writes that while U.S. Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) reportedly talked to Benson over the weekend, Lott's brother-in-law, trial lawyer Dickie Scruggs, has had "’preliminary discussions’ with three or four people he knows" in MS "’who could be quiet’" about putting together a package to buy the Saints" (Biloxi SUN-HERALD, 6/29).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Nielsen Media Research will unveil new pricing to companies and advertisers "as part of a plan to double the number of homes" in its TV sample within three years (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/29)….Former Georgetown coach John Thompson, on high schoolers entering the NBA Draft, "Probably, if I’d been in that situation, I would have done the same thing." But he added, "It’s starting to send a message that school is not important" (Baltimore SUN, 6/29)… Viacom President Mel Karmazin married Terry Malia after working with her for nearly 20 years (N.Y. POST, 6/29)….The Mariners sold out Thursday for their 10th straight game and 20th time overall (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/29).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Famous Ships."
"A highlight of the Great Lakes shipwreck museum is the bell from this ship that sank in 1975."
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
FSN’s 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Padres OF Tony Gwynn’s retirement.
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with the Suns trading G Jason Kidd for Nets G Stephon Marbury.
CNN/SI’s 11:00pm ET "Sports Tonight" also led with Kidd-Marbury.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is the Edmund Fitzgerald?"
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