The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, September 28, 2001
9:00am ET
| • | Deal Struck To Eliminate Naming Rights Deal For Soldier Field |
| • | The Night The Lights Went Out In Jacksonville: Jaguars Fail To Notch Sellout |
| • | Annual Forbes List Shows Even The Rich Feel The Affects From September 11 |
| • | Advertisers Figure Out Way To Utilize Subway System |
| • | Analyst Says Disney Faces Tough Times Thru '02 |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BEARS TO KEEP SOLDIER FIELD NAME
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that "the Bears agreed Thursday to permanently forfeit their right to sell corporate naming rights to Soldier Field – at a cost of $300 million – as part of a revised and salvaged stadium deal that includes a two-year protection for Chicago taxpayers." Bears President Ted Phillips, on the deal: "Is it an economic hit to us? Yes it is. But it makes the project a go and that’s the key." The deal includes a restructuring of the stadium bonds, "with interest payments deferred to make a local tax bailout unnecessary for two years" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/28).
JAGUARS FANS TO EXPERIENCE FIRST-EVER BLACKOUT
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that the Jaguars "fell almost 6,000 tickets short of a sellout for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns and will be forced to black out a home game on television for the first time in their seven-year history." The non-sellout "snaps a string of 50 consecutive regular-season televised home games" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/28).
FORBES 400 LIST SHOWS EVEN THE RICH LOSE MONEY
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS notes 50 members of the recently published Forbes list of the 400 richest Americans "lost $44 billion since the Sept. 11 attack." Media giants were hit hard, as Viacom Chair Sumner Redstone "lost $2.8 billion … represent[ing] nearly 28% of his net worth," and News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch "saw his net worth drop by $400 million" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/28).
Also, the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Philip Anschutz’ "net worth this year is about half what it was last year," dropping from $18.6B to $9.6B (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 9/28).
COCA-COLA LAUNCHES “IN-TUNNEL” ADS IN ATLANTA
The N.Y. TIMES reports that subway passengers in Atlanta "yesterday saw glowing full-motion ads for Dasani, the bottled water from the Coca-Cola Company." The ads, originally scheduled for a September 11th debut, "may herald a new age in outdoor advertising." The unique "’in-tunnel’ systems began appearing this summer in Europe," with Coca-Cola and adidas leading the way. The ads were produced in conjunction with England-based MotionPoster (N.Y. TIMES, 9/28).
ANALYST CUTS DISNEY’S ’02 OUTLOOK
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that a Prudential Securities analyst Katherine Styponias "lowered 2002 earnings estimates for Walt Disney Co. by nearly 29%, a sign of Wall Street’s increasing belief that the entertainment company is facing an extended period of difficulty." While Styponias projects ’02 earnings of 59 cents a share, Thomson Financial/First Call analyst consensus "projects 2002 earnings of 78 cents a share." Additionally, Thomson Financial reports that "11 of 19 analysts have lowered their fourth-quarter estimates and six analysts have dropped their 2002 estimates" for Disney (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/28).
MULTIPLE NEW HIRES FOR THE NUGGETS, INCLUDING DREXLER
As expected, the Nuggets officially named on Thursday former NBAer Clyde Drexler as Special Assistant to GM Kiki Vandeweghe. Drexler has served as head coach at the Univ. of Houston for the past two seasons. Also added to the new team are new Assistant GMs Jeff Weltman and David Fredman. Weltman joins the Nuggets after serving 13 years with the Clippers, while Fredman has been employed with the Jazz for 27 years (THE DAILY). Vandeweghe, on the hires: "(Nuggets Owner) Stan (Kroenke) was great. He’s spending some dollars, but again, it’s the same old thing: There’s no salary cap in the front office or on the coaching staff" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 9/28).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The Dutch creator of the “Anna Kournikova” virus, which "infected computers worldwide" back in February, was sentenced Thursday to 150 hours of community service (REUTERS, 9/27). …The attorney general’s office in MI said Thursday that tour operator Scott Allan Smith, who "failed to provide" Univ. of MI fans with the ’98 Rose Bowl tickets he promised, "will spend 30 days in jail and pay $47,000 in restitution." Smith had advertised a Rose Bowl game package at a cost of $1,495. But when the 200 fans from MI who signed up for the tour arrived in CA for the game, "they were told the tickets had not been purchased and that they would have to pay an additional $250 per ticket if they wanted to go to the game" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/28). …Prior to last night’s Orioles-Red Sox game, former Sox players Carlton Fisk and Dwight Evans helped present Orioles 3B Cal Ripken Jr. with a Fenway box seat and an oil painting of Fenway Park. The Sox also donated $20,000 to the Cal Ripken Jr. Division of Babe Ruth Baseball (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28). Meanwhile, in a tribute to Ripken, the Orioles have produced a Farewell Commemorative book that chronicles Ripken’s career. The book can be purchased for $15.00 at locations in and around Camden Yards (Orioles)….The Chargers are hosting the 7th annual "NFL 101 for Women" today at Qualcomm Stadium from 5:00-9:00pm PT (THE DAILY).... The N.Y. DAILY NEWS cites NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue as saying that his decision yesterday to add the supplement ephedrine to its list of banned substances "was based on consultation with internal and external specialists and the NFL Players Association" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/28). NASCAR announced on Thursday new rules regarding the placement of seat belts and manufacturer labels. Effective immediately, manufacturer labels "cannot be located under the adjusting mechanism when the driver is buckled in the seat and has tightened the seat belts and shoulder harness." If the label is "under the adjusting mechanism, the label must be removed or relocated ‘in a manner that does not affect the integrity of the belt material’" (AP, 9/27).
IN OTHER NEWS
The BOSTON GLOBE cites a poll released yesterday by a Boston-based firm that specializes in "cause-related marketing" as revealing that Americans "are almost evenly divided about whether companies should note in their advertising what they are doing to support victims" of September 11. The poll of 1,000 consumers also found that "about" 75% of those interviewed thought "it was appropriate for advertisers to resume business as usual" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/28). …The N.Y. POST cited sources "familiar with the situation" as saying that AT&T has contacted Comcast to "reopen talks about selling its cable television unite." Sources say that the two companies are "trying to schedule a meeting in the next few weeks." Sources also say that "paving the way for the meeting with AT&T, Comcast is preparing to sign a confidentiality agreement." AT&T is "requiring such an agreement from all its interested parties" (N.Y. POST, 9/27). … A float plane carrying former NHL GM Lou Nanne "crashed into a dock Thursday" while attempting to land on Wynne Lake, MN. Nanne and five others were on board but "no one was injured" (AP, 9/27).
LAUGH TRACK
Jay Leno: "In Utah this week, the Supreme Court there ruled that grabbing your crotch in public is against the law. Well, there goes hope for Salt Lake of ever getting a professional (MLB) team. ... In L.A., I don't think it's even illegal to grab someone else's crotch" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 9/27).
CBS' David Letterman prefaced last night's "Top Ten" list by talking about actor Tom Selleck, who read the list by talking to people in public outside the N.Y. Public Library. Letterman said Selleck was "doing all kind of peculiar things" for the "Top Ten" list and "so it turns up in an issue of New York Magazine that Tom Selleck was seen in public behaving oddly and probably drunk." Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear From Tom Selleck."
| 10. | "It's me, Ed Asner! Isn't my plastic surgeon a genius?" |
| 9. | "I was out in the woods last weekend. Can you check me for ticks?" |
| 8. | "I'm running out of that 'Magnum' money. Any little jobs I could do around your house?" |
| 7. | "One more guy tells me I look like Tom Selleck, I'm gonna punch him in the teeth." |
| 6. | "I saw what you did and I'm calling the police." |
| 5. | "I'm dehydrated! I'm dehydrated! I'm dehydrated!" |
| 4. | "Just curious, has 'People' magazine ever named you 'Sexiest Man Alive?'" |
| 3. | "You bastard! You stole my mustache!" |
| 2. | "Quick, don't ask questions. Give me your pants." |
| 1. | "Anyone want to take a picture with a drunk Tom Selleck?" |
| |
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's episode of "Jeopardy" was part of "Back To School" week. The "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Famous Buildings."
The answer was, "Unlike today, 75 years ago you could walk unannounced into this now 132-room home and shake its occupants hand."
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
FSN’s 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Mets-Expos.
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Braves-Marlins.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is the White House?"
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