| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, November 30, 2001
9:00am ET | |
| • | Barkley Tells HBO He’d Like To Play With Jordan, Wizards |
| • | Salt Lake City Games Reportedly Cost More, But Offer More Events |
| • | Sources Say Minnesota Would Land New Team If Stadium Is Built |
| • | Jerry Colangelo Goes To Bat For D’Backs With $160M Proposal |
| • | Army-Navy Could Make Annual “Last Stand” At Alamodome |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/Today’s Events/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BARKLEY HOLDS OUT HOPE FOR COMEBACK WITH JORDAN
The WASHINGTON POST reports that TNT analyst Charles Barkley told HBO's “Real Sports” yesterday that he's “considering a return with [Michael] Jordan and the Wizards.” Barkley, who added that he “has started a fitness program and is down to 290 pounds”: “I'm thinking about it. I miss playing. I feel bad that Michael is struggling and I think I could help him, but I need to lose another 25 pounds before I could help him” (WASHINGTON POST, 11/30).
NEW REPORT BREAKS DOWN COST OF FEBRUARY’S WINTER GAMES
The TORONTO SUN reports the Salt Lake City Games “will cost $1.9 billion US, six times the cost of those in Lake Placid in 1980, the most recent Winter Olympics in the United States.” Taxpayers will pay 18% of the cost, or $342M, which is “nearly twice as much money as they did in 1980,” but three times as many athletes will compete in nearly twice as many events in Salt Lake City (TORONTO SUN, 11/30).
Meanwhile, the DESERET NEWS reported that the identity of the anonymous donor paying the costs for the Olympic cauldron “is now public,” as the SLOC announced Wednesday that the $8M contributed by the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Foundation will include “a specially designed cauldron with a $2 million price tag” (DESERET NEWS, 11/29).
PLAY BALL? MINNESOTANS URGED TO PUSH FOR NEW BALLPARK
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that “reliable” sources inside MLB “say local business people should continue to campaign for a stadium even if the Twins are eliminated” by contraction. The sources say there “would be a major league franchise back in town within two years if a stadium bill was passed.” One source added, “We know baseball would be a big financial success in Minnesota with a new stadium” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/30).
COLANGELO TO UNVEIL $160M PROPOSAL TO BOLSTER D’BACKS
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports D’Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo today “is expected to unveil plans for a proposed $160 million infusion into his financially vulnerable” team. The new investment, expected to come from “as many as five investors over a number of years,” would “stabilize the recently crowned world champions, and ensure that high-priced talent isn't traded away” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/30).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the Alamodome “is one of several sites being considered to play host” to the Army-Navy football game beginning in ‘04. The two service academies “will review proposals for future neutral site games this spring” (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/30).
ESPN.com reports that Wednesday’s suspended Michigan State-Virginia game in the Big Ten-ACC Challenge “will officially be canceled once the Cavaliers figure out how to handle the financial concerns” (ESPN.com, 11/30).
The AP reports that FIFA’s executive board “decided during meetings Friday that the defending champion should no longer get automatic entry for the subsequent World Cup.” The final draw for the ’02 World Cup “will be held in Busan [South Korea] on Saturday” (AP, 11/30).
L.A.-based Brand Sense Marketing has been named the exclusive marketing agent for the All-American Soap Box Derby (THE DAILY).
TODAY’S EVENTS
Bulls F Ron Artest and C Brad Miller will visit with 75 children at the Abraham Lincoln Centre in Chicago from 3:00-4:00pm CT (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/30).
NFL HOFer Bobby Mitchell will be at the Official Redskins Store in Fair Oaks Mall, VA, to sign copies of “Hail Redskins,” a Triumph Books publication to which Mitchell contributed (THE DAILY).
IN RECOGNITION
Pole vaulter Stacy Dragila and shot putter John Godina have won the Jesse Owens Award for ’01 as the nation’s outstanding track and field athletes. The winners were selected by the executive committee of USAT&F (AP, 11/29).
SS Ozzie Smith, OF Andre Dawson and P Frank Viola lead 11 first-time candidates on the latest Baseball Hall of Fame ballots, which were mailed to voters Thursday. Also listed on the ballot for the first time were Ps Mike Henneman, Jeff Russell and Scott Sanderson; INFs Alan Trammell, Robby Thompson and Tim Wallach; and OFs Lenny Dykstra and Mike Greenwell (AP, 11/29).
IN OTHER NEWS…..
The world mourns the loss of former Beatle George Harrison, who lost his battle with cancer yesterday in L.A. Read the LONDON GUARDIAN’s tribute to Harrison, while others remember Harrison. Also, you can see Harrison’s life in pictures.
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes “ABC has sealed a deal with Warner Bros. for the TV rights to ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,’ and its sequel … for a price that could hit $135 million-$140 million, depending on the box office performance of the second film.” Terms of the deal allow the network to show the films both on ABC and its cable channels (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/30).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports ABC News anchor Barbara Walters “has landed the first sit-down interview with President Bush since the terrorist attacks.” Walters will conduct the interview on Tuesday and ABC will broadcast it the following night on “20/20” at 10:00pm ET (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/30).
BLOODHORSE.com reported the NTRA, in conjunction with Breeder Cup Limited and the NYRA, “distributed $2.5 million from the NTRA Charities – New York Heroes Fund to 11 local organizations aiding families affected by the World Trade Center attack.” This was the second time the NTRA had donated money to attack-related charities, bringing the “fund’s total disbursements to $3.5 million” (BLOODHORSE.com, 11/29).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that “Morris Chestnut will star opposite young rapper Lil’ Bow Wow in 20th Century Fox’s ‘Like Mike,’” a film about a youngster who ends up in the NBA after finding Michael Jordan’s shoes (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/30).
LAUGH TRACK
Jay Leno, on Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal taking law enforcement classes: "I think Shaq would be a great cop, as long as he doesn't have to shoot anyone from the free throw line" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/29).
Last night's Top Ten list was, "Top Ten Ways the Recession Has Affected the Company That Makes Bubble Wrap" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/29).
| 10) "Fewer bubbles per square yard." |
| 9) "Bubbles used to contain oxygen -- now cheaper imitation oxygen.'" |
| 8) "Due to production delays, the 2002 models won't be out until March." |
| 7) "No more paying for product placement like the big bubble wrap scene in the upcoming 'Star Wars' movie." |
| 6) "Can not afford full-page newspaper ads attacking styrofoam peanuts." |
| 5) "Bubble wrap no longer shipped in the bubble wrap to prevent damage." |
| 4) "Switched to lower grade plastic, which makes more of a 'puh' when you pop it." |
| 3) "Now when you're put on hold, you hear Top 40 music instead of romantic bubble wrap ballads." |
| 2) "Employees' Christmas bonus? Bubble wrap." |
| 1) "During business trips executives must now pay for hookers out of their own pockets." |
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Artists."
"Christopher Buckley called his book on the life and work of this artist, 'Blossoms and Bones.'"
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
FSN’s 10:30pm ET “National Sports Report” led with Grizzlies-Raptors.
ESPN’s 11:30pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Eagles-Chiefs.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who is Georgia O'Keefe?"
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