Morning Buzz, December 12, 2001

A THAW IN BOSTON AS WINTER MEETINGS COME TO LIFE

The AP reports, "In a twist to this year's [MLB] winter meetings, trades have overtaken free-agent signings as the big newsmakers. … After a slow first two days, activity intensified Tuesday, with four deals involving 19 players and the first free-agent signing at the meetings" (AP, 12/12).

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC notes, "The postponement of contraction appeared to gain momentum Tuesday, as several teams became more aggressive at the winter meetings" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/12).

But ESPN's Peter Gammons said last night on "SportsCenter," "The one thing this off-season we've heard most is about money, restrictions.  When you hear about the Braves, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the Mets all having very serious fiscal restraints, you start to wonder what's going on.  Part of it is what has happened in this off-season, and I think part of it is just an industry-wide concern about revenues" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/11).

In other news from the winter meetings, Orioles P Jason Johnson and Expos P Graeme Lloyd were named as co-winners of the 12th annual Tony Conigliaro Award.  The award, which goes to the player or players "who have overcome adversity, through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage," will be formally presented at the Boston Baseball Writers dinner on January 10, at the Sheraton Boston (BOSTON HERALD, 12/12).

HOME STRETCH: ROMNEY TO GIVE ONE LAST REPORT ON '02 GAMES  

USA TODAY reports that SLOC President Mitt Romney "will give a final report to the IOC" today in Switzerland, going over "last-minute planning details and likely reviewing some security issues once again for executive board members."  The exec board will not meet again until "just before the 2002 Games begin" (USA TODAY, 12/12).

NFL FAMILY GATHERS TO REMEMBER GEORGE YOUNG

The Baltimore SUN reports, "Under steely skies and a light mist, longtime players, coaches and NFL executives gathered yesterday to pay homage to" former Giants GM George Young, who passed away on Saturday night.  NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue remembered Young as "one of the finest men our nation has produced.  The past three months have been a trying time for all of us.  We're still unable to comprehend it all."  An emotional Tagliabue continued, "Now, with George's death, another New York tower has fallen" (Baltimore SUN, 12/12).

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FANS ANSWER THE CALL FOR A PLAYOFF

USA TODAY reports that a "random telephone poll" conducted in November by PA-based TNS Intersearch "found strong support for a playoff" system in college football.  Of the 313 respondents who "identified themselves as fans of the sport, nearly 63% answered yes to the question, 'Should there be a postseason playoff in major college football?'" (USA TODAY, 12/12).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The Sporting News announced yesterday that D'Backs P Curt Schilling won the magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award (THE SPORTING NEWS, 12/11).

ESPN's Michael Wilbon, on Sports Illustrated naming Schilling and Randy Johnson "Sportsmen of the Year": "It was an easy, lazy, unimaginative pick.  If you're going to pick somebody for this, I associate 'Sportsman of the Year' with somebody who's done something to impact the culture of sports" ("PTI," ESPN, 12/11).

In VA, Bob Molinaro notes SI's selection and writes, "Curious choices, though.  Both Schilling and Johnson enjoyed magnificent seasons. But before the playoffs, their performances weren't much noted outside the Mountain time zone except by seamheads and fantasy baseball buffs."  Molinaro wonders, "How many more times must Lance Armstrong win the Tour de France before Sports Illustrated acknowledges that he is a tour de force?" (VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 12/12).

Bears LB Brian Urlacher was named ESPN Magazine's "NEXT 2002 Athlete," which recognizes the performer expected to define the coming sports year.  Urlacher will appear on the cover of the year-end issue, which hits newsstands today (THE DAILY).

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that Colts QB Peyton Manning yesterday "presented $70,000 in proceeds from the 2001 PeyBack Classic to Indianapolis Public Schools students, teachers and administrators."   The PeyBack Classic featured six local high schools playing regular-season games on the Colts' field (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/12).

The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that Lance Armstrong "cycled with the [Olympic] torch down Congress Avenue from the State Capitol in Austin" yesterday.  Armstrong was accompanied by other cancer survivors.  The torch moves on to Dallas today, "where another well-known athlete is rumored to be part of the relay: former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/12).

Turner Sports analyst Charles Barkley, on Hawks G Jason Terry bobblehead night in Atlanta: "I'm really not happy with these bobbleheads because they make all the black guys look alike" (TBS, 12/11).

The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that during the pregame warmup for last night's Penguins-Capitals game, "the Penguins wore their alternate sweaters and the Capitals their road sweaters.  Because both are dark and because the Penguins only brought one set of sweaters with them on the trip, Washington changed to its home whites for the game" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/12).

USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports "With 20 million homes, CNN/SI celebrates its fifth birthday today.  It probably won't get a sixth birthday before the name is changed to AOL Sports" (USA TODAY, 12/12).

TODAY'S EVENTS

The TAMPA TRIBUNE reports that Bucs LT Kenyatta Walker "will donate $8,000 to the Foster Angels today at One Buc Place."  The Foster Angels program, "which gives away hundreds of toys to foster kids during the holiday season, was a recent robbery victim when thieves stole all the toys" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/12).

The TORONTO SUN reports Maple Leafs RW Tie Domi's "annual gig as Santa Claus will take place today when he will make a contribution of new toys to more than 1,000 kids."  Domi will hand out toys at the Air Canada Centre this morning, and the kids will be invited to remain for the Leafs' practice (TORONTO SUN, 12/12).

The AFL's newest expansion franchise in Atlanta will host a get-together with the community to announce details of the city's latest pro sports team.  The event will be held at 2:00pm ET at Philips Arena and will include season ticket information and a "Name the Team" promotion (THE DAILY).

Mavericks C Shawn Bradley and G Adrian Griffin will read to kids during a Mavs "Read To Achieve Reading Timeout" at the Mountain Creek branch of the Dallas Public Library from 4:00-5:00pm CT.  The event, sponsored by AT&T Broadband, Body Solutions and Chic-fil-A, will also include the players dispensing autographs, T-shirts, bookmarks and pencils (THE DAILY).

The Q1 Earnings Call for Vail Resorts' FY '02 is scheduled for 11:00am ET (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS…..

The N.Y. TIMES reports that Andy Berlin's Berlin Cameron & Partners will be acquired by London-based WPP Group and "will become the nucleus of Red Cell, the fourth worldwide agency network that WPP operates, alongside Ogilvy & Mather, J. Walter Thompson and Young & Rubicam."  Berlin Cameron has 81 employees and serves clients such as the NBA and Reebok.  Berlin becomes the co-CEO & Chief Creative Officer at Red Cell (N.Y. TIMES, 12/12).

AD AGE reported that consumers rank advertising practitioners "slightly ahead of car salesmen in honesty and ethics, according to a new national poll," while firefighters "topped the poll with 90%" (AD AGE, 12/11).

AOL Time Warner co-COO Robert Pittman, speaking at the Internet World convention on Tuesday, said AOL Time Warner "is banking on the belief that sales of digital music, movies and other content can fuel [the company's] growth, even when advertising sales can't."  The average consumer's monthly cable TV bill "may soar from $52 to $230, and the average Internet bill from $24 to $159, when add-on digital offerings become available in the near future." (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/12).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that Mayor Rudy Giuliani "will begin life after City Hall by starting his own consulting firm," and will "specialize in fixing failing companies" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/12).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that NBC News "has wrapped a deal of unprecedented length with Tim Russert, and is trying to close one of unprecedented price with Katie Couric."  At a lunch in N.Y. yesterday, NBC Chair & CEO Bob Wright announced that Russert had signed with NBC News through December 31, 2012 (WASHINGTON POST, 12/12).

Meanwhile, the N.Y. POST reports that Couric "is ready to cash in her image as America's sweetheart with a guaranteed $65 million deal that could climb as high as $100 million" (N.Y. POST, 12/12).

The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that Donald Trump's aides were in Chicago on Tuesday to "give mayoral staffers their first glimpse" of his plans for the Trump Tower Chicago, a 78-story skyscraper that aims to "be dignified and deferential company for its classic surroundings" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/12).

LAUGH TRACK

During last night's TBS broadcast of the 76ers-Hawks game, TBS' Ernie Johnson was presented with a basket of cookies from Turner Sports announcers Marv Albert and Mike Fratello.  TBS' Charles Barkley: "You know (Fratello) paid for it.  Marv hasn't paid for anything in his life. ... Maybe this is from Marv.  It doesn't look like they went to any great expense" (TBS, 12/11).

Last night, WBC Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis appeared on NBC's "Tonight Show," and discussed his fight with Hasim Rahman on ESPN's "Up Close": "That was for real.  I didn't come expecting to tussle with my suit on.  My shoes were slippery."  Lewis said "April is the preferred date" for a fight with Mike Tyson and "there's nothing holding it back."  NBC's Jay Leno asked Lewis, "Are you going to do anything special, like put steak sauce on your ears?" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/11).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Entertainers." 

"Interviewed on '60 Minutes' in 2001, he said, 'It's been one of my lifelong jobs ... to make the world laugh at Adolph Hitler.'"

TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with the Roberto Alomar trade.

ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Celtics-Knicks.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who is Mel Brooks?"

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