| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, December 13, 2001
9:00am ET | |
| • | Giambi Signing Signals End To Quiet Week At MLB Winter Meetings |
| • | Minor League Baseball's Annual Meetings Begin Today In Boston |
| • | Vikings Seek Way To Build New Stadium Without Hurting Average Taxpayer |
| • | Norfolk Arena Financing Plan Could Keep Region's NBA Hopes Afloat |
| • | Race For '08 Olympic Sponsors Begins In Earnest Today |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MLB WINTER MEETINGS TO CONCLUDE WITH GIAMBI SIGNING
The WASHINGTON POST reports, "In a move that could shake loose a previously stagnant free agent market and revive scrutiny of the disparity between baseball's rich and poor, the New York Yankees completed a seven-year deal for $119 million with first baseman Jason Giambi." The Yankees "are expected to unveil their latest acquisition at a news conference [today] at Yankee Stadium" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/13).
FOXSports.com's Dave Van Dyck wrote on the lack of activity at MLB's winter meetings in Boston, which conclude today, "At last year's Winter Meetings, baseball owners splurged, spending $740 million on 25 free agents. This year, with one day left, the total is $144 million for six players. And that includes $122 million for Jason Giambi and $10 million for Rondell White, even though neither has officially signed with the Yankees" (FOXSports.com, 12/12).
ESPN's Peter Gammons also noted the lack of free agent signings and said, "Except for the Yankees, who have their cable network … everyone else is really worried. Part of it is September 11, part of it is the mess with the schedules and selling tickets because of the whole contraction thing and part of it is that report that the bankers gave to [MLB outlining the amount of debt]. … One (GM) said [to] me, 'You know what these meetings are? It's an attempt for everyone to be washing money'" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 12/12).
Rangers GM John Hart said, "This is, without question, the slowest winter I've ever seen. Some of it is the economics of the game and some of it is the expectations of the agents, that [salaries] will ever be going upward. That's not happening. You just don't see people taking on the money" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/13).
Tigers manager Phil Garner: "For the first time I can recall at the winter meetings – and I've been to a bunch of these – every time we sit down and talk, money is mentioned. Every team is talking about money. That was not the case in the past. The theory is, perhaps teams are tapped out" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/13).
MINOR LEAGUE MEETINGS MEAN BIG MONEY FOR CITY OF BOSTON
With MLB meetings concluding today, the BOSTON HERALD reports that "Minor League Baseball meetings and a baseball trade show starting today are expected to generate $4 million in visitor spending" for the city of Boston. The meetings, which run through Sunday, are expected to bring "3,000 minor league team owners, general managers, marketing directors and representatives from equipment companies and sponsors – and often their spouses and families." By comparison, MLB's winter meetings brought "about 850 attendees that generated an estimated $1.4 million in visitor spending" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13).
VIKINGS TO MAKE STADIUM PITCH TO LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports the Vikings "will present their stadium plan to the state's legislative task force this afternoon in St. Paul." Making the team's pitch will be Exec VP Mike Kelly, who will be joined by NFL VP/Strategic Planning & Development Neil Glat. Kelly, on the team's proposal: "One thing we feel that has been missed significantly in the public dialogue and political dialogue has been that you can find a way to address stadium concerns in a manner that doesn't adversely affect the average taxpayer. We're going to focus on those solutions" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 12/13).
NORFOLK STAYS IN HORNETS HUNT WITH ARENA FINANCING PLAN
The Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT reports that Norfolk city officials "will unveil a financing proposal today for a $218 million downtown arena and parking garage" to entice the Hornets. Mayor Paul Fraim said Wednesday that the city "would not raise property or utility taxes or reduce city services to pay for the arena" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 12/13).
SPONSORSHIP RACE FOR '08 OLYMPIC GAMES BEGINS IN EARNEST
The SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST reports that China will establish its organizing committee for the '08 Olympics in Beijing today with "a lavish ceremony at the Great Hall of the People," opening the race for "hundreds of millions of US dollars in commercial sponsorships." The IOC has major sponsors in 11 industries, including Coca-Cola, IBM, and Visa, but some industries "are not covered, such as cars, offering a good commercial opportunity" (SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, 12/13).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
USA TODAY reports that the NBA met with Disney officials Wednesday on an ESPN-led proposal to attain the league's TV rights, despite the fact that "incumbent NBC is considered the favorite to join Turner in the new 4-year NBA TV deal" (USA TODAY, 12/13).
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that the crowd of 13,397 for last night's Bruins-Penguins game "was 3,561 below capacity and was the smallest of the season" at Mellon Arena. The previous smallest "was 13,410 for a 6-0 rout of the Devils Nov. 27." More than 4,000 tickets remain for Friday's home game against the Wild (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/13).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that MLB Rangers SS Alex Rodriguez and Reds CF Ken Griffey Jr. were at the Waldorf-Astoria in N.Y. yesterday with Hank Aaron and actor Mark Wahlberg "to help start a new after-school campaign for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/13).
The Oilers announced yesterday the formation of The Tommy Salo Inner City Hockey program, which gives 25 students who are not participating in any organized sport the opportunity to participate in an after-school care program. The program runs three times a week for approximately two hours during the school year (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
President Bush welcomes the D'Backs to the White House in celebration of their World Series championship (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/13).
The Celtics will deliver presents and holiday cheer to young patients from Children's Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center at 2:00pm ET. The team will also host a holiday party at Dick's Last Resort in Boston for children from the Boston Medical Center's Pediatric Hematology Program, that will include storytelling, face painting and games (THE DAILY).
The NCAA women's volleyball Final Four will be held at San Diego St. Univ.'s Cox Arena today and Saturday. Organizers are expecting "crowds of 10,000 each day" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/12).
The Royals will serve a "Baseball Breakfast" to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House at 8:00am CT (THE DAILY).
LWs Paul Kariya and Jeff Friesen lead a group of Mighty Ducks players who will visit the Children's Hospital of Orange County at 1:00pm PT. The players will distribute gifts, in addition to posing for pictures and signing autographs (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS…..
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports, "Fairfax County [VA] school officials, parents and students today will recommend the cash-strapped School Board explore raising funds through 'corporate sponsorship,' including selling naming rights to school gymnasiums, science labs and football fields" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/13).
LAUGH TRACK
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Excuses of the American Taliban Guy" ("Late Show," NBC, 12/12).
| 10. | "Terrorist training camps looked a lot nicer in the brochure." |
| 9. | "I didn't join the Taliban, I was interning for the Taliban." |
| 8. | "I lost a Super Bowl bet." |
| 7. | "Dazzled by the Taliban commercials that aired during one of Kathie Lee's Ramadan specials." |
| 6. | "What kid doesn't grow up dreaming of being the next Mullah Omar?" |
| 5. | "Al Qaeda? Oh man, I thought I was fighting for Ralph Nader." |
| 4. | "Since when is fighting against your country with an evil terrorist regime considered treason?" |
| 3. | "Got tired of wearing clean clothes and not getting shot at." |
| 2. | "Like you've never joined an international terrorist ring!" |
| 1. | "Oh, I thought this was a paintball game." |
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "TV Spin-Offs."
"One of the two hour-long dramas spun off from popular half-hour sitcoms in the 1970's."
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Dan Issel's suspension.
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Raptors-Spurs.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What was 'Lou Grant' or 'Trapper John, M.D.'"
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