Morning Buzz, December 14, 2001

CONTRACTION BACK ON TABLE, WHILE D.C. WANTS TO PLAY BALL

The N.Y. TIMES reports MLB "will move ahead with its plan to eliminate two teams next season" after negotiations with the MLBPA about delaying contraction until '03 "broke down Wednesday night." The union charges that management's decision to eliminate two teams "violates at least nine provisions of the labor contract, four attachments to the contract and seven major league rules." The Twins and the Expos are "most often cited as the top candidates for elimination" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/14).

Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON POST reports MLB "has investigated the feasibility of putting a struggling team, presumably the Montreal Expos, in RFK Stadium as soon as 2002." However, baseball and local sources "believe a more likely scenario would involve a team playing there in 2003" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/14).

MLS DENIES IMMINENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF CONTRACTION

Reports this morning have MLS "deciding to eliminate its two Florida teams, the Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny." Both the Mutiny, one of the league's 10 original teams, and the Fusion "have been well below the average league attendance of about 15,000 the last few years (WASHINGTON POST, 12/14). However, MLS VP/Communications Dan Courtemanche told the PALM BEACH POST that the league "has no announcement planned" (PALM BEACH POST, 12/14).

MOLSON OFFERS INCENTIVE FOR CANADA'S OLYMPIC ATHLETES

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Molson Breweries "will put up a $1-million cash prize for the Canadian men's and women's Olympic hockey teams if they win gold medals during the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City." The men's players, most of whom are NHL players, "would donate their winnings to minor hockey associations across the country," while members of the women's team "would keep their winnings" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/14).

IN TOUGH ADVERTISING MARKET, NBC TURNS TO THE BOTTLE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes NBC "will break the ban on distilled liquor advertising Saturday night, when it will air an ad from Guinness UDB's Smirnoff vodka." In the down ad market, "NBC's move might open the door for other broadcast networks to follow suit – particularly if NBC's move does not elicit criticism among the public, the U.S. Congress or the FCC." Guinness' first ad will air on "Saturday Night Live," and will "focus on designated drivers and end with the tag 'Bought to you by Smirnoff'" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/14).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT reports on a study released by the Hampton Roads Sports Commission, which shows the '01 AAU Junior Olympic Games "have made Hampton Roads $13.5 million richer." The report reveals the games, which took place in July and August, had a "trickle-down effect" which "had an even greater economic impact." The games drew 12,000 athletes, and their "entourage" upped "the crowd to more than 25,000" (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 12/14).

The Syracuse POST-STANDARD reported the Insight.com Bowl, featuring Syracuse Univ. (SU)-KS St. Univ. (KSU), "believes it has a great matchup on the field, but fans … are deciding to sit this one out in front of their television sets." Ticket sales have been slow for the December 29 game in Phoenix, with SU selling "about 200 tickets," and KSU "which was expected to provide the bulk of the sales, [moving] about 3,000 tickets." As part of the bowl bid, each school "was required to purchase 10,000 tickets priced at $52 each." Meanwhile, the bowl payout is "the NCAA minimum $750,000 … though Syracuse will receive $1.8 million based on its second-place finish in the Big East and that league's bowl revenue plan" (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 12/13).

TODAY'S EVENTS

Predators C Greg Johnson will reward Ms. Tallon's second-grade class at Bellshire Elementary as the team's "Stick to Reading=Succeeding" program winner. Johnson will read "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to the class, while Borders Books and Music will donate a copy of the book to every child in the classroom. The reading begins at 1:45pm CT (THE DAILY).

Padres players and staff will visit Children's Hospital at 10:20am PT and present a $100,000 check to the Pediatric Oncology Center on behalf of the Padres' Cindy Matters Fund. At 12:40 the group will visit Polinsky Children's Center (THE DAILY).

The fourth annual Packers Women's Association Talent and Fashion Show, which raises money for the Salvation Army's Adopt a Family program, will be held at the Walter Theatre at St. Norbert College. A silent auction begins at 6:00pm CT, with the show beginning at 7:30pm CT (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS…..

BROADCASTING & CABLE reports that Vivendi, which is moving closer to "securing control of USA Networks' entertainment assets," said it will "fetch $1.5 billion by selling part of its stake in DBS service British Sky Broadcasting." The French media company "has assigned Deutsche Bank AG and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to sell the stock" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 12/14).

Meanwhile, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Vivendi "is in advanced talks to invest more than $1 billion in EchoStar Communications Corp." which recently agreed to acquire Hughes Electronics from General Motors (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/14).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that ABC News "one-upped the competition yesterday, airing the most chilling portion of the Osama bin Laden tape nearly 20 minutes ahead of the pack, using a copy it had obtained of the videotape." An exec at a rival network who requested anonymity asked, "They're bragging that they did something interesting by fast-forwarding the tape so they could go to 'The View' and show some woman squatting on a bucket?" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/14).

The Ramones and Talking Heads are among the artists "to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2002" during a March 18 ceremony. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Isaac Hayes, Brenda Lee and Gene Pitney were also chosen (WASHINGTON POST, 12/14).

LAUGH TRACK

NBC's Jay Leno, on Nate Newton being arrested several months ago for 213-pounds of marijuana, then being arrested Wednesday for 175-pounds more: "At least he's cutting back. A little less each time. You don't go cold-turkey" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/13).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "U.S. Presidents & Vice Presidents."

"He's the only man elected Vice President twice and elected President twice."

THURSDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Jason Giambi's signing.

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

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who was Richard Nixon?"

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