| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, December 17, 2001
9:00am ET | |
| • | Browns Game Goes To The Dogs, But Team Execs Won't Criticize Fans |
| • | Two Groups In Running For Red Sox May Drop Out As Renewed Bids Due |
| • | Davis Cup Tennis Poised To Visit OK's Myriad In February |
| • | Heavy Rains Almost Douse Diane Sawyer's Olympic Run |
| • | Scheduling Conflicts? Penguins Move Game Time To Accommodate Steelers |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy!/Box Office |
DOG DAY AFTERNOON: POLICY, LERNER DO NOT CRITICIZE FANS
The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL reports that Browns President Carmen Policy and Owner Al Lerner "refused to criticize Browns fans after they littered the field with debris late in the team's 15-10 loss to Jacksonville yesterday." Fans reacted after a replay ruling "cost the Browns a chance to win the game." Policy: "I'm not condoning it. I'm just not criticizing it." Lerner: "The fans aren't perfect. Carmen and I aren't perfect. Only you guys (the media) are perfect." Lerner added, "But it wasn't World War III. It was a very emotional situation" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/17).
Meanwhile, Jaguars WR Jimmy Smith said, "We were trying to dodge as many beer bottles as we could. I felt like I was starring in 'Saving Private Ryan' or something" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/17).
ROUND TWO OF RED SOX BIDS DUE TODAY
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that "with a second round of bids due today," two groups in the running to buy the Red Sox "are poised to drop out." Boston landowner Frank McCourt and Delaware North Chair Jeremy Jacobs are the bidders expected to drop out of the running. Meanwhile, two of the remaining bidders "are expected to offer more than $650 million for full control" of the club (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/17).
OK'S MYRIAD WILL HOST FIRST ROUND OF DAVIS CUP IN FEBRUARY
The DAILY OKLAHOMAN reported that a press conference is scheduled for this afternoon to announce that Davis Cup tennis "is coming to Oklahoma for the first time in February," with the U.S. meeting the Slovak Republic in the Myriad. A contract was signed Saturday afternoon between the USTA and SMG to "bring the first-round Davis Cup series to Oklahoma City on Feb. 8-10" (DAILY OKLAHOMAN, 12/16).
DIANE SAWYER BATTLES HEAVY RAINS ON HER OLYMPIC TORCH RUN
The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports the Olympic Torch relay resumed today at 7:00am ET on its way to Frankfort and Lexington, KY (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 12/17). ABC's Diane Sawyer spent much of today's "Good Morning America" discussing her torch run in Louisville this morning. Sawyer gave an historical review of the torch relay from previous Olympic Games and was shown running with the torch through heavy rains for two-tenths of a mile live. "GMA" also featured Aretha Franklin singing the official song of the Torch Relay, "Carry The Flame" ("Good Morning America," ABC, 12/17).
PENGUINS SWITCH GAME TIME TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH STEELERS
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reported that Sunday's Hurricanes-Penguins game was switched from its original starting time of 7:38pm ET to a Sunday afternoon start due to the Steelers playing a Sunday night game. Penguins VP/Communications Tom McMillan, on the switch: "It still gives folks plenty of time to get home and watch the Steelers. We are not uncomfortable admitting this. It makes no sense to go head-up against a Steelers game when there is an alternative. Plus, we wanted to watch the game, too" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/16).
The attendance for yesterday's Steelers-Ravens game in Baltimore "was 69,506, second most in PSINet Stadium history." The largest crowd "was for last year's playoff game against Denver" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/17).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that MSG CEO James Dolan, Garden President Steve Mills and Knicks President Scott Layden "sat together during the second half [of last night's Nets-Knicks game], watching their team drop its fourth straight under Don Chaney." One Knicks player, following an impromptu players' only meeting, said, "I noticed them. That was strange. What do you think they're up to?" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/17).
The DETROIT FREE PRESS reports that after getting their first win of the season on Sunday against the Vikings, the Lions "are sending a package to [Jay] Leno's Burbank, Calif., office Tuesday, likely filled with a cap and jersey that they hope he'll wear on the 'Tonight Show' that evening." Leno has made countless jokes at the team's expense (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/17).
Notre Dame AD Kevin White, on the resignation of men's football coach George O'Leary: "I don't know what to say. It's been the most challenging, difficult time not only in my professional career, but in my life. I feel very responsible for not making this work better. That's all on me. That's my job to manage searches and to manage appointments and make sure we find the right people. Obviously, I was terribly ineffective in this deal and I feel, again, personally and solely responsible" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/17).
Last Saturday night, NBC presented "Sports Illustrated's Night of Champions," with host Bob Costas, who said the night was to "celebrate the best in the world in sports." Tributes were paid to Magic Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Muhammad Ali. Earnhardt was given a "Special Achievement" award, which was accepted by DEI drivers Michael Waltrip and Steve Park. Jennifer Capriati was named "Sportswoman of the Year" and Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling were named "Sportsmen of the Year" (NBC, 12/15).
The BOSTON HERALD reports that the former Bills T Fred Smerlas had his number "unveiled on the Bills' Wall of Fame at halftime" of yesterday's Patriots-Bills game. Smerlas "opened his remarks to the announced crowd of 45,527 by thanking the 'brothers who are in Afghanistan kicking ass,'" and closed his speech by "thanking God, who, according to Smerlas, created a 'big, strong, 300-pound Greek man that can kick ass!'" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/17).
TODAY'S EVENTS
San Antonio Mayor Ed Garza will get his first visit to the SBC Center construction site as Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff hosts a first-time look at the interior of the building today at 10:30am CT (THE DAILY).
Chargers President Dean Spanos and several Chargers players will participate in the 11th annual "Teddy Bear Drive to Children's Hospital." The group will lead a caravan of more than 75 law enforcement vehicles filled with teddy bears and toys, which will be delivered to patients at the hospital at 9:00am PT (THE DAILY). Meanwhile, the Chargers and Ralph's grocery store are partnering for the team's 11th annual holiday food distribution beginning at 10:00am PT. Players will help distribute boxes of food in front of Chargers Park (THE DAILY).
The SLOC will announce the 100 torchbearers to carry the Olympic Flame in honor of the heroes and victims of September 11 at 11:00am MT. The SLOC will also present a check to the September 11th Fund generated from the proceeds from the sale of "We Stand United" pins (THE DAILY).
Devils' players will visit the pediatric wards of six local hospitals for the club's annual holiday season hospital visit program. Four different players will visit each of the six hospitals, beginning at 12:45 pm ET (THE DAILY).
Hawks players and coaches will visit Children's Healthcare facilities in Greater Atlanta to spend time with the patients and distribute a Hawks gift bag to children beginning at 2:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The Magic have partnered with Walt Disney World and TV station WESH to throw a party for more than 80 children at Great Oaks Village in Orlando, which is a residential facility for abused, abandoned and neglected children. The party will take place at Ft. Wilderness at Walt Disney World, from 4:30-6:30 pm ET (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
This week's NEWSWEEK features Osama bin Laden on its cover with the header, "After The Evil." Meanwhile TIME's Cover Story looks at the final hours of the Taliban and al-Quaeda.
DAILY VARIETY reports, "Vivendi Universal Monday morning will announce a deal to acquire the principle television assets of Barry Diller's USA Networks with the veteran media mogul to run Universal's film, TV and theme park operations." Though officials would not comment officially, "insiders valued the deal at roughly $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion" (DAILY VARIETY, 12/17).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that The Weather Channel has tapped former TBS Superstation President Bill Burke as its new President. Burke most recently was President & CEO of the ME-based Resorts Sports Network (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/17).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that the "average cost to produce a national TV ad in 2000 dropped 3% to $332,000." Lower "production-company costs and lower director fees fueled the drop" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/17).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that XM Satellite Radio Holdings "closed on $129 million in new financing after its underwriter, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., increased its stock offering to 11.5 million shares from 10 million." The funding deal, along with Fortune naming the radio service "product of the year," helped boost shares of XM by 26%, to $16.24 (WASHINGTON POST, 12/17).
USA TODAY notes that the L.A. Film Critics Association gave "In The Bedroom" its top honor on Saturday. "In The Bedroom" joins "Mulholland Drive," which was cited as the Best Picture by the N.Y. Film Critics Circle and "Moulin Rouge," which was honored by the National Board of Review. Each group's decision "underscores that there is little unanimity about 2001's films – unlike last year when early predictions centered on best-picture winner 'Gladiator'" (USA TODAY, 12/17).
Britain's FilmFour.com named Robert De Niro as the top actor of all time in a survey of movie fans in the U.K. Rounding out the top 10 are: Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Jack Nicholson, Sean Connery, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/16).
EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Below are this week's confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THE DAILY).
| DATE | SYMBOL | COMPANY | QUARTER |
| | 12/19 | ZQK | Quiksilver | Q4 2001 |
| | 12/19 | VANS | Vans | Q2 2002 |
| | 12/20 | NKE | Nike | Q2 2002 |
| |
LAUGH TRACK
NBC's Jay Leno, on George O'Leary: "I almost didn't make it in here tonight. I got stuck in line at Kinkos behind Notre Dame's football coach, redoing his resume. ... The coach, George O'Leary, or as they call him, 'George O'Really'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/14).
Last Friday night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Reasons I, Jason Giambi, Want To Play For The New York Yankees," as read by Jason Giambi, wearing a Yankees jacket ("Late Show," CBS, 12/14).
| 10. | "I want to help the team fight embarrassment of not winning a championship in 14 months." |
| 9. | "When you say, 'David Wells sent me,' you get half-price drinks at Hooters." |
| 8. | "Pinstripes are slimming." |
| 7. | "After Chuck Knoblauch, people will think I have a great arm." |
| 6. | "I hear Steinbrenner is a dream to work for." |
| 5. | "Miss Cleo told me to." |
| 4. | "Diving into the stands for a foul ball and 'accidently' landing on Donald Trump's date." |
| 3. | "Have you ever been to Oakland?" |
| 2. | "In New York I'm closer to my favorite talk show host – Regis." |
| 1. | "After the game cruising bars with Giuliani and picking fights." |
To view Giambi giving his "Top Ten," click here:
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Friday night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Birds."
"This North American bird is known scientifically as mimus polyglottos."
SUNDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
FSN's 11:00pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Jaguars-Browns and the incidents at Cleveland Browns Stadium.
ESPN's 11:30pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Jaguars-Browns.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is the mockingbird?"
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Paramount's "Vanilla Sky" and Warner Bros.' "Ocean's 11" combined to "account for nearly 60% of the cumulative gross of the weekend's top dozen films" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/17).
| Movie | Weekend | Cumulative |
| Vanilla Sky | $25M | $25M |
| Ocean's Eleven | $23M | $73.2M |
| Not Another Teen Movie | $13.1M | $13.1M |
| Harry Potter | $9.9M | $252.2M |
| Behind Enemy Lines | $5.4M | $38.3M |
| Monsters, Inc. | $5M | $218.8M |
| Spy Game | $2.3M | $57.7M |
| Black Knight | $2M | $29.7M |
| Shallow Hal | $1.3M | $66.8M |
| Amelie | $750K | $12.5M |
| |
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