| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, December 27, 2001
9:00am ET | |
| • | MLB’s Version Of “Survivor” Takes Place Today In MN Court |
| • | NBA HOFer Dan Issel Resigns From Dual Role With Nuggets |
| • | NFL Owners Set The Stage For A Quick Approval For Arthur Blank |
| • | Injured Kukoc The Latest Star To Be Honored With A Bobblehead |
| • | Will Smith Blows “Patch Adams” Out Of The Record Books |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
A PLAY WITH LITTLE APPEAL: TWINS FACE CONTRACTION HEARING
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that “with the survival of the Twins at stake, today’s hearing before the Minnesota Court of Appeals is a major showdown.” MLB Owners, including the Twins, “are seeking to overturn the temporary injunction that Hennepin County District Judge Harry Crump issued Nov. 16, ordering the Twins to play in 2002.” The Twins are believed to be one of the two unannounced franchises that MLB has targeted for contraction (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/27).
ISSEL ENDS CONTROVERSY BY STEPPING DOWN FROM ROLES
The Colorado Springs GAZETTE reports Nuggets coach and President Dan Issel resigned Wednesday, “amid controversy and another sour season, forcing the team’s ninth coaching change in the past 11 years.” Issel was due “roughly $2.5 million per year” on a contract that ran through next season and “received an undisclosed buyout.” The team hopes Issel “rejoins the organization in some capacity, perhaps as a consultant” (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 12/27).
AS THE FALCON FLIES: BLANK’S APPROVAL ON THE FAST TRACK
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports Arthur Blank “might become owner of the Falcons sooner rather than later,” as his “bid to buy the team is on a fast track to be voted upon by the league’s owners.” The vote has been officially scheduled for the NFL meetings in March, but NFL VP/Communications Greg Aiello indicates “there’s a chance the owners will vote on the sale the day before the Super Bowl.” Blank is currently submitting documents to the NFL’s finance committee, which will issue the NFL Owners a recommendation “before a vote is taken” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/27).
TONI, TONI, TONI: HAWKS TO ISSUE BOBBLEHEAD DOLL OF KUKOC
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that tonight is F Toni Kukoc bobblehead doll night at Philips Arena. Kukoc has missed the last two games and his status for tonight’s game versus the Heat is questionable. Hawks players claim the doll “bears only a slight resemblance to Kukoc.” F Dion Glover, on the doll’s appearance: “That’s got to be Toni. Who else could it be?” The Hawks will distribute 5,000 of the bobbleheads prior to the game (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/27).
“ALI” TURNS IN RECORD PERFORMANCE DURING HOLIDAY DEBUT
DAILY VARIETY reports “’Ali’ stung like a bee on Christmas, recording a $10.2 million perf on its first day in the ring, smashing a record for pics opening on Dec. 25.” The previous record for a Christmas opener was “Patch Adams,” which delivered $8M. However, the boxing movie was unable to wrestle the top spot from “Lord of the Rings” (DAILY VARIETY, 12/27).
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
| RANK | MOVIE | FIVE DAY GROSS |
| 1. | “Lord of the Rings” | $66.1M |
| 2. | “Ocean’s Eleven” | $21.4M |
| 3. | “Jimmy Neutron” | $18.6M |
| 4. | “Vanilla Sky” | $16.5M |
| 5. | “Harry Potter” | $10.7M |
| 6. | “Ali” | $10.2M * |
| 7. | “How High” | $9.8M |
| 8. | “The Majestic” | $7.4M |
| 9. | “Not Another Teen Movie” | $7.2M |
| 10. | “Monsters Inc.” | $5.7M |
* - The “Ali” gross is a one-day figure
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The NHL fined the Oilers an “undisclosed amount” Wednesday for holding a practice on Christmas. The team had “voted unanimously” to take a break on December 22 and instead work out on Christmas. Practicing during Christmas “is not allowed” under the league’s CBA. GM Kevin Lowe, on the fine: “It’s a little bit ridiculous, quite frankly” (AP, 12/27).
United Way of Central IN raised $600,000 last week “by helping to sell out” the Colts’ game against the Jets. Colts execs Bill Brooks, Ray Compton and Tom Zupancic helped to sell 6,000 seats for the game by promoting the charity’s First and 10 charity walkathon (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/27).
USA TODAY reports that federal prosecutors now have until January 23 to challenge the dismissal of charges against former leaders of Salt Lake City’s Olympic bid. Justice Department attorneys had faced a Wednesday deadline to file an initial brief with the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver (USA TODAY, 12/27).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Animals."
“Scientists named an anticoagulant found in the saliva of a species of this animal `Draculin.’”
LAUGH TRACK
Last night's “Top Ten” list was "Top Ten Dumb Guy Hopes For The New Year” ("Late Show," CBS, 12/26).
10. “More movies with car chases and banjo music.”
9. “Other foods besides cheese available in whiz form.”
8. “Michael Jordan makes his long-awaited return to baseball.”
7. “Bring back that ‘Who Lets The Dogs Out?’ song -- that was genius.”
6. "Pizza on earth."
5. “Somebody invent a thing to get whiskers off my face so I don't have to pluck them one-by-one with tweezers.”
4. “An affordable monkey.”
3. “Who cares -- it's only September.”
2. “Five words: ‘Dude, Where's My Other Car?’”
1. “Oprah will invite me to appear on her show.”
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
FSN’s 10:30pm ET “National Sports Report” led with Nuggets coach & President Dan Issel resigning.
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Wizards-Hornets.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is a bat?”
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