| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, January 10, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | AOL Time Warner To Pull Plug On CNN/SI TV Network This Fall |
| • | Basic Train-Ing: Olympic Torch To Visit Five States In Five Days |
| • | Dolphins' Playoff Opener Against Ravens Likely To Be Blacked Out Locally |
| • | Meeting Of The Minds: Watkins To Discuss Purchase Of Twins With MLB |
| • | We've Got The Beat: Morris Brown To Become WUSA Franchise's New Home |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
CNN/SI TELLS EMPLOYEES THAT NETWORK WILL CEASE OPERATIONS
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that AOL Time Warner has "informed employees of CNN/SI that it will shut down the sports cable-TV network this fall, whether or not a pending deal to turn the channel into a network 50%-owned" by the NBA goes through. The five-year-old cable channel "is available in more than 19 million homes, but never proved to be a serious rival to ESPN" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/10).
FLAME KEEPS A ROLLING, ALL NIGHT LONG: TORCH HITS THE RAILS
The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that the Olympic flame "will embark this evening on a five-day run atop a special Union Pacific caldron car, a ride that will take it" through KS, OK, TX, NM and AZ. Union Pacific spokesperson Mark Davis: "The train can bring the flame to a lot of communities that possibly wouldn't have been involved, and gives people a chance to see it on a unique mode of transportation" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/10).
DOLPHINS PLAYOFF FEVER HAS YET TO GRIP SOUTH FLORIDA
The MIAMI HERALD reports that "approximately 19,000 tickets remain for Sunday's" Ravens-Dolphins playoff game at Pro Player Stadium, "leaving the game likely subject to a local TV blackout." The remaining tickets must be sold by 4:00pm ET today for the game to be televised locally. The NFL is not considering an extension to the deadline at this time due to the large amount of tickets remaining. Last season, "the Dolphins' playoff opener against Indianapolis was blacked out" in FL (MIAMI HERALD, 1/10).
WATKINS MEETS WITH MLB TO ESTABLISH OWNERSHIP CREDENTIALS
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports AL business exec Donald Watkins "will meet with Major League Baseball officials today in New York to pursue ownership of the Twins." Watkins will meet with Braves Chair Bill Bartholomay and MLB General Counsel Thomas Ostertag "to discover what hurdles he may encounter" in his efforts to buy the team that has been targeted for contraction (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/10).
WUSA ATLANTA FRANCHISE TO ANNOUNCE NEW HOME TODAY
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that the WUSA Beat "is expected to announce today that it will play its home games at Morris Brown Stadium." The team has been in negotiations with Morris Brown College in Atlanta for months about using its facility, which seats 15,000. The Beat "had a one-year agreement with Georgia Tech," and its move to Morris Brown "is expected to be permanent" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/10).
CONNER DOUBLE-PARKS YACHT IN N.Y. AFTER TRIP DOWN I-95
The N.Y. TIMES reports that "veteran America's Cup campaigner Dennis Conner is planning to dock his latest Cup challenger in New York City this morning after a most unusual voyage," which saw the boat, "Stars and Stripes," traveling overnight via the CT Turnpike. The 79-foot International America's Cup Class yacht "will be berthed on a trailer directly in front of the New York Yacht Club's headquarters on West 44th Street for the day." A christening ceremony for the yacht, which "will represent the New York club when preliminary races for the next Cup regatta begin in New Zealand in October, is scheduled for early this evening" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/10).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government Members "adopted a resolution yesterday" asking Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder to change the name of the football team to something less "offensive." While not binding, the council "hoped the request would increase political and public pressure" on Snyder (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/10).
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that January 19 is "going to be one of the biggest days in Chicago sports," as the Bears' first playoff game in over 10 years follows the return of Wizards G Michael Jordan to the United Center for the first time since he retired from the Bulls (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/10).
TODAY'S EVENTS
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports the Hockey Fights Cancer online charity auction begins today with registration for "a wide variety of hockey memorabilia." The bidding will begin this morning and continue through 9:00pm ET, February 4 (WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/10).
Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln will receive the Puget Sound Business Journal's Exec of the Year award at a luncheon at the Westin Hotel, as part of the Seattle-King County EDC's annual Economic Forecast event (THE DAILY).
Celtics F Kedrick Brown and G Milt Palacio join members of the team's front office staff at a special assembly honoring middle school students as part of the Boston Stay in School program, which is a collaboration among the Celtics, McDonald's, Sprite, the New England Sports Museum and Boston Public Schools. The event takes place at the Mary Curley Middle School from 9:00-10:00am ET (THE DAILY).
T'Wolves players and coaches will visit two local hospitals today as part of the team's Annual Hospital Tour. The team will visit Children's Hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul from 1:15-2:30pm CT. This is the 13th year the club has visited local hospitals (THE DAILY).
76ers mascots Hip-Hop and Lil'G join the U.S. Coast Guard in delivering the final cases of the Allen Iverson Celebriduck at 3:00pm ET at the U.S. Coast Guard MSO/Group in Philadelphia (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that the "ladies of soul and a country king" ruled the 29th annual American Music Awards on Wednesday night as newcomer Alicia Keys, the late singer Aaliyah, R&B trio Destiny's Child and Tim McGraw "tied with two wins each at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles." Destiny's Child's album, "Survivor," was named favorite pop/rock album over Dave Matthews Band's "Everyday" and 'N Sync's "Celebrity." Click here for a complete list of AMA winners (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/10).
Napster will launch a test version of its new copyright-compliant online music service today, "months after legal action brought by the recording industry forced a shutdown of the wildly popular file-sharing network" (REUTERS, 1/10).
The L.A. TIMES reports that Walt Disney "plans to cut about half the staff at its recently acquired ABC Family channel." About 300 employees at the channel's Westwood headquarters "will be laid off in the next several weeks" (L.A. TIMES, 1/10).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes the "primetime variety show may be making a comeback on NBC," as the network "is prepping a live comedy/variety show, 'New York Live,' to be hosted by 'Saturday Night Live' alumnus Colin Quinn and executive produced by 'SNL' chief Lorne Michaels" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/10).
The L.A. TIMES reports advertisers "that primarily limited their messages to somber or patriotic themes immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks are having some fun again." Sight gags, word games and "other clever twists that turn the human condition on its head are resurfacing in television advertising, but advertisers are handling comedy with care rather than risk offending edgy consumers" (L.A. TIMES, 1/10).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "1950s Television."
"According to the L.A. Times, he quipped, 'How many stories should you tell about two people in an apartment?'"
LAUGH TRACK
Last night's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Signs You're Already Having A Bad Year" ("Late Show," CBS, 1/9).
| 10. | "You're still writing '2001' on your parole applications." |
| 9. | "Several acne medicine companies have asked you to pose for their 'Before' photos." |
| 8. | "You're here tonight." |
| 7. | "Two weeks ago you converted all your money into Argentinian pesos." |
| 6. | "Your name is Osama bin Laden (no relation)." |
| 5. | "You have a rash on your face in the shape of 2002 novelty glasses." |
| 4. | "In new phonebook, every listing is your number." |
| 3. | "Turns out the fake snow you used on your Christmas tree was high-grade Anthrax." |
| 2. | "New Year's prank of faxing ass to boss backfires with offer of dinner and a movie." |
| 1. | "Oprah still won't let you on her damn show." |
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Lakers-Pacers.
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Univ. of NC-Univ. of MD men's basketball.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who was Jackie Gleason?"
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