| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, January 11, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Conyers To Selig: Drop Contraction Talks And I'll Back Off |
| • | Bloomberg Nips Published Statements Regarding N.Y. Stadium In Bud |
| • | Charles Dolan Adds $40M To His Red Sox Bid In Attempt To Disrupt Sale |
| • | Xpress, Now In Canton, Poised To Join UHL for '02-03 Season |
| • | Cuban Accepts Dairy Queen's Offer To Manage A Store For One Day |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
CONYERS TO BACK OFF IF SELIG DROPS CONTRACTION THREAT
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) said today that he "would back off" of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig if he "dropped his threat to eliminate teams this season." Conyers, who on Wednesday urged Selig to resign, said that the commissioner "appeared to violate major league rules in a 1995 loan from a company controlled by" Twins Owner Carl Pohlad (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/11).
Meanwhile, the STAR TRIBUNE reports that a lending company owned by the Pohlad family "had a financial relationship with the Colorado Rockies owner who initiated the discussions about contraction that now threaten the Twins." Records indicate that Pohlad's Builders Mortgage Co. "was the secured party in a number of financial transactions in which Rockies owner Jerry McMorris or his company … is listed as a debtor" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/11).
BLOOMBERG REFUTES PUBLISHED STATEMENT REGARDING STADIUM
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Thursday that he "has not signed off on any proposal to build a stadium on Manhattan's West Side to lure the Jets and the 2012 Olympic Games." Disputing a published report, the mayor made it clear that he and his administration have made "no commitments whatsoever" to build a $1B sports stadium there. Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff "was quoted by the New York Post yesterday as saying Bloomberg supported plans to build a West Side stadium" for the Jets and the '12 Olympics as part of an expansion of the Javits Center (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/11).
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED: DOLAN INCREASES RED SOX BID
The BOSTON HERALD reports that Charles Dolan "upped his offer for the [Red Sox] by $40 million" yesterday in an attempt to "get back in the game and blow up the intended … sale to a group of baseball insiders." Dolan: "Our plan is to bid aggressively. We are in this to win." Dolan sent notice to Red Sox CEO John Harrington of the $740M cash bid that "includes $440 million for the Yawkey trust, whose proceeds are slated to go to charity, and another $10 million for the team's limited partners." Henry's bid offered "only $410 million for the trust's 53.48 percent stake in the team" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/11).
NOT JUST FOR FOOTBALL AS UHL EXPANDS TO CANTON
The UHL announced Thursday that the Canton Xpress, formerly known as the Arctic Xpress, will join the league for the '02-03 season. The Xpress will be owned by Stark Sports Entertainment, LLC and will play at the 5,000-seat Canton Civic Center. UHL President Richard Brosal, on the expansion: "We are pleased to add a city like Canton to the UHL. The enthusiasm and commitment of the ownership, the city, the corporate partners and the fans will ensure its success" (THE DAILY).
ACTION! H&R BLOCK TAPS COEN BROTHERS FOR SUPER BOWL SPOT
USA TODAY reports that moviemakers Joel and Ethan Coen "are moving from 'Fargo' to the Oscars to the ad industry, creating a big-budget commercial for H&R Block to air during Super Bowl XXXVI" on February 3. The Coens, who are the "latest in a growing number of A-list film directors to take commercial assignments," will direct a 30-second "comic nightmare called 'Desk'" (USA TODAY, 1/11).
A MATTER OF TRUST: CUBAN ACCEPTS DAIRY QUEEN'S CHALLENGE
The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that Edina-based Dairy Queen on Thursday "invited Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to manage one of its stores for a day." Cuban wasted no time responding, as he "accepted Dairy Queen's offer Thursday night before Dallas' game against the New York Knicks." Details as to when and where Cuban will manage have yet to be finalized (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/11).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
CBS SportsLine reports Rams coach Mike Martz "is close to receiving a contract extension that will raise his annual salary to about $3 million" (CBS SportsLine, 1/11).
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that the hiring of Mike Tice as the Vikings' new coach "will have no affect on the looming $100 million wrongful death lawsuit that the family of Korey Stringer intends to file next week" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/11).
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on Thursday announced Nashville's selection "as host city for the 2003 NHL entry draft," adding that Music City "may eventually be the site of an NHL All-Star Game." The Predators estimate that "more than 12,000 fans will attend" the entry draft festivities, as well as 500 media (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/11).
The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that the "first thoroughbred sale on the Keeneland 2002 calendar, the January Horses of All Ages Sale, wrapped up yesterday in Lexington" with the average sale price "rising from last year's sale." The average price was $37,060, a 13% increase from the $32,856 average of a year ago (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 1/11).
The B.C. Open signed a commitment with the PGA Tour to keep the event in Endicott, NY, through '06. The pact also calls for the tournament's purse to rise from $2M to $3.5M by the end of the contract (THE DAILY).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that former Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. men's basketball coach Al LoBalbo "died of pneumonia Saturday at a convalescent home in Mountainside, N.J. He was 82." LoBalbo "coached Hubie Brown at St. Mary's High School in Elizabeth, N.J., and Mike Krzyzewski in college at Army" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/11).
TODAY'S EVENTS
Indians Owner Larry Dolan will be the guest speaker at the Akron Press Club luncheon at noon ET at the Martin University Center (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/10).
Nike will host a Webcast on the technology behind the Speedskating body suit known as the "Swift Skin" at 2:30pm MT. To register for the Webcast, go to Nike's UT '02 Media-Only Website (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports President Bush has "called for a thorough government review of the Enron Corp. debacle, amid disclosures that the company's top executive unsuccessfully lobbied two cabinet secretaries for help as the energy-trading concern neared filing for bankruptcy-court protection." Additionally, Enron Chair Kenneth Lay "also called Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan around the same time that he was seeking assistance from the administration." Lay's call to Greenspan occurred on October 26, and he followed with calls to Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill on the 28th and Commerce Secretary Donald Evans on the 29th (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/11).
The WASHINGTON POST reports accounting firm Arthur Andersen "plunged into more treacherous territory yesterday with its disclosure that it destroyed Enron-related records." Previously, the firm had been questioned about its audits of the energy-trading company. Now, the SEC "said it is widening its investigation of Enron to include Andersen's destruction of records" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/11).
Speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, CBS President Les Moonves indicated that the net would not follow NBC's lead and accept ads for hard liquor. Moonves: "We don't feel it is the right thing to do" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/11).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports Revlon Inc. "will revise its main marketing slogan from the mid-1980s and feature celebrities prominently in its advertising again." The company has signed actresses Julianne Moore and Halle Berry, along with model James King, as spokespeople (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/11).
The Salomon Smith Barney index of 50 retailers, weighted by sales, rose 4.5% in December, compared with a 0.2% decline in November, "as last-minute shoppers and a blast of long-delayed winter weather … defeat[ed] the most dismal expectations for the holidays" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/11).
Last night's edition of CNN's "Crossfire" featured a discussion about the Redskins possibly changing their team name to something, according to CNN's Bill Press, "less offensive to Native-Americans." Press: "The sensitivity police are trying to take away your favorite team. ... The Metropolitan Washington Council of Government (MWCG) voted 11-2 to ask the ... Redskins to change its name. ... What's wrong with being a Redskin anyway?" CNN's Tucker Carlson: "I was glad to learn that (MWCG's Carol Schwartz) and other elected officials in Washington have the free time to worry about American Indians. There's a lot to worry about. ... Don't you think it would be more effective just to take up a collection from all the rich liberals in the meeting and just go ahead and send it to the Indian reservation? They can certainly use it rather than passing pointless laws like this." Schwartz: "I think sensitivity to our fellow human beings is an important issue" ("Crossfire," CNN, 1/10).
Last night, CBS aired the final episode of "Survivor: Africa" with contestants Ethan Zohn and Kim Johnson being the final two survivors. Zohn was the winner, with Johnson wearing a "Survivor" tube top with Reebok clearly visible during the final tribal council (CBS, 1/10).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Past Presidential Candidates"
"Each fall, the Archdiocese of New York sponsors a major fund-raising dinner named for him."
LAUGH TRACK
Actor/comedian Billy Crystal, a Clippers fan and season ticket holder, appeared on last night's edition of TNT's "Inside the NBA." TNT's Charles Barkley asked, "How did you not become a Lakers fan like all the other phony celebrities?" Crystal said he became a Clippers fan because it "was easy to get seats." Crystal, who appeared with Barkley in "Forget Paris," said we "actually drew more people than the Clippers did that season" during one of the game shots for the film. Crystal said Barkley asked him what to say during a scene where he confronts Crystal, who plays an NBA referee, about a last-second call. Crystal: "Just say what you would normally say to any ref. And he said, 'You want an X-rating?'" (TNT, 1/10).
Last night's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Complaints of 'Survivor 3' Castaways." The list was read by the 16 "Survivor: Africa" contestants via satellite ("Late Show," CBS, 1/10).
| 10) | "The $1 million is being paid in Argentinean pesos." |
| 9) | "When people get confused and think you're one of those 'Big Brother' losers." |
| 8) | "The United States Air Force mistook us for an Al-Qaeda training camp." |
| 7) | "Okay, this isn't a Survivor thing, but those chicks on 'The View' never shut up." |
| 6) | "Everyone except me was incredibly whiny and annoying." |
| 5) | "I knew I'd end up being humiliated when 'Survivor' ended, but I never dreamed I'd be reduced to going on 'Letterman.'" |
| 4) | "You know how 1-800-MATTRESS says they'll deliver anywhere? Not true." |
| 3) | "You get off the plane after not showering for 39 days and everyone thinks you're the American Taliban dude." |
| 2) | "Jeff Probst is all hands." (Read by Kim) |
| 1) | "Jeff Probst is all hands." (Read by Tom) |
THURSDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" did not air.
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Clippers-Nets.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who was Al Smith?"
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
The Morning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
