Menu
Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, January 14, 2002

 
The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, January 14, 2002
9:00am ET

After Firing Schottenheimer, Redskins Poised To Announce Deal With Spurrier

Stand By Your Man: Red Sox Partners Reject Dolan's Last-Minute Bid

Toronto Sun's Olympic Pin Series Begins, Appropriately Enough, With Lemieux

ABC's Regional NHL Coverage Boosted By Lindros' Return To Philly

Amended Eligibility Standards To Be Discussed At Indy's NCAA Convention

A Lighter Buzz/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Box Office


REDSKINS COULD ANNOUNCE SPURRIER HIRING AS EARLY AS TODAY

The WASHINGTON POST reports that the Redskins fired coach Marty Schottenheimer on Sunday night and "plan to replace him with Steve Spurrier." Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder and Spurrier "have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract worth slightly less than $25 million, sources close to the situation said." The Spurrier hiring "likely will be announced today" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/14).

USA TODAY reports that the deal "would make Spurrier the highest-paid coach in the NFL" (USA TODAY, 1/14).

Meanwhile, the Redskins announced that Schottenheimer will hold a press conference at 11:00am ET today in the team's media room (THE DAILY).


RED SOX PARTNERS VOTE TO KEEP SALE OF TEAM ON COURSE

The BOSTON GLOBE reports "the limited partners in the Boston Red Sox voted unanimously yesterday afternoon to stand by their decision to sell the team for $700 million to a group led by Florida financier John Henry." The decision to retain Henry's bid came on the heels of "a surprise, last-minute offer" by Cablevision CEO Charles Dolan, "even though he was willing to pay $40 million more for the franchise" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/14).

Read the full statement from Red Sox CEO John Harrington explaining the decision and the response of prospective Red Sox Majority Owner John Henry.


LEMIEUX LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE OLYMPIC PIN SERIES

The TORONTO SUN reports that Penguins C Mario Lemieux "takes center ice" today as the first member of Team Canada's '02 hockey team "to be showcased in The Sun's exclusive 24-pin collection." A new pin, featuring each team member, "will become available every day, starting today and lasting until the torch is lit on the eve of the opening ceremonies" in Salt Lake City on February 7 (TORONTO SUN, 1/14).

More than 200 readers have called the paper's promotions department "to inquire in advance about the collection." Marketing manager Sal Caggiula: "We're getting a ton of calls. A lot of collectors are trying to get their hands on these pins" (TORONTO SUN, 1/14).


LINDROS' RETURN TO PHILLY BOOSTS NHL OVERNIGHT RATING

ABC's regional coverage of the NHL on Saturday, which featured Eric Lindros' return to Philadelphia, earned a 2.4/6 overnight Nielsen rating, up 60% from last year's second NHL broadcast on ABC. The rating also marks the second-highest overnight for an NHL regular-season game, behind only the 2.5 overnight for the Penguins-Rangers game on April 18, 1999, which was Wayne Gretzky's final game. Among the top markets for Saturday's coverage (in alphabetical order):

  Atlanta - 1.9 New York - 2.7
  Buffalo - 2.3   Norfolk - 2.1
  Chicago - 2.4 Orlando - 2.1
  Dallas - 4.8 Philadelphia - 9.7
  Denver - 2.0 Pittsburgh - 4.1
  Detroit - 11.7 St. Louis - 6.3
  Miami - 2.1 Tampa - 2.9

ABC's next NHL broadcast is the All-Star Game on Saturday, February 2, at 3:00pm ET. ABC's regular-season coverage resumes Saturday, March 2 (THE DAILY).


NCAA CONVENTION IN INDIANAPOLIS CONTINUES TODAY

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that amended eligibility standards "will be among the topics" of discussion at today's Div. I forum at the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. Today's forum will also examine membership standards for Div. I-A football. During the opening business session of the convention yesterday, NCAA President Cedric Dempsey and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice both spoke "about the Sept. 11 attacks and values that Americans share" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/14).


A LIGHTER BUZZ

World Series co-MVP Curt Schilling was "among several pro athletes who carried the Olympic torch" as it made its way through Phoenix on Sunday en route to the Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Former NBA player and coach Danny Ainge and Coyotes captain Teppo Numminen "also carried the torch for their brief jogs Sunday" (ESPN.com, 1/14).

The AP reports, "With the Olympics less than a month away, ambivalence reigns in rural Utah." Green River Valley Mayor Glen Johnson, on the Games' impact on his city, about three hours from Salt Lake City: "They will be good for the state, good for the country, especially after Sept. 11. But will Green River gain? I don't think so. The only way the Olympics are going to affect Green River is traffic going through. Maybe they'll stop for a cup of coffee" (AP, 1/14).

Former "Monday Night Football" announcer Frank Gifford, after previewing tonight's "Monday Night Mayhem" special on TNT: "I come across as a big idiot. The only one worse than me is Howard Cosell" (N.Y. POST, 1/14). Please read today's CLOSING BELL at 4:00pm ET for a recap of "Monday Night Mayhem" reviews.

ABC Radio's Keith Olbermann reported former Cowboys QB and current CBS NFL analyst Troy Aikman "is 99 percent certain he wants to play next season" for the Dolphins (ABC Radio Sports, 1/13).


TODAY'S EVENTS

Chargers Dir of Public Relations Bill Johnston has been chosen to carry the Olympic torch as it travels through San Diego (THE DAILY).

SLOC Chief Communications Officer Caroline Shaw will host a weekly briefing, the first of which begins today, to update media on general SLOC issues at 11:00am MT from the SLOC Headquarters in Salt Lake City (THE DAILY).

The Predators will have their annual Fathers Trip when the team visits Anaheim today and L.A. on Tuesday. Fathers of the players and staff "will accompany the team as 18 dads, the most ever, make the trip" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/13).

The Flames will launch the team's incentive reading program, "Reading … Give It A Shot," at St. Bede School in Calgary. Flames President & CEO Ken King will join RW Jarome Iginla, D Denis Gauthier and other players as they hand out books to fifth and sixth graders (THE DAILY).

The Pacers, along with the Indianapolis Public Schools, the City of Indianapolis and Costco Wholesale, will open the new home of the Pacers Academy at Union Station with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2:00pm CT. The Academy's Education Resource Center will provide an alternative education option for students who have faced challenges in a traditional education setting (THE DAILY).


IN OTHER NEWS….

The current cover of TIME profiles "The Science of Staying Healthy," while NEWSWEEK features the fall of Enron Corp.

President George W. Bush, while watching the Ravens-Dolphins playoff game in the White House yesterday, fainted and fell off a couch while choking on a pretzel. The President underwent a thorough exam and intends to keep his full schedule today (Mult, 1/14).

CBS estimated "an average 27.3 million viewers were tuned to the two-hour 'Survivor: Africa' finale Thursday." The finale for the first edition of the series drew 51.7 million, while last year's final episode drew 36.4 million (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/12).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes Spanish-language net Telefutura "launches today at 4 p.m. EST on 42 stations, reaching 70% of Latino homes and built from the 13 outlets Barry Diller sold to Univision Communications for $1.1 billion" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/14).

Ron Howard's "A Beautiful Mind" was named the Best Film of '01 by the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the nation's largest critics group (USA TODAY, 1/14).


EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are this week's confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THE DAILY).

DATE

SYMBOL

COMPANY

QUARTER

1/17

ELY

Callaway Golf

Q4 2001

1/17

ISCA

International Speedway Corp.

Q4 2001

       

LAUGH TRACK

CBS' David Letterman said the "hunt for Osama bin Laden is really heating up now. They've brought in those three private eyes that Michael Jordan's wife hired." Letterman: "Apparently now, for the last six, seven years, Michael Jordan has had like a half dozen girlfriends while he's married, and I'm thinking to myself, 'Well good God, forget the NBA, this guy's Presidential material.'"

Last Friday night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Signs the FedEx Guy Is In Love With You" ("Late Show," CBS, 1/11).

10)

"You schedule a pickup -- he shows up and says you have lovely eyes."

9)

"Offers to take you out to dinner and have you home before 10:00am the next business day."

8)

"He's named his handcart after you."

7)

"Tells you you look like you've lost a couple of ounces."

6)

"He had your tracking number tattooed above his heart."

5)

"Badgers you to take a romantic getaway to the FedEx central processing plant in Memphis, (TN)."

4)

"Notice on door reads 'Delivery attempted at 2:30, 2:34, 2:38 & 2:42.'"

3)

"Goes through roll of bubble wrap saying, 'She loves me, she loves me not.'"

2)

"Mailman hands you an envelope, FedEx guy jumps out of bushes, shouting,
'You slut!'"

1)

"Claims to have a special 'package' for you, but he's not holding a box."


SUNDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

FSN's 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with 49ers-Packers.

ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with the Redskins firing coach Marty Schottenheimer and hiring Steve Spurrier.


WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

Title
This Weekend
Cumulative
The Lord of the Rings
$16.1M
$228.2M
A Beautiful Mind
$15.8M
$59M
Orange County
$15.1M
$15.1M
Ocean's Eleven
$11M
$162.4M
The Royal Tenenbaums
$6.3M
$29.9M
Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius
$5.5M
$69M
Vanilla Sky
$5M
$88.4M
Kate & Leopold
$5M
$37.4M
Gosford Park
$3.7M
$6.7M
Harry Potter
$3.4M
$305M

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.

 

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2002/01/14/Morning-Buzz-January-14-2002.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2002/01/14/Morning-Buzz-January-14-2002.aspx

CLOSE