| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, February 13, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Comprehensive Olympic Coverage: Today's Headlines, Schedules, Forecasts |
| • | As Figure Skating Scandal Continues, Accusations Of Backroom Deals Fly |
| • | Tracking The Advertising Presence Of OPUS Sponsors, Partners |
| • | DuPuy, Fehr To Testify Before Senate On MLB Antitrust Status Today |
| • | Neverending Parade: Patriots Super Bowl Tour Stop Pulls Into Providence |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor |
THE SALT LAKE CITY WINTER GAMES, DAY 6: TODAY'S HEADLINES
Salt Lake Tribune:
Deseret News:
Salt Lake TV KSL Radio
National News:
- After Grand Entrance, Street Exits Quietly (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13).
- NBC Analysts Blast Judging (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).
- Anthem Changed To "Woe, Canada" (L.A. TIMES, 2/13).
- Drama Helps NBC's Winning Start (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13).
- Apolo Anton Ohno Could Put U.S. On Fast Track To Success (L.A. TIMES, 2/13).
- Pin Traders Reach Point Of Obsession (USA TODAY, 2/13).
- Snowboarders Hot On eBay, At Medals Plaza (USA TODAY, 2/13).
QUOTE FROM THE GAMES…
"I'm ready for chapter two of my life: I am going to go get married and raise a family and keep trying to make a positive difference for the next generation in any way that I can."
— U.S. women's downhill skier Picabo Street, at the conclusion of her race yesterday
(NBC, 2/12).
TODAY'S UT WEATHER The forecast calls for cloudy skies today, with a high of 36°F.
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
NBC's TV COVERAGE TODAY'S VISITOR INFORMATION
SALT LAKE CITY MEDIA GUIDE (requires Adobe Acrobat)
Click on the buttons below for additional Olympic links:
SKATING CONTROVERSY RAGES ON, TAINTS SPORT'S PLACE IN GAMES
The BOSTON HERALD reports that the "verbal fireworks" from Monday's controversial pairs skating competition "continued on warp drive [Tuesday] as there were open accusations of backroom deals influencing the judging, as well as concern that the rest of the competitions, including last night's men's short program, were in jeopardy of falling prey to the same type of collusion" (BOSTON HERALD, 2/13).
The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER's Scott Reid called the controversy "a scandal that engulfed the Salt Lake City Games and questioned [figure skating's] ethics and future in the Games" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 2/13).
Also, on NBCOlympics.com, a poll is asking fans to vote on the controversy. As of 8:30am ET, 94% of the 260,931 people who have voted believe Canada's David Pelletier and Jamie Sale should have won the Gold Medal (THE DAILY).
SAY MY NAME: OHNO PERCHED ON THE EDGE OF HISTORY
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that the "popularity [status] of short-track speedskating could change" tonight at the Delta Center, when U.S. speedskater Apolo Anton Ohno, 19, competes. Ohno's life story "is bold and sad," his sports story "precocious and, recently, controversial." His place in history, however, is "just beginning to be established" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/13).
OLYMPIC NOTES: ROOTING, PUBLIC DRINKING & TRACKING NBC'S ADS
Last night's NBC 8:00-11:30pm ET primetime Olympic broadcast aired one "Watching Ellie" promo; one "Frasier" promo; three NBCOlympics.com promos; three "Scrubs" promos; two "Leap of Faith" promos; two Daytona 500 promos and one NBC TV promo. (THE DAILY).
Day five of NBC's Olympic coverage included seven athlete profiles: Benti Skari, Norway, Cross Country Skiing; Simon Ammon, Switzerland, Ski Jumping; Erling Jevne, Norway, Cross Country Skiing; Yelena Berezhnava and Anton Sikharulidze, Russia, Figure Skating; Picabo Street, USA, Alpine Skiing; Alexei Yagudin and Evgeni Plushenko, Russia, Figure Skating and Todd Eldridge, USA, Figure Skating (THE DAILY).
A couple of observant Australians, "upon seeing the corporate logo 'Roots' stitched to Team USA uniforms, speculated that the Americans must be having a really good time at the Olympics," as "root" means "to fornicate" in their native land (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/13). Roots appartel was profiled on NBC's "Today" show. See today's Daily for more information.
In the spirit of the Games, Salt Lake City police say that it's "OK to drink alcohol while walking the streets" of the city (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/13).
OLYMPIC AD MONITOR
OPUS sponsor Hallmark takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA TODAY, under the headline, "This Year's Olympics Will Be Full Of Bronze, Silver, Gold, And, Thanks To Hallmark, Platinum." The ad goes on to list the schedule of musical acts playing at the Olympic Medals Plaza (THE DAILY).
OPUS partner Bank of America also takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA TODAY. Continuing its Olympic ad campaign promoting its "Hassle-Free Mortgage" (THE DAILY).
OPUS partners GM Chevrolet also takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA TODAY, under the headline, "Proud To Sponsor And Equip The U.S. Ski Team" (THE DAILY).
OPUS partner Kleenex also takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA TODAY, under the headline, "4 Thrill-Seeking Adrenaline Junkies + 1 Overdue Opportunity = 1 Giant Step For Women's Sports." The phrase, "Best Of Luck To The 1st U.S. Women's Olympic Bobsled Team" is found at the bottom of the ad (THE DAILY).
Finally, non-Olympic partner Oppenheimer Funds takes out a full-page ad in today's WALL STREET JOURNAL, with a skiing theme, under the headline, "Being #1 Comes Down To One Thing. Skill" (THE DAILY).
MLB EXECS TO TESTIFY BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE TODAY
MLB.com reported that the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today will examine MLB's antitrust status during a hearing on Capitol Hill. MLB's Exec VP Bob DuPuy will testify, as will MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr. Also scheduled to testify are FL AG Bob Butterworth, MN Deputy AG Lori Swanson and Stan Brand, a lobbyist for the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, the governing body of the minor leagues (MLB.com, 2/12).
PATRIOTS VICTORY TOUR MAKES STOP IN PROVIDENCE
The PROVIDENCE JOURNAL reports Providence Mayor Vincent Cianci Jr. helped bring the Super Bowl Champion Patriots to RI yesterday, "the second stop of a planned Patriots tour of the New England states." While a parade in Boston drew over 1 million fans, "crowd estimates ranged from 5,000 to 10,000" for the Providence celebration (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 2/13).
The BOSTON GLOBE reports the Patriots tour "will continue in the spring." Patriots Media Dir Stacey James: "A lot of guys have gone home. But we definitely will have some of them make the rounds to Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/13).
Meanwhile, K Adam Vinatieri yesterday held an autograph session at Filene's Department Store in Boston. The BOSTON HERALD reports "the line began to form at about 5:30am" ET for the noon event. Vinatieri "spent two hours signing some 500 autographs" at the store (BOSTON HERALD, 2/13).
AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BREAK DOWN, SIMPSON VOWS TO SUE NASCAR
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports Bill Simpson "was unable to elicit an apology from NASCAR on Tuesday, leaving him convinced a lawsuit is his only recourse against stock-car racing's sanctioning body." Simpson: "I guess the word 'apology' is not in NASCAR's vocabulary. So, we'll see them in court." Simpson is expected to file an $8.5M lawsuit "claiming NASCAR wrongly blamed the construction of seat belts made by his company in the death of … Dale Earnhardt." However, Simpson "couldn't get his former company, Simpson Performance Products, to join the suit" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/13).
SAN ANTONIO ONE STEP CLOSER TO HOSTING PAN AM GAMES
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that Ricardo Contreras, secretary general of Mexico's Olympic committee, said Tuesday that Guadalajara, Mexico, is "no longer a candidate to host" the Pan Am Games. The USOC confirmed that "only San Antonio and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, remain in the running to hold the Games." A decision on the host city "is expected to be made in August, when the Pan American Sports Organization General Assembly next meets in Argentina" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 2/13).
THE KING FILLS IN AS THE LUMBERJACK GETS A MAKEOVER
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports "Georgia-Pacific is expected to announce today that racing legend Richard Petty will stand in as the Brawny man on a special package available next month." Additionally, Georgia-Pacific will feature "a car with the Brawny man emblazoned on its hood … at five Nascar races this season." The company is updating the look of its longtime lumberjack mascot, and "a new Brawny man will appear on store shelves and in advertising early next year" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/13).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
This week's cover of Sports Illustrated features OH high school basketball player LeBron James with the tagline, "THE CHOSEN ONE…High school junior LeBron James would be an NBA lottery pick right now" (SI, 2/18 issue).
The Nashville TENNESSEAN reports Titans Owner Bud Adams "turned thumbs down on making Adelphia Coliseum available" for a Tyson-Lewis heavyweight title bout. Adams, on Mike Tyson: "He's not the type of person I would want to have as a tenant in the Coliseum" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 2/13). Meanwhile, USA TODAY reports that Tyson has been licensed to box in Georgia, "paving the way for him to fight heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis on June 8 at the 80,000-seat Georgia Dome in Atlanta" (USA TODAY, 2/13).
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports the Rockies' "bid to bring country star Garth Brooks to spring training hit a bad chord Tuesday, when he declined the team's offer, citing commitments to his three daughters." Twice previously, Brooks has trained with baseball teams "to provide money for his Touch 'Em All Foundation, a baseball-related charity that has donated more than $20 million to children's charities in its three-year existence" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 2/13).
TODAY'S EVENTS
Oakley Inc. is expected to announce its Q4 and year-end earnings (THE DAILY).
Topps will release the first baseball card featuring 1B Jason Giambi in his Yankees uniform. The card is part of the '02 Topps Heritage Baseball set, which pays homage to the all-painted 1953 Topps set (THE DAILY).
Sparks C Lisa Leslie will present Saucony running shoes to 50 students from Students Run L.A., a nonprofit organization for inner-city youth between the ages of 11 and 18, at 3:00pm PT at LeConte Middle School (THE DAILY).
NBC Sports will conduct a media teleconference at 1:00pm ET to preview its inaugural coverage of the '02 Daytona 500 (THE DAILY).
Cal Ripken will host a 1:00pm ET press conference to formally introduce Ripken Baseball's short-season Class-A NY-Penn League team that will play in Aberdeen, MD (THE DAILY).
Ravens Owner Art Modell and MLL Founder Jake Steinfeld will host a 2:00pm ET press conference at Ravens Stadium to announce a joint-marketing partnership (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that in the 2,500-plus field at the 126th annual Wesminster Kennel Club show last night, Ch. Surrey Spice Girl, a miniature poodle, was chosen "Best in Show" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/13).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports CNN is expected to cancel "Greenfield at Large," as part "of an ambitious prime-time overhaul" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/13).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Word & Phrase Origins."
"Don Hoefler, a reporter for Electronic News, is credited with coining this name for an area south of San Francisco."
LAUGH TRACK
CBS' David Letterman, on Fashion Week and the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show happening simultaneously in N.Y.: "I'm telling you, the city is full of bitches." Letterman, on the Westminster Dog Show being held at MSG: "Usually, the only thing at the Garden that rolls over and plays dead is the Knicks." Letterman, on NBC tape-delayed coverage of the Winter Games: "I'm not the one to complain about pre-taped events because, right now, I'm at home asleep" ("Late Show," CBS, 2/12).
NBC's Jay Leno, on the U.S. women's hockey team: "Forty women carrying sticks with missing teeth. Or, as we call it, Kentucky" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/12).
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Things Overheard In Line For the Late Show" ("Late Show," CBS, 2/12).
| 10) | "Oh boy, maybe Letterman will have another heart attack." |
| 9) | "The tickets are free? What a rip-off!" |
| 8) | "Who wants a no-doz?" |
| 7) | "At least we'll be warm once we get inside." |
| 6) | "Tonight's topic is, 'Wake up, girlfriend, your man's a d-o-g dog.'" |
| 5) | "So what have you been up to lately, Mr. Gore?" |
| 4) | "I hope it's not a repeat." |
| 3) | "I bet there's a B-level celebrity talking about some movie or television show I've never heard of." |
| 2) | "Maybe he'll do one of his hilarious 'Jaywalking' bits tonight." |
| 1) | "That show's a lot funnier if you're rip, stinkin' drunk." |
TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Wizards-Lakers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is Silicon Valley?"
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