| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, February 15, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Comprehensive Olympic Coverage: Today's Headlines, Schedules, Forecasts |
| • | IOC Calls For Resolution To Skating Controversy, But Defers To ISU |
| • | Tracking The Advertising Presence Of OPUS Partners, TOP Sponsors |
| • | Are Some Disney Shareholders Beginning To Have Doubts About Eisner? |
| • | NASCAR Season Officially Begins With NYSE Visit This Afternoon |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor |
Editor's Note: The Morning Buzz will not publish on Monday, February 18 in observance of President's Day. We will return on Tuesday, February 19.
THE SALT LAKE CITY WINTER GAMES, DAY 8: TODAY'S HEADLINES
Salt Lake Tribune:
Deseret News:
National News:
- Skating Officials Rebuff Call For Quick Action (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15).
- Shame From '98 Dorm Trashing Lingers (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/15).
- Team USA Men's Hockey Has Gold-Tenders (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/15).
- Jean Racine Hit The Brakes, A Friendship Crashed (WASHINGTON POST, 2/15).
- Olympic Spirit Bowed, But Not Broken (L.A. TIMES, 2/15).
QUOTE FROM THE GAMES…
"I can't deny we're not capitalizing on it. It would be wrong to ignore it."
– NBC Television Network President Randy Falco, on the ratings spike provided by the figure skating controversy (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15).
TODAY'S UT WEATHER
The forecast calls for sunny skies, with a high of 32°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 SCANDAL: IOC CALLS FOR RESOLUTION, DEFERS TO ISU
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports sources told the paper that Canadian figure skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier are "increasingly likely to receive an Olympic gold medal," with the International Skating Union "trying to do as much damage control as possible and the [IOC] repeating its demands for a swift conclusion to the judging scandal." However, Pelletier said on CNN's "Larry King Live" Wednesday night that he "didn't want the gold medal" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/15).
Meanwhile, Gold Medal winning pairs figure skaters Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, as well as coach Tamara Moskvina, were interviewed on last night's edition of CNN's "Larry King Live" about the controversy surrounding their performance. Read a transcript of the show (CNN, 2/14).
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL quotes IOC President Jacques Rogge, on a fast resolution to the figure skating controversy: "I don't want to be tied to a timetable. We have insisted the case must be solved as soon as possible, but we respect the procedures of the ISU" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/15).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the IOC "is finding itself powerless against two mighty forces: it cannot dictate to international sports federations how to conduct their Olympic tournaments, and it cannot change public opinion" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15).
OLYMPIC NOTES: NBC PROMOS & ATHLETE PROFILES
Last night's NBC 8:00-11:30pm ET primetime Olympic broadcast aired four NBCOlympics.com promos, one for "Ed," three for the Daytona 500, two for "Friends," three for "Leap of Faith." one for "ER," one for "Will & Grace," one for "Watching Ellie" and one NBC TV primetime line-up promo (THE DAILY).
Day seven of NBC's Olympic coverage included two athlete profiles: Jayaram Khadka, Nepal, Cross Country Skiing and Catriona Le May Doan, Canada,Speed Skating(THE DAILY).
OLYMPIC AD MONITOR
OPUS partner Bank of America takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today. Continuing its Olympic ad campaign, the ad promotes its "Hassle-Free Mortgage" (THE DAILY).
OPUS partner AT&T takes out a full-page ad in todays USA Today and Wall Street Journal with a speed skating theme, continuing its Olympic ad campaign (THE DAILY).
TOP sponsor Panasonic takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today promoting its broadcast digital video system (THE DAILY).
OPUS partner Kleenex also takes out a full-page ad in this morning's USA Today, stating, "Best Of Luck To The 1st U.S. Women's Olympic Bobsled Team" (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ESPN2's John Kernan cites sources saying that Innovative Motorsports will announce Friday at Daytona that CART driver Christian Fittipaldi will compete in at least six BGN events this year. Sources say the No. 30 Chevrolet will be sponsored by Mike's Hard Lemonade ("RPM 2Night," ESPN2, 2/14).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports Cablevision "swung to a loss for the fourth quarter, hurt by expenses from the launch of its digital cable service and lower attendance at the holiday performances of its New York entertainment businesses" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/15).
The 76ers held a Valentine's Day promotion where 76 couples got married at halftime of yesterday's Jazz-76ers game. The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that one of the couples "figured they would have spent $20,000 on a traditional wedding." Groom Lou DiMatteo Jr., on his marriage ceremony: "But all we've spent for this is $40 for the marriage license and $10 for parking. We've saved $19,950. That's pretty damn good" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/15).
TODAY'S EVENTS
UPS CEO Mike Eskew and NASCAR's Dale Jarrett will ring the closing bell at the NYSE to mark the start of the '02 NASCAR racing season. Eskew will sound the bell from the balcony on Wall Street and Jarrett, via satellite from Daytona, will wave a checkered flag to conclude the day's trading (THE DAILY).
A funeral will be held in S.F. for longtime Yankee Frank Crosetti, who died Monday at the age of 91. Crosetti played SS for 17 years and later performed as the team's third base coach, appearing in 22 World Series while wearing a Yankees uniform (USA TODAY, 2/13).
Chicagoland Speedway will re-launch its official Web site (THE DAILY).
Chiefs DE Eric Hicks and "The Learning Center," an interactive mobile classroom that educates the public about the importance of organ donations, will visit Notre Dame De Sion School in Kansas City, MO, from 1:00-2:30pm CT (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The DESERET NEWS reports that area ski venues are struggling during the Winter Olympics. Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort Dir of PR Fred Rollins: "Snowbird is wide open. Since we don't have [Olympic] venues, we have no lines, no barriers, no traffic. … We have almost no one on the mountain, unfortunately" (DESERET NEWS, 2/15).
The N.Y. TIMES reports Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner "is going to have a lot of explaining to do" when he addresses shareholders Tuesday at the company's annual meetings. Eisner's friends claim he is "on the defensive," and an unnamed industry exec claimed the CEO "is under so much pressure right now." Meanwhile, a former Disney exec claims, "This is the first time some people are saying perhaps Michael is the wrong guy" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/15).
USA TODAY reports attendance at Disney World "remains in the doldrums – down between 10% and 15% from last year's levels … the latest indication that the national tourism downturn brought on by September's attacks could take a while to reverse" (USA TODAY, 2/15).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports, "Corporate logos and ads soon may be posted in city parks for the first time as part of a plan to raise some $2 million for the cash-strapped city" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/15).
Last night's "Late Show" spoofed the fake fireplace used on the set of NBC's Winter Olympics coverage, as host David Letterman had a portable fireplace next to his desk (N.Y. POST, 2/15). Read Letterman's take on the figure skating scandal.
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "American History."
"German officer Johann Rall led this group when they were defeated in battle in December 1776."
LAUGH TRACK
NBC's Jay Leno, on the figure skating being fixed: "The International Figure Skating President Vince McMahon denied it. … I'm just glad Tonya Harding got out of this sport before it got ugly." Leno said Canadian skaters Jamie Sale and David Pelletier now have endorsements. Leno showed a box of "Wheaties" with a picture of Sale and Pelletier and then a picture of the Russian skaters on box of "Cheaties" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/14).
CBS' David Letterman joked, "I hate the day after Valentine's Day. You got that champagne hangover and the bill from the escort service." Letterman: "If you still don't have a date for Valentine's Day call that French Olympic skating judge, because apparently, she can be pressured into screwing anybody."
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Reasons I Joined The Marines." The list was read by Marines from the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Lejeune, NC ("Late Show," CBS, 2/14).
| 10) | "I've always loved jumping off landing craft and hitting the beach under heavy fire." |
| 9) | "I couldn't stand one more day of waking up later than 5:00 a.m." |
| 8) | "My mama was a Marine." |
| 7) | "I'd always heard great things about Afghanistan." |
| 6) | "It was either this or beauty school." |
| 5) | "I happen to look great in camouflage." |
| 4) | "Army movies star Pauly Shore. Marine movies star Jack Nicholson." |
| 3) | "To serve my country, and fulfill patriotic duty, and shoot some big-ass weapons." |
| 2) | "Every spring we go to Daytona to establish a beachhead." |
| 1) | "Give me that eagle, globe and anchor." |
THURSDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Wizards-Kings.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who were the Hessians?"
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