| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, March 20, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Stern, NBA Relocation Committee Bound For Bayou For One-Day Visit |
| • | CFL BOG Continue Debate on Commissioner Michael Lysko |
| • | Tim Finchem Wants More Happy Players, Less “Happy Gilmore” |
| • | Not Unemployed For Long: Lites Set To Become New Coyotes President |
| • | Jason “King Of Swing” Giambi Graces SI's MLB '02 Preview Issue |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/TV Monitor/Laugh Track/Final Jeopardy! |
NEW ORLEANS WELCOMES NBA RELOCATION COMMITTEE TODAY
The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that NBA Commissioner David Stern and the league's relocation committee of seven NBA owners "arrive in New Orleans today for a one-day visit that will help them evaluate the city's bid" for an NBA team. Hornets co-Owner Ray Wooldridge "will try to hammer home two points" during the committee's visit: "that season-ticket sales are sufficient to justify a move from Charlotte, N.C., and that the Louisiana version of the team will draw from a regional base" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 3/20).
CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING CFL COMMISSIONER COULD END SOON
The TORONTO SUN reports that CFL Commissioner Michael Lysko's future "could be decided as early as today and speculation is strong the CFL board of governors will buy him out or take its chances in court." The BOG "is expected to try to resolve Lysko's situation in a conference call" (TORONTO SUN, 3/20).
Meanwhile, the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the BOG is "preparing to dismiss" Lysko, and have decided to offer the commissioner "the approximately $450,000 remaining on his contract and hope that he goes away quietly. Chances are that he won't" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/20).
FINCHEM STRESSES PROPER ETIQUETTE OF PGA TOUR PARTICIPANTS
The FL TIMES-UNION reports that PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem "stressed the importance of proper behavior at last night's mandatory players meeting," as the increased exposure for PGA Tour events means TV "is more likely to capture the intense side" of golfers. PGA Tour Senior VP Henry Hughes: "Our image is the mainstay of the PGA Tour. Things that are acceptable in society now are not acceptable here" (FL TIMES-UNION, 3/20).
ONE DAY AFTER RESIGNING IN TX, LITES TO JOIN COYOTES
Coyotes Chair & CEO Steve Ellman will hold a media conference today at 2:00pm PT and the ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that former Stars and MLB Rangers President Jim Lites has joined the team "in a similar capacity and will replace Shawn Hunter at the end of the season." However, Coyotes officials "wouldn't comment on the front-office change" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/20).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
This week's Sports Illustrated, the magazine's MLB '02 preview, features Yankees 1B Jason Giambi under the headline, "King Of Swing: Why Jason Giambi Is The Perfect Modern Hitter." SI picks the Yankees over the Cardinals in the World Series (THE DAILY).
MLB President & COO Robert DuPuy "became the seventh witness Tuesday in the grievance by the players' association against contraction." Questioning of DuPuy was to resume today, before the hearing recessed until April 8 (AP, 3/19).
The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports Bucks coach George Karl "sounded surprisingly apologetic" last night for the "furor he caused with his criticism of [Magic coach] Doc Rivers" receiving an NBA coaching job without spending time as an assistant coach. Karl: "I'm sorry for what happened. I should have been smarter. I made a mistake. And I'm sorry it hurt the game" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/20).
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Vail Resorts on Tuesday "unveiled plans for a $75 million redevelopment of its 'Front Door' – the main entrance to the ski resort." The redevelopment of the area "is in addition to the $400 million redevelopment of Lionshead that it announced earlier this year" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/20).
The GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE reports that the Committee on Stadium Funding Alternatives "will meet today for the first time in more than a year to discuss the timing and procedure for selling stadium naming rights" for a renovated Lambeau Field (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 3/20).
TODAY'S EVENTS
MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be the keynote speaker for the Burn's Kickoff Luncheon at the downtown Dallas Hyatt (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/20).
Garber will join MetroStars F Clint Mathis and Earthquakes F Landon Donovan in an MLS media teleconference call at 2:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The Baltimore SUN reports that the NFL owners meetings "are expected to wrap up today with no major issues on the agenda" (Baltimore SUN, 3/20).
Reebok will honor Venus Williams for her number one WTA Tour world ranking, and Williams will host a youth tennis clinic and talk about education from 11:45am-1:00pm ET at Wolf Park in Lauderhill, FL (THE DAILY).
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair John Breaux (D-LA) will join A.J. and Larry Foyt to kick off the "March for Meals" Meals on Wheels campaign to end hunger among senior citizens with an 11:00am ET press conference in DC. Meals on Wheels celebrates its 30th anniversary this month (THE DAILY).
Women's Sports Foundation Exec Dir Donna Lopiano and President of Cal State – Fresno Univ. Dr. John Welty will be the keynote speakers at the Commission on Athletics 5th Annual Convention, which begins today runs through March 22nd in Reno, NV (THE DAILY).
McFarlane Toys and Spawn.com Founder Todd McFarlane will be at the NBA Store on Fifth Avenue in N.Y. to promote the release of the McFarlane's Sports Picks Basketball Series 1 action figures beginning at 4:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. Sun announced yesterday that it would debut on April 16 and released its staff list. Meanwhile, the N.Y. DAILY NEWS said the list was "heavily weighted with conservative columnists." Also, the new paper will have "fewer than 25" full-time staffers and will have a press run of 60,000 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/20).
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports the Hewlett-Packard Co. yesterday "declared victory in its bitter battle to win approval from shareholders to buy Compaq Computer Corp." While not an official deal, "it appeared that the $23 billion stock swap deal, which will effectively end the life of Houston's most notable high-tech company, will go through" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/20).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Artists."
"The tapestries in Israel's Knesset were designed by this artist born in Russia in 1887."
LAUGH TRACK
S.I.'s Rick Reilly, on a Miller Lite commercial he shot with supermodel Rebecca Romijn Stamos: "They called me up and said, 'Would you like to spend the weekend with Rebecca Romijn doing this commercial? It'll be a national ad. It'll be x-thousands of dollars.' I said, 'Well, I don't have that kind of money. Would you take a check?'" ("Rocky Mountain Sports Report Inside Edition," FSRM, 3/19).
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Things People Said As They Watched [CBS' new sitcom] 'Baby Bob'" ("Late Show," CBS, 3/19).
| 10. | "Where's the remote?" |
| 9. | "Oh God, I think this is the one where the baby talks!" |
| 8. | "I hear a lot of talking babies auditioned for the part." |
| 7. | "I hope this is one of those shows where someone gets voted off." |
| 6. | "Seriously, give me the remote or I will beat you to death." |
| 5. | "Holy crap, it's a talking baby." |
| 4. | "Honey, could you check the Book of Revelations for signs of the Apocalypse?" |
| 3. | "First thing tomorrow I'm getting a vasectomy." |
| 2. | "Yeah, but that baby still isn't half as creepy as Letterman." |
| 1. | "Hey, Secret Service, over here! I'm choking!" |
| |
TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Lakers-Mavericks.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who was Marc Chagall?"
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.
