HBO TO ANNOUNCE EXPANDED ROLE FOR BOB COSTAS

The N.Y. POST reports that HBO will announce today that sportscaster Bob Costas "is expanding his role at the network – fueling speculation that Costas' days as the signature figure of NBC Sports are over."  Costas already hosts "On The Record" for the cable network and is expected to become "a presence on 'Inside The NFL' under a multi-year contract he's signed with HBO" (N.Y. POST, 4/3).

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW COYOTES ARENA OFFICIALLY BEGINS TODAY

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will join Coyotes co-Owners Steve Ellman,Wayne Gretzky and members of the team for a 1:00pm PT groundbreaking ceremony that marks the official start of construction on the team's new Glendale arena.  The rain-or-shine event is open to the public, with the first 2,000 people scheduled to receive a commemorative groundbreaking gift (THE DAILY).

EXPOS GIVE SELIG FIRST WIN AS TEAM'S DE FACTO OWNER

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Marlins Owner and former Expos Owner Jeffrey Loriawas not at Olympic Stadium for last night's Marlins-Expos season opener to hear the chants of "Loria sucks" and "read the signs, so many of them obscenity-laden."  Loria also did not see Marlins P Braden Looper "blow a two-run lead," as the Expos rallied for a 7-6 win to give MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "his first victory as their owner" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/3).

WOOLDRIDGE: HORNETS WILL MEET TICKET GOALS BY DEADLINE

The Baton Rouge ADVOCATE reports that Hornets co-Owner Ray Wooldridge said that the team will meet the NBA ticket sales, sponsorship and broadcasting requirements by today's deadline.  Wooldridge said the team will have an announcement after filing with the NBA by today's 5:00pm ET deadline.  Wooldridge: "This is our best week ever.  The requirements that we agreed to meet we will have met" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 4/3).

RAIDERS LOAN FOCAL POINT OF ONGOING NFL TRIAL

The OAKLAND TRIBUNE reported that a disputed $63.9M loan East Bay taxpayers gave the Raiders in '95 "will take center stage [today] when the second phase of a trial between the Raiders" and the NFL gets under way in L.A.  The NFL says the loan was "designed to circumvent league bylaws requiring the Raiders to share millions of dollars of revenues with the rest of the NFL."  The Raiders have yet to repay the loan to the city, and the league says the team "never intends to" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 4/2).

PIMLICO RACTRACK OPENS ITS '02 SEASON

The Baltimore SUN reports that "another opening day will take place today in Baltimore" as "racing returns to Pimlico and begins its buildup to the 127^th Preakness Stakes."  Pimlico will host an 11-week meet that will feature 28 stakes races, with 13 of them taking place "in a three-day period around the $1 million Preakness, set for May 18 in its traditional spot two weeks after the Kentucky Derby" (Baltimore SUN, 4/3). 

In addition, Bay Meadows track in San Mateo, CA, "begins a 55-day spring season of thoroughbred racing today" and track Owner Magna Entertainment Corp. said the company is in the process of negotiating an extension, which expires at the end of this year, to the track's lease with property owner SBG (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/3).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who abruptly resigned from his position in December, "is expected to be named head coach today of the Washington Mystics in the WNBA" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/3).  The Newark STAR-LEDGER's Dave D'Alessandro writes of Van Gundy's hiring, "This step is almost too bizarre to believe" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/3).

IN Univ. takes out a full-page ad in today's N.Y. Times and USA Today under the headline "Celebrate IU Excellence," congratulating men's basketball coach Mike Davis and the team on their NCAA Tournament success.  The ad goes on to promote the university, and invites potential students to visit the Bloomington, IN campus (THE DAILY).

Omaha resident and accountant Sean Vilmont won $10,000 as the winner of ESPN's Men's Tournament Challenge, and had the best bracket out of "more than 900,000 entries."  Vilmont, on his plans for expanding his winnings: "I started remodeling my bathroom about three weeks ago, and I wasn't sure whether to go with the expensive stuff or the cheap stuff.  I think I'll be going with the whirlpool now" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 4/3).

FIFA yesterday announced the "formal close of nominations" to challenge FIFA President Sepp Blatter.  African soccer chief Issa Hayatou "was the only other candidate who entered the race" (AP, 4/3).

Michael Knight, the chief organizer of the Sydney Olympics, "advised planners for the 2004 Athens Games on Tuesday on such issues as crowd control and terrorism" (AP, 4/3).

Rock star Alice Cooper was at the Gund Arena in Cleveland last night "for the opening of his restaurant, Cooperstown."  Cooper has a Cooperstown in Phoenix and one soon will open in San Diego (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 4/3).

TODAY'S EVENTS

The Rockets and Compaq Corp. will host 800 elementary school students at 8:30am CT in conjunction with the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program.  Meanwhile, Rockets G Steve Francis, Fs Walt Williams and Terence Morris will join the Fannie Mae Foundation to paint four recently constructed homes in Houston from 1:00-4:00pm CT (THE DAILY).

Magic special assistant Dee Brown, Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood and Orange County Chair Rich Crotty will conduct a bell-ringing ceremony at City Hall at noon ET for Child Abuse Prevention Month (THE DAILY).

The AHL Phantoms will host a Sports and Entertainment Career Fair prior to their game at the First Union Spectrum.  Twenty sports and entertainment organizations are scheduled to have tables, including Comcast-Spectacor, the Flyers, 76ers, Eagles, Phillies, KIXX, Charge, and Comcast SportsNet.  The event begins at 3:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

WUSA President & CEO Lynn Morgan, Commissioner Tony DiCicco and '01 MVP Tiffeny Milbrett will host a media conference call at 3:00pm ET to discuss the '02 season (THE DAILY).

The World Golf Hall of Fame will host a media conference to announce its '02 inductees from both the PGA Tour and Int'l Ballots at 1:30pm ET (THE DAILY).

LPGA Tour player Amy Alcott will throw out the first pitch at the Giants-Dodgers game at 7:10pm PT (GOLF MAGAZINE, 4/2).

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will announce the nominees for the 23^rd annual Sports Emmy Awards at noon ET (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports South African Breweries, PLC "is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Miller Brewing Co. from Philip Morris Cos. for about $5 billion."  With talks at "an advanced stage," the two companies hope to finish the deal in the next few weeks (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/3).

The WASHINGTON POST reports Donald Trump "is shopping the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants to various television networks against the possibility that CBS is going to end its long-running relationship with the franchise" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/3).

MSNBC is expected to announce today that it has signed Phil Donahue to be the host of a prime-time discussion program (N.Y. TIMES, 4/3).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "World Geography."

"The only two South American countries with both an Atlantic and a Pacific coast."

LAUGH TRACK

NBC's Jay Leno, on former President Bill Clinton flying commercially: "In fact, on this flight, the only thing that he banged was his knee on the beverage cart" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/2). 

ESPN's Kenny Mayne, on the Patriots visiting the White House: "They gave (President George Bush) jersey No. 1, which pretty much makes him a kicker.  I thought (K Adam) Vinatieri was safe for now" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 4/2).

Last night, ESPN debuted "Mohr Sports," starring Jay Mohr.  In his monologue, Mohr spoke of Magic Johnson possibly running for mayor of L.A.: "In a related story, the city of (L.A.) was just cancelled."  Mohr, on Saints CB Dale Carter filing for bankruptcy after signing a $28M contract: "This is very bad news for the Houston Astros, and their recently named Dale Carter Stadium" (ESPN, 4/2).

TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Giants-Dodgers.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What are Colombia and Chile?"

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