| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, April 4, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Raleigh Board To Press Hurricane Parent On Public Access Today |
| • | IOC Demands Comprehensive Security Plan From Athens Organizers |
| • | Kirch Group Faces Bankruptcy If Rescue Package Not Finalized |
| • | Skechers Rebounds With Strong Q1 That Beats Wall Street Estimates |
| • | Jacksonville Station Switch Leaves Jaguars On Outside Looking In |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/TV Monitor/Laugh Track/Final Jeopardy! |
RALEIGH GROUP TO DISCUSS ACCESS TO ARENA OPERATIONS
The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER reports that the Centennial Authority, the public body that owns the Entertainment and Sports Arena, today will discuss whether the public should have access and the "level of scrutiny" over Gale Force Holding's management of the $167M arena. Gale Force, parent of the Hurricanes, contends that many of the details of its arena operations "are trade secrets that should be kept confidential. That position has prevented Centennial Authority members from learning the financial details of arena operations" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/4).
SECURITY LATEST ISSUE TO PLAGUE ATHENS ORGANIZERS
The AP reports that security "became the latest area of criticism for Athens Olympic organizers" yesterday afternoon when the IOC's Coordination Committee Dir Denis Oswald "demanded a comprehensive plan to protect the 2004 Games." Oswald said that "current security plans were incomplete, and that a full-scale strategy must be completed this week" (AP, 4/4).
WITHOUT BAILOUT, KIRCH GROUP WILL FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Kirch Group's operating arm "will file for bankruptcy by the end of the week if its creditor banks and business partners can't agree on a rescue package for the troubled media group." KirchMedia is "nearly out of money and faces insolvency without a fresh cash injection" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/4).
SKECHERS POSTS STRONG Q1 FINANCIAL NUMBERS
The L.A. TIMES reports that Skechers USA Inc. "said Wednesday that it should beat Wall Street profit estimates for the first quarter by at least 25% because of strong sales and cost cuts." The positive financial news comes on the heels of "earnings disappointments in the second half of last year." Shares of Skechers closed up $2.73 to $21.64 yesterday on the NYSE, and are up 48% since the beginning of the year (L.A. TIMES, 4/4).
MYSTICS TAB SUMMITT AND STANLEY TO RUN FRANCHISE
The WASHINGTON POST reports the WNBA Mystics will announce today that Univ. of TN (UT) women's basketball coach Pat Summitt and longtime college coach Marianne Stanley will join the organization. Summitt will be named player personnel consultant while Stanley, who has worked the past two seasons as an assistant coach in the WNBA, will become coach. Summitt, who recently signed a five-year contract extension at UT, does not have a clause that prevents "her from pursuing employment with a professional sports organization." Stanley's contract terms were not available, while Summitt signed a one-year deal (WASHINGTON POST, 4/4).
Meanwhile, TNT analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who was rumored to be the next Mystics coach, said: "I don't want to (belittle) a league that I really like, but the report is a waste of everyone's time. All they had to do was call me, and I'd have told them it was a joke" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/4).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Wood Lake, MN-based Lakewood Sports is auctioning D'Backs OF Luis Gonzalez' "game-used gum," with proceeds to benefit the athletic department at Lakeview High (USA TODAY, 4/4).
The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER reports that 64,513 fans cast ballots on which Seahawks helmet they preferred, either the traditional silver helmet or the new blue helmet, and the club will announce the winner today (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 4/4).
The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that "Lone Star Park opens Thursday for its sixth season, which will continue through July 14 with 70 days of racing" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/4).
Last night's exhibition soccer match at Invesco Field between the U.S. national team and Mexico drew 48,476 fans (Mult., 4/4).
TODAY'S EVENTS
The TORONTO STAR reports the Blue Jays "would be happy with a crowd of 40,000 or better" for their home debut against the Twins today (TORONTO STAR, 4/4). Meanwhile, the TORONTO SUN reports that the Blue Jays are asking fans to donate old baseball gloves at today's home opener against the Twins as part of the team's "Field of Dreams" program (TORONTO SUN, 4/4).
Intl Speedway Corp. will host a conference call to discuss its Q1 '02 earnings. The call will be broadcast live via a Webcast at 9:00am ET. The archived call will also be available at the site until April 11, 2002 (THE DAILY).
Former CFL B.C. Lions GM Bob Ackles "is expected to be named team president today" by Owner David Braley (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/4).
Chiefs LB Mike Maslowski will visit with special ed students today at Lee's Summit North High School in Lee's Summit, MO, at 1:30pm CT, and encourage them to take part in the Job Club Project funded by Maslowski's Maz' Mentors Foundation (THE DAILY).
Jerry Colangelo and two partners today will unveil Collaboration for a New Century, a non-profit organization that will "bring together existing social service groups along with churches, government agencies, philanthropists and business leaders to help meet needs" of the Valley's "most vulnerable families" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/4).
MLB Productions and Q Video will release "The Ultimate Blooper Collection from 25 Years of This Week in Baseball." The 60-minute video will be available on both VHS and DVD (THE DAILY).
Lowe's Motor Speedway will host the Food Lion AutoFair, the world's largest automotive expo, through April 7. A featured event will be NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine exhibiting one of the Bo-Dyn bobsleds from the Olympics (THE DAILY).
Celtics Gs Tony Delk and Joseph Forte will be joined by members of the inaugural Celtics All-Star Reading Team to select and read books with the students at the Dickerman School in Dorchester, MA, as part of the NBA's "Read To Achieve" program. The event runs from 9:30-10:30am ET (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
After "more than 50 years," Jacksonville's WJXT-TV is ending its relationship with CBS to become an independent station. A CBS spokesperson said an announcement will be made in a few weeks as to what station in Jacksonville will begin airing its programming. One local TV exec called WJXT's move "pretty gutsy, especially wth CBS being as strong as it is, and carrying the Jaguars locally" (FL TIMES-UNION, 4/4). The Jaguars "will explore various options, but haven't made any decisions yet" (FL TIMES-UNION, 4/4).
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that Coca-Cola "is in talks to manage licensing of Evian water" in the U.S. (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/4).
Thai officials said today that CBS' "Survivor" wants to use an island in southern Thailand for the next series, "despite an expected outcry over the environmental impact." Cabinet minister in charge of tourism and film production Somsak Thepsutin said that the government was "in the final stages of approving the request" (REUTERS, 4/4).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "U.S. Presidents."
"One of only two U.S. Presidents to be outlived by their fathers."
LAUGH TRACK
NBC's Jay Leno, on former President Bill Clinton earning $10-15M a year in speaking engagements: "That's what he officially makes. You don't even want to know what he gets under the table." Leno, on rioting at the Univ. of MD after they won the NCAA men's basketball championship: "Doctors say if you want to be safe from sports rioting, the only thing that you can do is move to Cleveland" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/3).
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Ways I, Dave, Am Conserving Water" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/3).
| 10. | "No more scotch and water, from now on it's all scotch." |
| 9. | "On April Fool's Day, dropped air-filled balloons onto unsuspecting pedestrians." |
| 8. | "Three words: ketchup ice cubes." |
| 7. | "Fill up swimming pool with NyQuil." |
| 6. | "Instead of washing the dishes, I just throw them away and get new ones." |
| 5. | "Make coffee with air conditioner condensation." |
| 4. | "Brush my teeth with Dr. Pepper." |
| 3. | "(Writers too dehydrated to write #3)." |
| 2. | "Drinking more gasoline." |
| 1. | "Having my hairpieces dry-cleaned, not washed." |
| |
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Giants-Dodgers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who were John F. Kennedy and Warren G. Harding?"
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
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