| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, April 12, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Get Growing! Comiskey Adds Bushes & Vines As Part Of Renovation Plan |
| • | Every Rose Has Its Thorn: Bowl Game Loses Presenting Sponsor |
| • | One Former NASCAR Sponsor Is Running Out Of Juice |
| • | Angelos Reaches Settlement With State Over Tobacco Case Payment |
| • | “Jeopardy!” Questions Who's Sharing Houses In The NFL |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor |
WHITE SOX SHOW OFF COMISKEY RENOVATIONS IN HOME OPENER
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports the White Sox "will play their home opener today in a softer, greener Comiskey Park as Phase II of the club's three-part renovation plan is unveiled." The latest changes to the park, which carry an "approximate cost" of $13M, include "a two-tiered backdrop of bushes and vines in center field," expanded concourses and a new screen behind home plate "that goes straight up, putting fans in position to catch pop fouls." Renovations will continue in the next off-season. The team is still hoping to establish a naming-right deal that will "help finance the final $40 million-$50 million project" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/12).
AT&T DROPS ROSE BOWL PRESENTING SPONSOR DEAL
The AP reported that AT&T "is not renewing its contract as presenting sponsor of the annual Rose Bowl game." The decision "leaves the nation's oldest bowl game without a major corporate sponsor." AT&T's four-year deal expired after this year's BCS title match between the Univ. of NE-Univ. of Miami. ABC Sports VP/Media Relations Mark Mandel, on replacing AT&T: "The game is not until next New Year's, so there's no real urgency. There won't be any problems." The Rose Bowl is "the only game in the four-team Bowl Championship Series without a sponsor" (AP, 4/11).
FORMER NASCAR SPONSOR EXIDE RUNNING OUT OF JUICE
The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports that Princeton-based Exide Technologies, whose name "has been splashed on millions of car batteries, NASCAR stock cars, racing yachts and federal indictments for fraud and bribery," finds out today whether its bankers "will keep its main credit line in force" and protect the company from bankruptcy. Exide, once the official battery of stock-car racing, "sponsored a car driven by Jeff Burton and a race called the Exide NASCAR Select Batteries 400" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/12).
NO SMOKE AND MIRRORS: ANGELOS GETS PAID FOR LEGAL WORK
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Orioles Owner Peter Angelos "finalized a deal with the state of Maryland yesterday that will net him far less than the $1 billion he first demanded" for representing MD in national tobacco litigation. When figuring in taxes, the $150M settlement "will net Angelos … about $81 million" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/12).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that Conference USA (C-USA) "entered into a four-year agreement to play the winner of the Sun Belt Conference in the New Orleans Bowl." C-USA replaces the Mountain West Conference, which played in last year's inaugural edition of the game. The New Orleans Bowl is the fourth bowl tie for C-USA, which also has agreements with the Liberty, the GMAC and the Houston Bowl games (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/12).
The DENVER POST reports the NCAA has asked the Univ. of CO (UC) "to respond to 55 alleged violations by the school's football program, including 53 that occurred during the tenure of former Buffs coach Rick Neuheisel." UC received "an official 30-page letter of inquiry sent March 26 by the NCAA" (DENVER POST, 4/12).
ESPN.com reported that the Univ. of MD (UM) "plans to purchase the Georgia Dome flooring on which its men's basketball team won the NCAA Championship" in order to cut it into pieces and sell as souvenirs. UM "is still negotiating the purchase with Horner Flooring," although the price tag is "expected to be around $80,000" (ESPN.com, 4/11).
Predators C Greg Johnson was presented the Chevy Trucks "Man of the Year" award following Thursday night's final home game of the '01-02 regular season. Johnson was voted the player who most exemplifies his commitment to Nashville and Middle TN through his outstanding community service (THE DAILY).
Arnold Palmer announced yesterday that he will play his last round at the Masters on Friday. Palmer: "Tomorrow will be it. That's it. I don't want to get a letter." Augusta National recently sent letters to three past Masters champions, asking them not to play this week. Palmer shot a 17-over 89 on the tournament's first day (WASHINGTON POST, 4/12).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the Morning Buzz will highlight a video clip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, NBC's Ann Curry gets caught laying down on the job, so pro skater Tony Hawk gives her a jump (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
Olympic Gold Medalist Sarah Hughes will visit President Bush in the Oval Office today after a breakfast meeting with administration officials to discuss education issues and women's rights (NEWSDAY, 4/11).
Bulls G A.J. Guyton, NBA HOFer Bob Lanier, Bulls community ambassador Bob Love and announcer John Paxson will join IBM representatives at the St. James PAL Activity Center in Chicago to reveal a new Reading and Learning Center at 3:30pm CT, part of the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program (THE DAILY).
Nike will unveil the new Nike Shox D running shoe in Boston today from 10:00am-6:00pm ET at the Niketown at the corner of Newbury and Exeter (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
USA TODAY reports that AOL Time Warner's stock "hit a melancholy milestone Thursday in its 11-month decline as it slipped below $20 – closing down $1.10 to $19.60 in heavy trading." That means the market values the company at $96B, "down about 58% since America Online bought Time Warner" in January '01 (USA TODAY, 4/12).
Meanwhile, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that AOL Time Warner's America Online unit named Jimmy de Castro "to be president of AOL Interactive Services, where he will run the flagship online service that has 34 million members" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/12).
Network Associates on Thursday "reported a first-quarter profit, excluding its publicly traded Web security services company McAfee.com, versus a loss a year earlier, on strong demand for its software that protects against hackers and viruses" (REUTERS, 4/11).
MULTICHANNEL NEWS reports that "five of the nine publicly traded" cable stocks – including Comcast, Cablevision and AT&T – reached new 52-week lows, as investors "continued to fret about leverage issues, complicated corporate structures and general market weakness" (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 4/12).
Michael Ovitz and AMG "have been sued for $9.6 million" in L.A. Superior Court by Eric Tannenbaum, the "former president of AMG's now-defunct television production unit" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/12).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "The NFL."
"They're the only two NFL teams to currently share a home stadium."
LAUGH TRACK
NBC's Jay Leno: "President Bush came out against human cloning. If anyone knows how much trouble twins can get into, it's President Bush. ... Officials of the Catholic Church rejected a proposal to allow priests to marry. Apparently, they're afraid all the priests would marry each other. Now I understand where that term 'hot under the collar' comes from." Leno, on L.A. nightlife: "There's a new night club in (L.A.) called Club Curves that caters to plus size women. In fact, you know the most popular pick-up line in there? 'Hey, what would you do for a Klondike bar?'" Leno: "According to the Discovery Channel, ... they have discovered a breed of tiger with no teeth and no killer instinct. I believe they're called the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers got some good news today. One of their pitchers threw a no-hitter, so that's good. The bad news is it was during batting practice" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/11).
CBS' David Letterman, on the drought in N.Y.: "This is how dry it is. Earlier (yesterday), Puff Daddy changed his name from P. Diddy to P. Thirsty. ... (N.Y. Mayor Michael) Bloomberg lifted the ban on fireworks in New York City. You just can't beat that combination, can you – dry grass and explosives." Letterman: "We're all still reeling from the announcement that Oprah Winfrey has shut down her book club. Oprah said she just got tired of reading, and so that's it for the book club. On the other hand, President Bill Clinton said he would be continuing with his Mile High Club" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/11).
Last night's "Top Ten" list was "Top Ten Good Things About Turning 55." Letterman turned 55 on Thursday:
| 10. "There is nothing good about turning 55." |
At which point, Letterman ended the list ("Late Show," CBS, 4/11).
THURSDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Timberwolves-Lakers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who are the Jets and Giants?"
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