| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, April 16, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | MLB To Resume Labor Talks Today |
| • | Sources Say Texans Lasso David Carr To Seven-Year Deal |
| • | A Wad Of Cash For A Wad Of Gum: Gonzo Chew Fetches $10,000 |
| • | Vans To Announce Purchase Of Gear Manufacturer Mosa Sports |
| • | Celtics Dir Improves Community Relations With Marathon Run |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor |
MLB RESUMES LABOR TALKS TODAY TO AVOID WORK STOPPAGE
The AP reported that MLB's labor talks resume today "after a one-month break," with both sides tentatively scheduling "two days of talks in each of the next three weeks." The league's owners and the MLBPA are looking for an agreement to replace the deal that expired November 7. MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy: "We've been bargaining for five months now. It's critical we press ahead. It's our goal to press as hard as we can as rapidly as we can" (AP, 4/15).
TEXANS REPORTEDLY WRANGLE QB CARR TO SEVEN-YEAR DEAL
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE cites sources as saying the Texans are "moving closer to an agreement" with Fresno St. QB David Carr, and that his agent is "headed back to Houston to put the finishing touches on a seven-year contract" worth almost $60M. Carr would be paid $16M in the first three years of the deal, which "is expected to be announced Wednesday" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/16).
GONZALEZ' GUM GOES FOR $10,000 IN CHARITY AUCTION
ESPN.com reported that Mueller Sports Medicine Owner Curt Mueller's $10,000 bid Monday "ended a frenzied two-week online auction for not one, but two pieces of game-used gum chewed by" D'Backs OF Luis Gonzalez. Since the auction caught the public's eye, "companies and individuals have jockeyed to be called the leading bidder in what many have admitted is an inexpensive ploy for self-promotion" (ESPN.com, 4/15).
Mueller, whose company makes Quench sports gum, on his new acquisition: "I thought it was crazy at first, but then I thought 'How about that?' I'm going to put it in my office and use it to energize my focus to do something with this product instead of just sitting there" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/16).
VANS READIES PURCHASE OF PROTECTIVE GEAR MANUFACTURER
The L.A. TIMES reports that Vans Inc. "will announce today that it is buying Mosa Sports," owner of the Pro-tec brand of protective gear for sports such as skateboarding and snowboarding. The Santa Fe Springs-based shoemaker said that it "will pay $10 million to $15 million for Hermosa Beach-based Mosa, roughly the amount of Mosa's annual sales" (L.A. TIMES, 4/16).
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT FEARS CRASH MAY IMPACT WORLD CUP
South Korea President Kim Dae-jung, "shaken by Monday's Air China crash in which 120 people were killed, told his cabinet Tuesday to make safety at the soccer World Cup finals their top priority." Kim is quoted as saying, "I am concerned this accident could have an impact on the World Cup." The event is scheduled to start May 31 (REUTERS.com, 4/16).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Celtics Dir of Community Relations Wayne Levy ran yesterday's Boston Marathon in 2:36:30, 10 minutes faster than his previous best in '95. Also, ABC's "The Other Half" anchor Mario Lopez finished the course in 5:42:44, "despite a sprained left ankle, which he twisted while training for the race" (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16).
Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban appeared on CBS' "Late Late Show" with Craig Kilborn at an earlier date, and discussed his numerous fines from the NBA: "It's a business expense. When you have a business, you have to stand up for what you think is right. And just because some little putz doesn't agree with you, doesn't mean I'm going to back down." Kilborn asked, "Who's the little putz?" To which Cuban replied, "Did I say little putz? I didn't say little putz. I would never say that!" ("Late Late Show," CBS, 4/15).
TODAY'S EVENTS
MLB and the Brewers will host a press conference at 3:00pm CT to outline events and ticket procedures for All-Star Week in Milwaukee. The briefing will take place at Miller Park (THE DAILY).
Driver Sarah Fisher will participate in the IRL's weekly media teleconference, which takes place at noon ET. Fisher will race Dreyer & Reinibold's Infiniti G Force at the Firestone Indy 225 at Nazareth Speedway this weekend (THE DAILY).
The NHL will hold its Draft Drawing, a weighted lottery system to determine the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the '02 Entry Draft, at noon ET in the league's N.Y. office (THE DAILY).
T'Wolves Gs Will Avery and Maurice Evans, Fs Kevin Garnett and Gary Trent and Cs Marc Jackson and Loren Woods will host students from Anthony Middle School at the Roller Garden Skating Rink in St. Louis Park, as part of the second-annual N.B.A. (Never Be Absent) Celebration. The event takes place from 1:30-3:30pm CT (THE DAILY).
USA Baseball will conclude its two-day visit to the Ripken Baseball facility in Aberdeen, MD, which is one of five finalists to be the future home of baseball's national governing body (Baltimore SUN, 4/16).
IN OTHER NEWS….
AD AGE reported that Westwood One "signed a deal with Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting Corp. to extend its 9-year-old agreement, which expires March 31, 2004, for five additional years" (AD AGE, 4/15).
The N.Y. Sun makes its debut on newsstands today as the city's fourth daily paper (Mult, 4/16).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that DirecTV "added 342,000 subscribers during [its Q1], higher than its expectations announced last month of 325,000 additions" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/16).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that, according to figures to be released by Zenith Optimedia Group today, "no upturn is likely [in the advertising market] until the fourth quarter, and that global spending on advertising is likely to fall significantly for the second year in a row" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/16).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Americana."
"Appropriately, the Salem witch trials memorial was unveiled by this playwright."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES: NBC's Jay Leno, on tax returns: "How many used a 1040 form? A lot of people used that. You know why it's called that? You see, for every $50, you get to keep $10 and you give the government $40. ... This year, the IRS is cracking down hard on major league sports teams and the deductions they take. In fact, the (IRS) said as of this past weekend, the Detroit Tigers can no longer deduct bats and gloves as work-related items. If you don't use them, you can't deduct them. ... The Tigers lost their 11th game in a row Sunday. Thank God it wasn't a four-day weekend. The sad thing is they were ahead up until the 8th inning. Then, of course, the other team showed up. The good news is Detroit just voted to build their city a new baseball stadium. The bad news? They're not telling the Tigers where it is. ... Congratulations to Tiger Woods' third Masters tournament! How many ugly green jackets does this guy need? That is a bad looking coat. And you know they tried to make it harder for Tiger to win this year … but it didn't work. So next year, do you know what they're doing? Every time he birdies a hole, he has to take a shot of tequila." Leno: "Today, the Catholic Church unveiled their new policy, 'Don't ask, don't confess.' ... You know those candles in church? Mood lighting" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/15).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS: ESPN's Jay Mohr, on "Mohr Sports" last night: "The Dallas Cowboys are marketing exclusive license plates. The plates are made in prison by former Dallas Cowboys." Mohr, on the World Championships: "Curling fever – catch it! It's on the list right after Scarlet Fever of things you don't want to catch" ("Mohr Sports," ESPN, 4/15).
Leno has a running joke about N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said he smoked marijuana and enjoyed it. An on-air graphic with Bloomberg's face said, "My Pot Smoking Tip Of The Day." The tip was, "A doob and some Barry White will help you get your freak on with your lady" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/15).
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Yankees-Red Sox.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who was Arthur Miller?"
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