Morning Buzz, Closing Bell

SEPP BLATTER RE-ELECTED AS FIFA PRESIDENT IN LANDSLIDE WIN

FIFA President Sepp Blatter "won a landslide victory" in the soccer body's presidential election today in South Korea, defeating his only challenger Issa Hayatou and "ensuring he will remain at the helm of the [organization] for another four years."  Blatter won 139 of the available 197 votes, which "showed how popular he remains with the majority of the Fifa membership."  Blatter, in an emotional acceptance speech, said that he "would use his next term in office to heal the divisions" within FIFA.  Blatter: "You have placed deep trust in Fifa and in me.  Your message to me is restore peace within the football family and I will do it" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/29).

ALREADY BUSTED FOR CRACK, CAMINITI ADMITS TO STEROID USE

This week's cover story in "Sports Illustrated" features a special report on steroids in MLB, which includes an exclusive interview with former NL MVP Ken Caminiti, who admits he used the performance-enhancing substance.  Caminiti tells SI, "It's no secret what's going on in baseball.  At least half the guys are using [steroids].  They talk about it.  They joke about it with each other. … I don't want to hurt fellow teammates or fellow friends.  But I've got nothing to hide" (CNN/SI.com, 5/28).  Special-report author Tom Verducci writes on CNN/SI.com, "What you'll see in the pages of Sports Illustrated this week – the investigation into steroid use in baseball and the first public admission by one of the game's many users – began with a grassroots movement.  In fact, it started with the players themselves" (CNN/SI.com, 5/28). 

Verducci appeared yesterday on CNN's "Headline News" and "Wolf Blitzer Reports," as well as on NBC's "Today" show this morning, to discuss the report.  When asked by NBC's Matt Lauer about MLB's policy on steroids, Verducci said, "They have none."  Verducci also said that players' use of steroids is well known among team owners and execs ("Today," NBC, 5/29).

MLB OWNERS HOLD SECRET MEETING IN CHICAGO

The AP reported that MLB owners are in Chicago for a meeting today, a "session they did not publicly acknowledge."  However, unidentified owners said that "the purpose of the meeting was for [MLB Commissioner Bud] Selig to give an update, and that no major actions were expected" (AP, 5/28).

Meanwhile, the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports the owners will vote today on a proposed lawsuit settlement that would have the Twins "stay in Minnesota at least through the 2003 season."  The settlement, which also will be voted on by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, states that the Twins "would not be on baseball's list of teams to be eliminated for the 2003 season" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/29).

TITLE IX BACKERS AWAIT JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO SUIT

USA TODAY reports that Title IX proponents are "bracing for what they fear may be a weakening of the federal law" when the U.S. Justice Department files its response to a lawsuit brought by the National Wrestling Coaches Association as early as today.  The suit accuses the Education Department of using a "quota system" to enforce Title IX, which "bars sex discrimination at schools getting federal funds" (USA TODAY, 5/29).

MESA STADIUM OPPONENTS FILE NEARLY 7,000 SIGNATURES

The fate of Mesa's proposed site for the NFL Cardinals football stadium is "again up in the air, as nearly 7,000 petition signatures were filed Tuesday seeking a Sept. 10 referendum on the city-approved project."  Stadium opponents need "at least 4,043 valid voter signatures to force a vote," and as many as 9,000 more signatures "could be in the city's hands by late today" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/29).

CONTROVERSIAL PLAYOFFS HAVE NBA MULLING INSTANT REPLAY

The AP reported that instant replay "might be used in the NBA as early as next season."  NBA Commissioner David Stern said yesterday, "I'm really ready to support the realization of a system that gets the referees off the hook" (AP, 5/28).  Meanwhile, Kings co-Owner Gavin Maloof, whose team was the victim of a call that instant replay proved incorrect, said of adopting new rules: "We need to do it now.  Next year is too late" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/29).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The NBA fined the Cavaliers $150,000 yesterday and suspended coach John Lucas "for the first two games of the 2002-03 regular season for violating league rules prohibiting contact between NBA teams and players not yet eligible for the NBA Draft."  The team "allowed several ineligible players to participate in a volunteer workout with Cavs players and some free agents" on May 22 (CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, 5/29).

The TORONTO STAR reports that Raleigh's Entertainment & Sports Arena, home of the Hurricanes, hosted the "Stars on Ice" show last night, and officials ordered a blackout of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Hurricanes and the Maple Leafs "because they didn't want those in attendance to have their attention divided between their show" and the game, which the Hurricanes won, 2-1 in OT, to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals (TORONTO STAR, 5/29).

The AP reports, "The World Cup has yet to begin and organizers are already running out of beer."  Over 16,000 cups of Budweiser, an official beer sponsor of the World Cup, were sold during the latest two warm-up matches in Seoul (AP, 5/29).

The N.Y. POST reports that veteran boxing writer Mark Kram "is going to tackle Michael Tyson in his next work."  Kram "has just signed a deal estimated to be around $150,000 with HarperCollins."  The book is expected in the fall of '03 (N.Y. POST, 5/29).

Self-proclaimed Red Sox fan Ben Affleck visited WFXT-Fox' broadcast of Monday's Red Sox-Blue Jays game and "stuck a few bees in some bonnets in the Sox clubhouse," as he "critiqued a few players, who heard about it from family and friends."  After Affleck criticized OF Trot Nixon's batting ability against left-handed pitchers, Nixon said, "He absolutely [stinks].  Matt Damon made you what you are, slick" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/29).

TODAY'S EVENTS

White Sox P Keith Foulke, C Mark Johnson, and manager Jerry Manuel will join White Sox Training Center's instructors at the Brookfield Zoo to host a private clinic for 20 children from 11:00-11:30am CT (THE DAILY).

Orioles OF Marty Cordova and P Rodrigo Lopez will visit Arlington Elementary School in Baltimore at 1:00pm ET to kick off the Orioles' "First Graders – Let's G'O' Read" program to promote summer reading.  The players will discuss the importance of reading, distribute books and bookmarks, and sign autographs (THE DAILY).

Bulls C Eddy Curry, F Marcus Fizer, and coach Bill Cartwright will join Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan and more than 1,000 students and teachers for the fourth annual Bulls Scholars Rally at the United Center from 3:30-5:30pm CT.  The program offers students the opportunity to receive high school credit in English or algebra (THE DAILY).

Jazz G Bryon Russell, who finished his collegiate career in '93, and two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Year Misty May will receive their degrees during Long Beach State's graduation ceremonies today at 1:00pm PT (THE DAILY).

76ers mascot Hip-Hop will appear at Ethel Jacobsen Elementary School in Surf City, NJ, at 1:30pm ET as part of the NBA's "Read to Achieve" initiative.  Approximately 150 school children will attend the event (THE DAILY).

The WNBA Sting will be at the University City YMCA in Charlotte from 3:30-5:00pm ET as part of the "Read to Achieve" program, sponsored by the NBA, WNBA, and NBDL (THE DAILY).

NBC analyst Ann Meyers Drysdale, ESPN play-by-play announcer Michelle Tafoya, and ESPN analyst and Univ. on CT women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma will participate in a 12:30pm ET conference call to discuss the WNBA's sixth season (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

Former ESPN International Exec VP/Managing Dir David Zucker has been chosen to fill the newly created post of President & COO of Playboy Enterprises (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 5/29).

Eastman Kodak Co. has signed a multiyear agreement with the Walt Disney Co., renewing its long-standing relationship as the exclusive supplier of film and related products to Disney's theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/29).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Political Longevity."

"Two of the four U.S. Senators elected to their seventh consecutive terms in the 1990s."

TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Hurricanes-Maple Leafs.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who are Strom Thurmond, Ted Kennedy, Daniel Inouye and Robert Byrd?"

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