| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, May 31, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | World Cup Kicked Off This Morning; We've Got Headlines, Schedules & Links |
| • | Blatter Secures Zen-Ruffinen Exit, Forces Opposition To Drop Legal Action |
| • | VA Ballpark Authority Must Extend Working Agreement After Failing To Vote |
| • | MLB Road Trip Continues Without A Guarantee Of A Full Season |
| • | Can't Wait 'Til Payday: SEC To Distribute $90M To Member Schools |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/Final Jeopardy!/TV Monitor |
CUP RUNNETH OVER: SOCCER'S PREMIERE EVENT GETS UNDERWAY
The World Cup opened its month-long tournament in South Korea this morning and the AP reports that FIFA President Sepp Blatter took "the subway to the World Cup's opening ceremony … joining South Korea's campaign to reduce traffic congestion during the tournament" (AP, 5/31).
The AP reports that co-host South Korea "put on a spiritual show mixing ancient tradition and high tech" as the '02 World Cup officially opened, moments before France was to begin its title defense against Senegal (AP, 5/31).
With the event co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that "at every turn, political sensitivities have complicated the staging of this year's World Cup" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/31). The INT'L HERALD TRIBUNE reports, "What we get is two World Cups, separate halves to an event never before divided between hosts, and never staged outside of the Americas or Europe until now" (INT'L HERALD TRIBUNE, 5/31).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the South Korean military "will be on high alert in an effort to thwart any terrorist attacks at an event that draws the entire world's attention." Antiaircraft missiles will be deployed at the 10 stadiums being used there, along with fighter jets and helicopters. No-flight zones also "will be enforced during the matches" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/31).
BLATTER REMOVES REMAINING OPPOSITION AS ZEN-RUFFINEN RESIGNS
The LONDON INDEPENDENT reports that FIFA President Blatter "destroyed any remaining opposition to his power today by securing the departure of his chief critic," FIFA General Secretary Michel Zen-Ruffinen, and "forcing legal action against him to be dropped." Zen-Ruffinen will leave FIFA on July 4, following the World Cup. Blatter's opponents also "have been forced to withdraw charges they brought against him in the Swiss courts alleging fraud" (LONDON INDEPENDENT, 5/31).
Today's World Cup Headlines:
Soccer Sites of Interest:
VA AUTHORITY TO EXTEND CURRENT AGREEMENT AFTER VOTE FAILS
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports, "After more than four hours of deliberation, the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority last night failed to vote on a new working agreement with a bid group led by telecommunications executive William Collins." The current agreement, originally set to expire today, "will be extended until a vote is taken on a new accord" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/31).
MLB'S EXEC ROAD RAGE CONTINUES: LATEST STOP, CLEVELAND
The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER reports that MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Sandy Alderson and Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred met yesterday "with editors and reporters from The Plain Dealer as part of their coast-to-coast tour to explain the owners' side of negotiations with the players association." But the two "could not guarantee" that the game "would be unobstructed by a players' strike this season or a lockout by the owners before the start of next year"(Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/31).
SEC ANNOUNCES RECORD-SETTING PAYDAY FOR MEMBER SCHOOLS
The Nashville TENNESSEAN reports that the SEC office "is expected to announce today that it is distributing a figure approaching $90 million to its 12 member schools, surpassing the previous high of $78.1 million last year." While the amount each school is to receive varies, "every school figures to pocket more than $7 million." This year's payment is boosted "due to front-end payments on the SEC's TV contract," along with increased money from the NCAA's TV deal with CBS (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 5/31).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The WASHINGTON POST cites a source close to the team and reports that Wizards F Michael Jordan "is expected to resume workouts on Saturday" after resting his sore knee for nearly two months (WASHINGTON POST, 5/31).
Pfizer takes out a full-page ad in USA Today to congratulate NASCAR's Mark Martin and Roush Racing's No. 6 team on their victory in the Coca-Cola 600 last weekend (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
Redskins coach Steve Spurrier will host the first annual Steve Spurrier Redskins Classic golf tournament at Landsdowne Resort in Leesburg, VA. The tournament, sponsored by FedEx, will feature over 180 golfers including 35 current and former Redskins players and coaches. The event begins at 2:00pm ET, with proceeds benefiting the Redskins Leadership Council (THE DAILY).
Sports Lawyers Association (SLA) President Pam Lester will present $10,000 to the Foundation for Blind Children at its annual conference at the AZ Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Returning SLA sponsor and event host Neuberger Berman will present an additional $2,500 contribution. Furthermore, additional funds will be raised at a silent auction of sports memorabilia (THE DAILY).
Northwest League Single A Salem-Keizer Volcanoes manager Fred Stanley will have breakfast and play a round of golf at McNary Golf Course with the three highest bidders in an auction that supports the club's Crater's Community Care Program (THE DAILY).
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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, Phil Simms plays host to the prettiest girls in the universe, and he's invited an eclectic panel of judges along for the ride (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Disney Chair & CEO Michael Eisner "is facing increasing calls from several members of the company's board to improve Disney's faltering performance and better plan for the future" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/31).
Viacom President & CEO Mel Karmazin, speaking at the annual CBS affil meeting, said yesterday that CBS is "seeing a dramatic improvement in the overall advertising business." Karmazin: "For the first time in a long time, we're looking at the second quarter being an up quarter" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/31).
Merrill Lynch analyst Lauren Rich Fine predicted "that ad spending this year in the United States would increase 0.4 percent from 2001; previously, she had forecast a decline of 1.5 percent" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/31).
A Census Bureau report issued yesterday showed that online sales "surged more than 19% to $9.8 billion in the first quarter … up from $8.2 billion the same period a year ago." However, Internet purchases still make up only 1.3% of overall retail sales (USA TODAY, 5/31).
AD AGE reported that Sony's PlayStation 2 will be the title sponsor for Ozzfest 2002, a 28-city concert tour which begins July 6 in Bristow, VA (AD AGE, 5/30).
USA TODAY reports that that NASDAQ will delist Adelphia Communication's stock on Monday "for failing to file financial reports" (USA TODAY, 5/31). Meanwhile, the L.A. TIMES reports that Adelphia "was in intense negotiations late Thursday with billionaire Paul Allen to secure a loan of as much as $2 billion." The deal would have Allen purchasing Adelphia's "lucrative franchises in Southern California" (L.A. TIMES, 5/31).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "International Sports."
"It's the only country to host the Summer Olympics in November and December."
LAUGH TRACK
The late night TV programs will be in repeats for the remainder of this week. "Laugh Track" will return to the Morning Buzz when those shows return to regular programming. Thank you for being patient.
THURSDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with D'Backs-Giants.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is Australia?"
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