| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, June 7, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | If They Come, We Will Build It: Vancouver Gets Olympic Funding Promises |
| • | Shaq & Kobe To Get Extra Home Game In ‘04 |
| • | Ottavio Cinquanta Secures Another Term As Head Of ISU |
| • | MLB Hopes Interleague Play Boosts Sagging Attendance Numbers |
| • | World Cup Headquarters: Latest Headlines, Schedules & Sites Of Interest |
| • | In Other News/Today’s Events/TV Monitor/Lighter Buzz/Final Jeopardy! |
VANCOUVER OLYMPIC BID GETS MAJOR FUNDING PACKAGE
The VANCOUVER SUN reported that both the federal and B.C. governments will announce today a combined “commitment of [C]$620 million to be used to build Olympic venues and enhance existing sports facilities if B.C. wins the 2010 Winter Olympic bid.” Each government will contribute C$310M, with Premier Gordon Campbell and Canadian Heritage Minister Sheila Copps making the announcement at a ceremony in Stanley Park (VANCOUVER SUN, 6/5).
NBA TO ANNOUNCE HOST CITY FOR ’04 ALL-STAR GAME
NBA Commissioner David Stern will hold a press conference in L.A. today to announce that the ’04 All-Star Game will be played at the Staples Center. The ’03 game will be played in Atlanta (Mult., 6/7).
OTTAVIO CINQUANTA RE-ELECTED AS ISU PRESIDENT
The L.A. TIMES reports that Ottavio Cinquanta “was elected to a third consecutive term as president” of the ISU at the organization’s meetings in Kyoto, Japan, “affirming his mandate to develop the reform project he backed during the organization's biennial Congress.” Cinquanta, referring to the Salt Lake City skating scandal, said, “We are not in the best moment, but we have given evidence we are proactive and responsible” (L.A. TIMES, 6/7).
MLB INTERLEAGUE PLAY GETS FACELIFT IN SIXTH SEASON
MLB interleague play resumes today for the sixth season. The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that this year’s version contains “a revised format that offers up a different menu of games.” While fans look forward to playing new teams, “players won’t be stirred much either way” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/7). Last year, MLB averaged 33,703 fans a game for interleague play, 13.9% more than the intra-league average (THE DAILY).
TICKETS REMAIN, BUT MEMPHIS READY FOR TYSON-LEWIS
The Mike Tyson-Lennox Lewis heavyweight championship fight at The Pyramid in Memphis is scheduled for Saturday night, and the ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that “an estimated 16,000 tickets have been sold -- about 3,000 short of the sellout that had been announced last month.” Promoters “remain optimistic” that the fight will produce the largest gate in boxing history, generating more than $23M in revenue (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/7).
The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports, “Some hope that Memphis can use the Lewis-Tyson fight as a springboard to future major boxing events, but veteran HBO boxing analyst Larry Merchant doesn't think so.” Merchant: “Promoters often try to sell a venue on the fact that they'll bring fights here in the future and it never happens. The fact is they've had a hard time selling tickets. The perception is this fight would already be sold out if it was in Las Vegas or New York" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/7).
WORLD CUP, DAY EIGHT: ENGLAND SHUT DOWN FOR TODAY’S MATCH
The London INDEPENDENT reports that “millions of football fans” are expected to stay away from work today to watch England's World Cup game against Argentina at home or in pubs. An estimated 20% of the workforce “will take the day off to catch the game, which England needs to win to improve their chances of surviving the first round” (London INDEPENDENT, 6/7).
Today’s Headlines:
- Workers Get Extra Time For Cup Lunch (LONDON TIMES, 6/7).
- Korea Scrambling To Fill Empty Stadium Seats (KOREA HERALD, 6/8).
- KOWOC Launches Task Force For Ticketing Issues (KOREA HERALD, 6/8).
- Over 7,000 Officers Prepare To Police Sold-Out Game (London GUARDIAN, 6/7).
- U.S. Earns More Than Grudging Respect (L.A. TIMES, 6/7).
- France Still Without A Goal Or A Shot (N.Y. TIMES, 6/7).
- Money, Military Exemption Await Korea In Second Round (KOREA HERALD, 6/8).
- Pull The Plug On TV’s Most Cliched Pundit (LONDON TIMES, 6/7).
- TV Pirates Lick Chops Over Chinese Cup Matches (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/7).
Soccer Sites of Interest:
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The Int’l Ski Federation announced yesterday in Portoroz, Slovenia, that the ’05 World Snowboard Championships will be held in Whistler, B.C. The ’05 Games will be the first time the event is held outside of Europe (CP, 6/6).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the NHL Rangers “faxed a nine-page questionnaire to each of the candidates” in their search for a new coach. Eventual winner Bryan Trottier “needed 90 pages to complete” the quiz, and “wrote his answers in meticulous longhand that Sather could read and comprehend.” GM Glen Sather, on Trottier: “His enthusiasm was overwhelming” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/7).
Reebok runs an ad in USA Today congratulating The Harlem Globetrotters on their election to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in ’02 (THE DAILY).
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, the Hurricanes win the “Rodney Dangerfield Award Of The Season” for receiving no respect from their opponents, the Red Wings (THE DAILY).
TODAY’S EVENTS
Redskins QB Patrick Ramsey, WR Kevin Lockett, and DB Ifeanyi Ohalate are among the players hosting a 1:00pm ET reading event at the New Carrollton (MD) Branch Library. The players will read to first grade students in an effort to promote literacy and summer library visits (THE DAILY).
NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick makes his debut on NASCAR.com’s “The Kellys,” becoming the first Winston Cup driver to be animated into the series (THE DAILY).
The Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard Univ. will present the ’02 Radcliffe Medal to Billie Jean King, who becomes the first sports figure to receive the honor (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/7).
IN OTHER NEWS….
AOL Time Warner Vice Chair Ted Turner “filed plans to sell stock worth more than $4 million.” A company spokesperson said Thursday that the sale is “part of Turner's plan to periodically sell shares to meet his charitable obligations and maintain his vast ranch lands” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/7).
ELECTRONIC MEDIA reports that AOL Time Warner and Walt Disney Co. “are denying speculation” that COO Bob Pittman is being wooed by Walt Disney Chair & CEO Michael Eisner to “become his second in command and eventual successor” (ELECTRONIC MEDIA, 6/7).
MULTICHANNEL NEWS DAY reports that CNN “cut a sponsorship deal with Barnes & Noble that’ll see Moneyline host Lou Dobbs pitch books every Thursday through ‘The Dobbs List,’” which will be featured at Barnes & Noble bookstores nationwide and at the company’s Web site (MULTICHANNEL NEWS DAY, 6/7).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Common Bonds."
“All the correct responses in tonight’s ('Double Jeopardy') category 'This'll kill ya!' are integral to this, introduced in the 1940s." The answers in the category included a knife, a lead pipe and a candlestick.
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES: NBC’s Jay Leno: "Boy it was hot (yesterday), wasn't it? I was sweating like R. Kelly at the Miss Teen USA pageant. It was so hot (yesterday), Ozzy Osbourne bit the head off a Dove bar. ... I was sweating like the (NJ) Nets at the free throw line. ... You know what tickets are going for (next week's game in NJ)? $4,000 on-line. In L.A., that won't get you a program and a Starbucks coffee. Four grand -- that's parking in L.A. The Lakers are confident. Think they're too confident? This afternoon I saw a guy practicing lighting his neighbor's car on fire. You know, dry-run for the victory riot. ... It was revealed this week that instead of tracking down the hijackers, the FBI had 10 agents working full-time for three months investigating $300 an-hour hookers working at a brothel in New Orleans. They're still trying to catch Bill Clinton! ... According to the latest figures, L.A.'s economy is bigger than all of Mexico. Well sure, that's because we are Mexico. ... Robert Blake says he wants to get a facelift before his trial. Well sure, he probably wants to get that guilty look off his face. ... It looks like Tonya Harding is going to go to jail for six months (on a drunk driving charge). ... I know that sounds bad, but hey, it's a step up from 'Celebrity Boxing.' ... In Thailand, police arrested a man who set three cars on fire ... because he said the sound of sirens causes him to have orgasms. Actually, that is fairly common. You know who else has orgasms when they hear sirens? Lawyers." Leno, on Rangers DH Rafael Palmeiro's Viagra ad: "He's the guy that said, 'I take batting practice, I take infield practice and I take Viagra.' Kind of annoying for the other players, isn't it? You thought they hated it when you slid into second with your spikes up" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/6).
CBS’ David Letterman: "Did you know Mayor Bloomberg plays golf? ... (Yesterday), he goes out and plays golf. But you got to give him credit. It's hard to sink a difficult putt when you're wrecked on weed. ... Lot of celebrities, lot of big stars there at the (Nets-Lakers games). Jack Nicholson was there, Dyan Cannon, Mullah Omar. It was a big night. ... (Winona Ryder) took the stand earlier (yesterday). They swore her in and when they were done with that, they couldn't find the Bible. ... Michael Jackson has had plastic surgery on his nose for the sixth time. ... I feel the same way about Michael Jackson nose jobs as I do about 'Godfather' movies. They should have quit after two. ... Whenever they have the (World Cup), the hookers in Times Square -- God bless them --are offering their World Cup soccer special. For an extra $20, they won't use their hands" ("The Late Show," CBS, 6/6).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS: Last night’s “Top Ten” was “Top Ten Things India And Pakistan Agree On” (“Late Show,” CBS, 6/5).
| 10) | "Saber-rattling is an excellent way to impress the chicks." |
| 9) | "The FBI dropped the ball when it failed to predict Joey would fall in love with Rachel on 'Friends.'" |
| 8) | "Don't buy extended warranty on nuclear warheads -- it's a rip-off." |
| 7) | "Bathrooms at U.N. are never as clean as they should be." |
| 6) | "A solid Christmas album could put Linda Ronstadt back on the charts." |
| 5) | "You could really save a buck or two by calling 1-800-COLLECT." |
| 4) | "Robin Williams is better in comedy roles." |
| 3) | "'Survivor: Kashmir' has the potential to be the most exciting one yet." |
| 2) | "Liza's latest marriage -- 6 months, max." |
| 1) | "The Nets don't have a chance in hell." |
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Hurricanes-Red Wings.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is ‘Clue’?”
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