| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, June 18, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Fehr, Manfred, Colangelo Visit Senate For Hearings On Steroids |
| • | CA Lawmakers To Appeal To Congress For Protection Of Investments In A's |
| • | Ripken Jr. Steps Up To Plate Tonight With Next Career Endeavor |
| • | Tiger Goes To Disney World After U.S. Open Win To Tutor Junior Golfers |
| • | World Cup Headquarters: Latest Headlines, Schedules & Sites Of Interest |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/Final Jeopardy!/TV Monitor |
STEROIDS TAKE CENTER STAGE AT SENATE HEARING TODAY
USA TODAY reports that MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr today will testify during a session convened by U.S. Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chair of the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Tourism and Foreign Commerce, and "will be asked to explain ... why [MLB] players oppose random drug testing." Also scheduled to testify at the hearing on steroids use is MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred, D'Backs Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Chair Frank Shorter (USA TODAY, 6/18).
BAY AREA LEGISLATORS WILL REQUEST FEDERAL HELP TO KEEP A'S
The OAKLAND TRIBUNE reports that CA state legislators "are launching a bid today to gain the help of President Bush and Congress in protecting government and private investments" in the A's. Their measure, facing its first state legislative test, calls on Congress to "oppose any attempts by major league team owners to move or eliminate the A's," as well as the Angels (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 6/18).
RIPKEN'S SINGLE-A IRONBIRDS SET TO TAKE FLIGHT TONIGHT
The Baltimore SUN reports that a "standing-room-only crowd of more than 6,000" is expected to be on hand for tonight's "official debut of the new Aberdeen IronBirds - the Orioles' affiliate in the short-season Single-A New York-Penn League" (Baltimore SUN, 6/18). The team, owned by former Orioles 3B Cal Ripken Jr., will play "in state-of-the-art Ripken Stadium, a field of dreams brought to life courtesy of Aberdeen's favorite son," that is the "first ballpark and centerpiece of an extensive project under way just off I-95 north of Baltimore" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 6/18).
TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION TO HOST JUNIOR GOLF CLINIC
ESPN.com will host a two-hour Webcast while Tiger Woods gives a golf lesson to members of inner city junior golf programs as part of his Coca-Cola/Tiger Woods Foundation Junior Golf Clinic, which runs through the 19th at the Disney resort in Orlando. Mike Tirico hosts the presentation, which begins at 1:00pm ET. Afterwards, Woods will also hold a press conference and ride in a parade with the junior players at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park (THE DAILY).
"WAKE UP" WITH FIREMAN TO UNVEIL NEW RBK APPAREL, SHOES
Reebok Int'l Chair & CEO Paul Fireman, in advance of the company revealing its back-to-school strategy at the Credit Suisse First Boston Retail Conference in N.Y. today, this morning unveiled the latest apparel and shoes under the "Rbk" brand on CNBC's "Wake Up Call." See today's issue of THE DAILY for more on Reebok and Fireman (THE DAILY).
WORLD CUP DAY 19: MERCHANDISE SALES LEAVING VENDORS COLD
The INT'L HERALD-TRIBUNE reports, "Small and midsize firms that paid a lump sum for a license to use World Cup emblems and logos have been left out in the cold by disappointing sales." Most sales have been "limited to cheap souvenirs," and many firms "worry about how to get rid of piles of goods that they manufactured ahead of the games, after paying huge licensing fees." (INT'L HERALD-TRIBUNE, 6/18).
Meanwhile, the DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that following the U.S. soccer team's 2-0 upset of Mexico in the World Cup, Mexican newspapers "joined in the criticism" of the losing team. The headline in El Universal read: "The MOST BITTER defeat," while La Jornada declared: "It's Over!" Meanwhile, Mexican President Vicente Fox "served as national crisis counselor" for his country. Fox: "We should not think any less of ourselves because of this loss. We are winners in Mexico, and we have to move forward with the same perseverance as before" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/18).
Today's Headlines:
Soccer Sites of Interest:
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that Tiger Woods' U.S. Open win "probably had something to do with" Monday's demand for tickets for the PGA Championships, the last leg of golf's Grand Slam. PGA Championship Dir Barry Deach said that "more than 1,000 tickets for the Aug. 15-18 tournament were sold Monday" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/18).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that a '07 Pan Am Games site evaluation committee "begins touring San Antonio" today. The group will conduct a four-day visit before visiting Rio de Janeiro, the other city vying to host the Games (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/18).
The DETROIT FREE PRESS reports that local police for the Red Wings' victory celebration "estimated Monday's crowd at 1.2 million, the same as for the team's 1998 Stanley Cup parade and slightly more than the 1 million who celebrated the 1997 championship" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/18).
TODAY'S EVENTS
National Sports Marketing Network Dir/Founder Jennifer Karpf will moderate an 8:00am ET discussion at the ESPN Zone in Times Square called "The Mix of Music and Sports." Knicks Senior VP Marketing & Business Operations Anucha Browne Sanders, Island Def Jam Music Group Manager Strategic Marketing & Development Carmen Liu, POC Media President Pat O'Connor, Cornerstone Promotion Dir of Corporate Marketing Lindsi Shine, and The Synergy Group Senior VP Jeff Sofka will serve as panelists (THE DAILY).
The NTRA and Breeders' Cup execs will hold a luncheon and press conference in N.Y. to make announcements about the '02 World Thoroughbred Championships (THE DAILY).
Rams coach Mike Martz will serve as the keynote speaker for an 11:00am CT educator's luncheon at the Univ. of MO-St. Louis. The event is part of the Characterplus program, a yearlong development opportunity for area principals to promote character education in their school culture (THE DAILY).
Bow Wow will make a 3:00pm CT appearance at NikeTown in Chicago to participate in a special shoe drive for the James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and to promote his new movie "Like Mike" (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that, in a reference to MLB Rangers SS Alex Rodriguez' $252M, 10-year contract, Qwest CEO Joe Nacchio said, "I should be allowed to make more than a second baseman. I create more economic value than they do." Nacchio "has made $248 million in pre-tax profits from exercising Qwest stock options" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 6/18).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes, "Income for the major U.S. studios from the worldwide release of feature films to all media 
increased by nearly $1.3 billion last year to a record $31 billion for the seven members of the MPAA" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/18).
A Starbucks ad campaign has "ground to a halt after concerns that its posters - including one displayed near Ground Zero - callously mimicked the Sept. 11 tragedy." The ad shows two "twin" cups of the beverage "standing side-by-side in tall, squared-off blades of grass with dragonflies dive-bombing into one of them" (N.Y. POST, 6/18).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Languages."
"Besides English and Spanish, two of the four other languages in which the U.S. census 2000 questionnaires were printed."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "Here's a sure sign that it's summertime in (N.Y.). This morning, my cab driver for the first time finally got the heat working. ... Mom and I had a big weekend -- 'Scooby-Doo' and the Gotti funeral. ... Don't kid yourselves. That Gotti funeral was a big, big, big event. It was so big. In fact, Mayor Bloomberg flew in from Bermuda for the funeral. ... The Gotti funeral was delayed 20, 30 minutes. It turns out nobody really wanted to start the hearse. ... Al Qaeda, they're now saying is listless, is confused, without direction, in total disarray. No, wait a minute, that's Al Gore. ... Al Qaeda is in the (U.S.) looking for people to participate in suicide missions. ... I understand they're talking to the (NJ) Nets" ("The Late Show," CBS, 6/17).
NBC's Jay Leno: "This past weekend, they had funeral services for John Gotti in Queens, (NY), and police banned parking for several blocks around the funeral home. They said they had record security. Why? The guy's already dead. ... The Bush Administration has apparently approved a plan to oust Saddam Hussein. I think that's President Bush's Father's Day gift to his dad." Leno, on the 30th anniversary of the Watergate break-in: "That's the day the Republicans tried to steal the Democrats' plan. It's also the last time the Democrats had any plans worth stealing. It's also the last time a Republican president had a plan and actually carried it out." More Leno: "Senator Ted Kennedy called for new guidelines that would reduce the number of prison rapes. Sure, now that his cousin Michael Skakel is going to jail, suddenly it's a big problem. ... How many watched the U.S. play Mexico in World Cup soccer? They called it the Battle for (L.A.). ... This was a big match. You know the last time the U.S. and Mexico competed, Mexico lost Texas. ... According to Gear magazine, Chicago Cubs (P) Antonio Alfonseca has six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. See, that's when you know you're taking too many steroids, when you start growing more body parts. How hard is he to buy a glove for? ... Sheriff's deputies raided a golf tournament last Friday in Norfolk, (CA), where participants were offered prostitutes on the golfing range. It was at the Hidden Valley Golf Club. Sounds more like the Hidden Salami Golf Club. ... They would set up tents, and as many as a 100 golfers would go and have sex with the hookers during the tournament ... and because it was a golf tournament, of course the prostitutes would have to whisper, 'You're the best, yes keep going, ohh, ohh.' ... Rock-n-roll legend Mick Jagger (was) knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Sadly, Mick's oldest son was not able to attend. He's currently in a retirement home in (FL)" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/17).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Letterman aired footage from the U.S. Open of Sergio Garcia at the tee for 29 seconds doing his waggle before hitting his tee shot. Letterman, while Garcia is doing his waggle: "I think you'll agree with me that this guy is a little too leisurely when it comes to hitting the ball. There he is (on the footage). Okay, okay Sergio, we got other guys ready to play. We got a foursome that'd like to play through, Sergio. Anytime you're comfortable just let it rip. Okay, we're not kidding around Sergio, we're going to have to ask you to hit this off and hit the road. ... Come on and hit the damn ball!! What are we waiting on, Sergio?! ... I think that guy needs some counseling" ("The Late Show," CBS, 6/17).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "The (U.S.) stunned the World Cup by beating Mexico 2-0. However, last night in (AZ), illegal immigrants beat the U.S. border patrol 412-2. … Scientists have developed a patch, listen carefully, a patch that can help a woman experience more intense orgasms. I was going to buy one for my lady, but I couldn't find it" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 6/17).
Jon Stewart: "Dallas! Big money, big oil. Big apologies from the Catholic Church about that whole sex thing. That's right. Contrite leaders of America's Catholic church met for the (U.S.) Conference of Catholic Bishops last week to figure out ways to solve the church's ever-growing pedophilia scandal – (TX)-style! I meant in (TX). There the bishops voted overwhelmingly to remove abusive priests from their duties, but not kick them out of the priesthood. So just what do you have to do to get kicked out of the priesthood? You don't want to know. Just know this – It's easier to get kicked out of Guns N' Roses. Slash, out. Father McConaughey, in" ("The Daily Show," Comedy Central, 6/17).
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Astros-Brewers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What are Vietnamese, Chinese, Tagalog and Korean?"
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