| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, July 2, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Lucky Seven: Slive To Be Announced As SEC's Newest Commissioner |
| • | Houston Hopes CART Returns After Two-Year Break For Construction |
| • | MLB Fails To Complete Non-Economic Agreement With MLBPA |
| • | With World Cup Over, Nike Eyes Urban Gymnasts |
| • | Fans Respond In Big Numbers For Chance To Vote On Final All-Stars |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Today's Events |
SEC TO ANNOUNCE SLIVE AS LEAGUE'S SEVENTH COMMISSIONER
The SEC will introduce Mike Slive as the league's seventh commissioner during an 11:00am CT press conference today in Birmingham. The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports SEC officials "have made it clear that some changes are in store for the conference, which is set to play its 70th college football season this fall" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/2). Meanwhile, the Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that Slive, currently Conference USA Commissioner, edged out SEC Exec Associate Commissioner Mark Womack and OH Valley Conference Commissioner Dan Beebe for the job. Slive replaces Roy Kramer, who is retiring after 13 years (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/2).
CITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE CART'S FUTURE IN HOUSTON
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the Houston City Council "is expected to wave the yellow caution flag to the Texaco/Havoline Grand Prix today when it votes to amend its contract and give promoters until January to decide whether to return to Houston in 2004." The CART race is on hiatus for the next two years due to downtown construction. Houston's Convention & Entertainment Facilities Dir Dawn Ullrich, on the race's future: "There are strong indications that they are not leaving Houston, just giving us a break" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/2).
MLB'S LAST LABOR NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE BREAK COME UP EMPTY
MLB.com reported that Monday's bargaining session between management and union officials "tried without success to negotiate the final terms of a package of non-economic issues that have been pending since early last month." The talks will resume on July 11, two days after the All-Star game. There are eight labor-negotiation sessions scheduled for later this month (MLB.com, 7/1)
NIKE TO LAUNCH URBAN GYMNASTS CAMPAIGN
AD AGE reported that Nike this week will launch "an integrated campaign for its Presto line featuring a group of high-flying urban gymnasts who dart off buildings and other cityscapes." The TV and Internet ad campaign was created by Portland-based Wieden & Kennedy. The gymnasts featured in the ads will make appearances "in almost a dozen cities" to support the campaign (AD AGE, 7/1).
FAN VOTING FOR FINAL ALL-STAR SLOTS TOPS 850,000
USA TODAY reports that the "first online fan vote to fill out the last spot on each league's roster for [MLB's] All-Star Game had attracted more than 850,000 ballots by Monday night – in only 24 hours of balloting." Fans can vote tonight until 6:00pm ET at MLB's Web site (USA TODAY, 7/2).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that actor Robert Wuhl "spent the afternoon filming scenes for an upcoming episode of HBO's Arli$$" including warming up for his ceremonial first pitch with A's P Barry Zito. Just before the Twins-A's game, "fans were asked to boo the introduction of 'Arliss' as he made his errant first pitch." Wuhl, on looking for Twins 3B Corey Koskie: "I've got him on my rotisserie team, and I wanted to know why he isn't stealing" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/2).
The NJ Sports & Exposition Authority has canceled a press conference that was scheduled for today to publicly release the Request for Proposals that seek plans for the redevelopment of the Continental Airlines Arena site at the Meadowlands (THE DAILY).
Supercuts runs a full-page ad in USA Today, touting its sponsorship of Kerry Earnhardt's #12 Chevrolet, the Supercuts Supercar (THE DAILY).
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that postcards are the "gift item" of the day at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum shop. A salesperson said, "(Anna) Kournikova is the best seller, and we've run out of her most popular card. (Tim) Henman is also good and [American heartthrob] James Blake has come on strong" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/2).
Promoters in AZ expect "tens of thousands of teens and 20-somethings to descend upon" the eighth annual Vans Warped Tour at the Peoria Sports Complex today (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/2). Meanwhile, the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that "more than 8,000 people" attended Tony Hawk's Gigantic Skatepark Tour at the Louisville Extreme Park. Hawk: "It was unbelievable … the best turnout we've had on the tour this year" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/2).
TODAY'S EVENTS
White Sox DH Frank Thomas, P Keith Foulke, and OF Kenny Lofton are among the current and former players expected to attend Taste of Chicago from 11:00am-12:30pm CT. The players will sign autographs, answer fan questions, and offer baseball tips at the Grant Park event (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/2).
WNBA Lynx F Katie Smith and C Michele Van Gorp will visit a St. Paul library from 2:00-3:00pm CT in an effort to promote the importance of reading, on-line literacy, and parent/child reading (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS
The L.A. TIMES reports that "in a town where corporate brutality is suavely masked behind a smile, onetime mogul Michael Ovitz has shattered protocol and stunned hard-to-shock Hollywood by lashing out at what he calls the industry's 'gay mafia' in a forthcoming Vanity Fair article." Ovitz specifically mentioned DreamWorks SKG Founder David Geffen and Universal Studios President & COO Ron Meyer (L.A. TIMES, 7/2). Meanwhile, Geffen "brand(ed) Ovitz homophobic", saying, "All the gay people get together, like the Jewish people get together. I mean, yeah, we meet on Thursdays. I'm offended" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/2).
The FINANCIAL TIMES reports that Vivendi Universal CEO Jean-Marie Messier has agreed to resign. Vivendi shares "had risen more than 9 per cent on Monday," as Messier prepared for his departure, "a move likely to lead to the break up of one the world's largest entertainment and media groups" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/2).
WorldCom's MCI Group "has snuffed out an agreement with the National Park Service to sponsor the $110,000 fireworks display on the Mall" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/2).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Films of the 1930s."
"Part of 'I Pagliacci' and 'Il Trovatore' are performed in this comedy."
LAUGH TRACK
We're sorry for the lack of laughs this morning, but the late night talk shows are all repeats during this holiday week.
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Expos-Braves.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is 'A Night At The Opera?'"
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