Morning Buzz, July 16, 2002

GROUP SUES MLB, LORIA UNDER FEDERAL RACKETEERING ACT

The N.Y. TIMES reports a group of 14 "prominent Canadian companies," including one owned by the son of the Expos' original owner, Charles Bronfman, will file a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Miami today, claiming that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, former Expos and current Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria and others "conspired to eliminate baseball in Montreal as well as reduce their holdings in the team." The group, whose ownership of the Expos once totaled 76% but was reduced to 6%, is suing under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act of 1970. The companies "seek an injunction preventing [MLB] from moving the Expos to another city or eliminating the team through its contraction plan" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/16).

ANSWER, MAN: IVERSON SURRENDERS TO POLICE AT SUNRISE

The AP reports that 76ers G Allen Iverson "surrendered to authorities at sunrise" this morning on charges that he "burst into his cousin's apartment with a handgun and threatened two men while searching for his wife after an argument." Iverson turned himself in about 5:30am ET, "about half an hour after a convoy left the grounds of his suburban mansion where he had been holed up." His lawyer, Richard Sprague, said his client would plead innocent (AP, 7/16). Meanwhile, The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports, "Although some critics have accused the police of giving Iverson special treatment in allowing him to avoid arrest over the weekend, Iverson today is expected to enter Philadelphia's criminal-justice system and wait in line like everybody else" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/16).

WNBA ALL-STAR GAME EARNS “HIGH” MARKS, PACKS MCI CENTER

The WNBA set an All-Star Game record last night as 19,487 fans were in attendance at the MCI Center. The previous best was for the inaugural game at MSG in '99, which drew 18,649 fans (Mult. 7/16). The SEATTLE TIMES reports that former Secretary of State Madeline Albright, actor Chris Tucker, WUSA Freedom F Mia Hamm and Pepsi endorser/actress Hallie Kate Eisenberg were spotted in the sellout crowd at last night's game (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/16).

In DC, Sally Jenkins writes that last night's game "was surely the high point of the league's existence so far: a sellout crowd of 19,487 filled the arena to see the West defeat the East, 81-76, in a thriller of a game that wasn't decided until the final 20 seconds, and was punctuated by dancing hip-hop moppets, and flashing kaleidoscope lights, and fervent shrieks" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/16).

WNBA President Val Ackerman: "I happened to use the word 'tomboy' in front of my 9-year-old daughter recently and she tugged on my arm after I used it and asked me what the word meant. I explained to her that it used to be a girl that played sports. It struck me that when she asked me the question that the word 'tomboy' seems to have dropped out of the vernacular" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/16). See today's issue of The Daily for more on the WNBA All-Star Game.

WHARTON SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS: EX-BOXER HOLDS SEMINAR

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that agent Leland Hardy "is sponsoring a seminar at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania to share with athletes what he and other business and legal notables have learned about the business of sports." The Business Institute for Continuing Education in Professional Sports (BICEPS) is a three-day event, which begins today. Among the guest speakers are attorney Johnnie Cochran, Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree and former NFL player Dave Duerson (PHILADLEPHIA INQUIRER, 7/16).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that the first day of Keeneland's July Selected Yearling Sale yesterday "got off to a sluggish start," as "[17] of the first 25 horses either failed to reach their owners' target price or were pulled out of the sale by owners at the last minute" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/16).

MLB International had a film crew in Baltimore on Monday to follow Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki, who "will be featured in a commercial for the Japan-based Nikko Cordial, a financial-services company" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/16).

Last night's Braves-Cubs game drew a crowd of 40,206, the largest of the year at Wrigley Field (Mult. 7/16). Meanwhile, the CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that a "Wrigley Field Vandal" has created a "hideous gap in the lush ivy that adorns the outfield wall" at the ballpark. Cubs Exec VP Mark McGuire: "We think someone leaned over from the bleachers and dumped something that killed some of our ivy." While Cubs officials "have no suspects," they "do suspect the person is a White Sox fan." McGuire said, "I think we're just assuming. No decent Cubs fan would damage the ivy" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/16).

TODAY'S EVENTS

ESPN's Chris Mortensen will be the keynote speaker at the Bronco Nagurski Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon at 11:45am ET in Charlotte (THE DAILY).

ESPN tennis analyst Luke Jensen will serve as emcee and head judge at the '02 World TeamTennis Kidcaster event at Max Myers Playground in Philadelphia from 10:30-11:30am ET (THE DAILY).

The WNBA Starzz team and coaching staff will conduct a reading session for children from 2:00-3:00pm MT at Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City as part of the "Read to Achieve" program (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

Credit Suisse First Boston analyst Lara Warner said that Cablevision Systems is "likely to announce major actions soon that may include a shutdown or sale of The Wiz to close a half-billion-dollar budget gap next year." Yesterday, Cablevision stock closed at $9.45 a share, up $0.20. Warner raised her recommendation on the stock to "buy" from "hold" (NEWSDAY, 7/16).

During a Q&A session Monday that launched CBS' portion of the summer Television Critics Association press tour, CBS CEO Leslie Moonves said that he's "being much more cautious about product placement in CBS' scripted series." Moonves said, "With 'Survivor' and 'Amazing Race,' (product placement from sponsors) seems to fit. With dramas and comedies, it doesn't fit as easily" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/16).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that "shareholders and furious employees of AOL Time Warner are clamoring for a breakup of the media giant as its plunging stock slipped to $13.07 yesterday, and accounting questions surfaced" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/16).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL cites a survey conducted by N.Y.-based Brand Keys which shows that U.S. shoppers, "who have increasingly embraced house-brand bargain clothes from places such as Target and Kohl's, say that designer threads are losing some of their appeal." A full 57% of respondents said that "logos and labels were less important to them today; while 10% said that the symbols were more important than previously" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/16).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "U.S. States."

"It's the only state whose state bird has a major city in its name."

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "It (was) so hot in (N.Y. yesterday), I am grateful for that lukewarm reception. ... (Yesterday) was the kind of day I really envy Ted Williams. ... VH1 is doing a (reality) show with Liza Minelli and her husband just like 'The Osbournes.' You get to go behind the scenes. You get to see the makeup, the false eyelashes, the wigs … and that's just her husband. ... Puff Daddy is getting his own show. The shooting begins in August and then the taping starts sometime in September" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/15).

NBC's Jay Leno: " It was so hot (yesterday), guys were going for prostate exams just to feel their doctor's cold hand. ... It was so hot in Philadelphia, women were dating Allen Iverson, just so he'd throw them out of the house naked. ... (Iverson) is currently under mansion arrest, where you have to stay in your mansion. In fact, he threw a huge party over the weekend. This is unbelievable. Now the police said he could turn himself in (today) at his convenience, if his lawyer gets back from his European vacation in time. It's the same deal that kid in Inglewood got. ... Let me tell you something folks, if you're worried about your money in the stock market, stop worrying. It's gone. ... In fact, investors took such a beating, Wall Street's now been named Inglewood's sister city. ... Earlier (yesterday), people from Skid Row in (N.Y.) went to serve hot meals to people on Wall Street. ... American Taliban John Walker Lindh surprised the courtroom when he pleaded guilty, and his lawyers are very upset. They could lose a lot of money on this. They're hoping for a long trial. In fact, (yesterday) they called the kid a traitor. ... I guess Lindh was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He only asked for one condition. He wants to be able to serve his sentence at Allen Iverson's house. ... There are reports now that PLO leader Yasser Arafat – you know, Osama bin Laden's Mini-Me – has illegally transferred millions of dollars from the PLO, that was donated to the Palestinian people, into his own personal bank account. PLO! Sounds more like a CEO, doesn't he? ... According to the government, 5,000 Americans may have Al Qaeda ties and they say as many as 3,500 may also have the matching sports jacket and slacks" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 7/15).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

'02 Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams appeared on last night's edition of CBS' "The Late Show." Letterman said, "I know nothing about tennis." He asked about the French Open, and said, "So when the ball hits the clay, it just sort of drops dead where it hits?" Williams, to the audience: "He wasn't kidding about not knowing anything." Letterman, asking her about playing her sister Venus in the finals of tournaments said, "You must be tired of playing her. Don't you think, 'Oh geez, it would be nice to play somebody easy in the finals.'" Letterman: "What ever happened to men's tennis?" Williams: "I don't really have time to watch men's tennis." Letterman, referencing the male streaker following the men's finals: "Then during the trophy presentation at Centre Court, this moron is running around without his clothes on. Had he been there all day naked? ... That's not going to help men's tennis, honestly. If they think they got something there, they're wrong." Williams: "I think they need to come up with a better scheme than that" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/15).

FSN's "BDSSP" host Tom Arnold appeared on last night's edition of CBS' "The Late Show" where he said about new co-host Michael Irvin, "He's been arrested almost as many times as I have. He's doing super well." Arnold: "He's doesn't have drugs, guns and strippers. Now he's got Jesus. Now he's a preacher, but he also embraces his past. So you can make fun of him, which is nice. A lot of times those guys get real religious. They don't like to talk about the drugs and guns and strippers because it's bad when they're doing their preaching." Arnold: "He does the churches and stuff like that. I don't know if it's a work release program" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/15).

CBS' Craig Kilborn: "Attorneys for 20-year old American Taliban John Walker Lindh got a great deal for their client. They were able to plea down charges of 'crimes against America' to two charges of 'what a crazy spring break.' … A new study has found that moms are less likely than ever to beat their kids in public. I think that's kind of nice. The main reason, so many Kmart's have gone out of business. A man in a wheelchair is suing a (FL) strip club because the strip club is not wheelchair accessible. Now the weird part, the man wasn't in the wheelchair until his wife caught him at the strip club" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 7/15).

Jon Stewart: "As humankind nears the apocalyptic end of its run here on Earth, now's a good time to look back on where it all began. The north African country of Chad, where a fossilized skull has been unearthed that is six to seven million years old. The oldest example, by far, of a pre-human ancestor that walked upright. So if your paleoanthropological studies have led you to determine the evolutionary split between hominids and primates occurred five million years ago: Get off the stupid train, jackass! Cause it was seven. You don't know jack about squat! … The skull, that has been dubbed Toumai, dates back to the very earliest period of our evolution. A time when our distant ancestors looked at their chimpanzee brethren and for the very first time had dim insight into how funny they'd look in a ragtime band. Human beings – the only species that can mock other species" ("The Daily Show," Comedy Central, 7/15).

MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Yankees-Blue Jays, followed by Red Sox-Tigers.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What is Maryland?" The state bird is the Baltimore oriole.

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