| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, July 25, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Approximately $70M Separates Sides As MLB Labor Talks Resume |
| • | NBA Media Announcements Continue; One Report Has Barkley Re-Signing |
| • | Bridges Over Televised Waters: Golf Event May Move To San Diego Course |
| • | X Games' Traveling Caravan Heads For MD Ballparks To Drum Up X-Citement |
| • | Everybody In The Water: ESPN Networks Have Bassmasters Classic Covered |
| • | In Other News/Today's Events/TV Monitor/Lighter Buzz/Final Jeopardy! |
REVENUE SHARING DOMINATES LATEST ROUND OF MLB LABOR TALKS
The AP reports that revenue sharing "was the chief topic as baseball players and owners resumed labor talks Wednesday, and the sides agreed they were about $70 million apart annually." MLBPA attorney Michael Weiner, on the talks: "It was positive. There were some ideas that were thrown out. We'll continue discussion." The two sides have additional talks scheduled for the next two days (AP/DETROIT NEWS, 7/25).
REPORT HAS BARKLEY RE-SIGNING AS TNT NBA COMMENTATOR
Turner Sports President Mark Lazarus will host a media conference call this afternoon at 3:00pm ET to make an NBA announcement, and the N.Y. TIMES reports that Charles Barkley "has re-signed with TNT to continue as a commentator on the network's 'Inside the NBA' studio program." Barkley's contract "could last as long as TNT's new six-year deal with the league" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/25).
Meanwhile, as reported in yesterday's Morning Buzz, ABC Sports President Howard Katz and ESPN Exec VP/Production & Technical Steve Anderson will announce today during a 12:30pm ET conference call that Mike Tirico will be named play-by-play announcer for ESPN's Friday night NBA games, teaming with former NBC studio analyst Tom Tolbert (THE DAILY).
TALKS TO MOVE TELEVISED GOLF EVENT TO SAN DIEGO CONTINUE
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that sources close to ABC, IMG and The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe in CA said yesterday "they are talking about a deal to bring prime-time, nationally televised golf to the private club next summer as a replacement for 'The Battle at Bighorn.'" The event, featuring Tiger Woods, has been played for the past three years at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/25).
COMCAST-SPECTACOR BRINGS X-CITEMENT OF GAMES TO MD FANS
In preparation for this summer's X Games, Comcast-Spectacor will bring a traveling caravan of X Games athletes to three of its minor league baseball ballparks, beginning today with a stop at a Bowie Baysox game at Prince George's Stadium in MD. The tour will move to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD, on Friday and conclude at Harry Grove Stadium in Frederick, MD, on Saturday. Comcast-Spectacor will host the X Games at the First Union Center in Philadelphia August 15-19 (THE DAILY).
FISHING FOR PROGRAMMING: ESPN2 COVERS BIRMINGHAM TOURNEY
The '02 Citgo Bassmasters Classic is underway in Birmingham, with ESPN and ESPN2 providing coverage today through Saturday, including a live weigh-in today and tomorrow at 5:00pm ET, and the presentation of the trophy on Saturday at 7:00pm ET. The coverage from Birmingham will culminate the first-ever "Bass Week" on the ESPN networks. According to the AP, B.A.S.S. officials expect 20,000 fans to fill the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center on Saturday to "catch the final weigh-in." A victory in the Bassmasters Classic could net "about $1 million in endorsement and speaking money" over the course of a competitor's career (AP/Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/25).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Yankees manager Joe Torre, dismissing Indians Owner Larry Dolan's claim that Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner is "part of the problem" with MLB: "I am not sure that George is bad for baseball. He spends money in a constant effort to get better. When you win in New York, like we have, there is no such thing as rebuilding. When you go places with the team [Steinbrenner] has put together, you draw and it helps those places" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/25).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The WNBA Sparks held "Camp Day" yesterday for their game versus the Fire, as children arrived in buses to watch the afternoon contest. The crowd of 18,542 was the largest WNBA crowd in the team's two years at the Staples Center (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/25).
- The BOSTON HERALD reports that yesterday's opening of the Saratoga '02 meeting drew a record crowd of 32,913 fans to Saratoga Race Course. NYRA Senior VP Bill Nader: "Saratoga continues to get bigger and bigger. It's really amazing how magical this meeting is" (BOSTON HERALD, 7/25).
- The L.A. TIMES reports that yesterday's season opener at Del Mar drew 37,284, "the second highest in track history" that still managed to break the count of 34,697 for the first day in '94. The all-time record at the track is 44,181, who came to see Cigar in '96 (L.A. TIMES, 7/25).
TODAY'S EVENTS
The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Sports Marketing Network will host an 8:00am ET meeting at the First Union Center called, "Event Marketing: What Makes a Great Event?" Camden Riversharks GM John Brandt, Philadelphia Sports Congress Dir Larry Needle and Infinity Broadcasting's Brian Brown are the scheduled panelists (THE DAILY).
Jack Nicklaus and ABC Sports announcer Mike Tirico will participate in a 2:00pm ET conference call to discuss the upcoming "Lincoln Financial Group Battle at Bighorn," scheduled to air live in prime time on July 29 (THE DAILY).
Hawks G Jason Terry will host a free street jam from 9:00am-1:00pm ET as part of his second annual UNCF/Jason Terry Summer Jet Jam Weekend in Atlanta. Among the activities at the event will be an autograph session and a kid's clinic (THE DAILY).
The Jackson (MI) Speedway will host a 10:30am ET ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the track. The day continues with an open house from 2:00-9:00pm (THE DAILY).
The U.S. Sports Academy's "Graduation Celebrations 2002" begins today in Mobile and Daphne, AL. As part of the weekend's festivities, the inaugural sport summit will focus on Worldwide Networking and Sport Leadership. Notable panelists include former Chinese Olympic Committee President Dr. Zhenliang He, former Goodwill Games President Jack Kelly and Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Ivan Maisel (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
NBC's Tom Brokaw said that September 11 "had a lot to do with" his decision to remain at "NBC Nightly News" until after the presidential election in '04. Brokaw told TV critics at their summer meeting in Pasadena yesterday that the stories arising in the aftermath of September 11 have reinvigorated him: "This is as complex an assignment as I have ever encountered in so many ways, and I've been energized by it, I am bewildered by it, it's unsettling to me and the learning curve is very steep for everyone" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 7/25).
Kmart today plans to launch two men "dressed in Joe Boxer clothing and underwear from a cannon in the parking lot of one its anchor stores in Detroit" as the start of an advertising campaign meant to "attract a hipper customer" to its Joe Boxer clothing line (N.Y. TIMES, 7/25).
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that Burger King's British owner, Diageo PLC, is "expected to sign a deal today to sell the fast-food chain for more than $2 billion to a group of US investors that includes Boston's Bain Capital." Texas Pacific Group is leading the deal (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/25).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "It's About Time."
"Scientists added an extra one of these to December 31, 1998, giving it 86,401; we hope you made good use of it."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "President Bush has left Washington and is going to Crawford, (TX), for a month-long vacation. Now, I know you folks know that. I was just letting the FBI know. ... Bush got out of town faster than he gets out of one of his stock deals. ... The Bush people said the President is taking this month-long vacation because he needs the opportunity to unwind. ... My question is; when does this guy wind?" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/24).
NBC's Jay Leno: "It was hot out (yesterday). ... I was sweating like an America West pilot when they hear 'last call.' ... I was sweating like Al Sharpton watching HBO. ... Counter-terrorism experts are now saying Osama bin Laden may be hiding secret messages on pornographic web sites. At least that's what these experts are telling their wives. 'Yeah honey, it's going to be a long night.' ... There is now speculation in Washington that President Bush is planning on increasing the economic sanctions imposed on Iraq and let me tell you something, if they are half as tough as the economic sanctions Bush has imposed on this country they are screwed. ... MSNBC's Chris Matthews has come down with a case of malaria. We wish him the best, but I think there's a lesson out there for the young people. Never have unprotected sex with a mosquito. ... The city of (S.F.) may start growing its own marijuana, which would be used for medical purposes. This is a great way to stop drug use. Get the government involved, okay, because pretty soon the quality will go down, it'll cost too much and you'll have to stand in line at the DMV to get it." Leno, on Smucker's "Uncrustables": "It's a frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crusts cut off. It's frozen and they say if you put this frozen peanut butter and jelly sandwich in your kid's lunch box in the morning, it will thaw out by lunchtime. Oh yeah, you wouldn't want to waste any quality time with your kids on something as inconsequential as making them something to eat. 'Hey Timmy, here's your block of ice. Get on the damn bus!'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/4).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Little-Known Facts About The Snakehead Fish" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/24).
| 10. | "Fish is 50% snake, 50% head." |
| 9. | "Mortal enemy is the fishhead snake." |
| 8. | "High-protein diet of fish and frogs means a slim look for summer." |
| 7. | "They love kids." |
| 6. | "Bush promised to find and catch them...of course we've heard that before." |
| 5. | "Fans of the snakehead fish are known as Snakehead-Heads." |
| 4. | "Available for a limited time at participating Red Lobsters." |
| 3. | "It's very popular with lawyers, am I right people?" |
| 2. | "Developed by the government to distract people from the whole Cheney-Halliburton thing." |
| 1. | "It's the result of a drunken genetic engineer and a dare." |
NBC's Conan O'Brien: "According to a new study, women are more likely to get divorced if they marry young, are not religious, or come from a divorced family. Not only that, women are also more likely to get a divorce if they wear a vial of blood around their neck and marry a guy named Billy Bob (Thornton)" ("Late Night," NBC, 7/24).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "More bad news for those two America West pilots who were arrested for being drunk. They paid for their lawyers (yesterday) by cashing in their empties. … The most famous sitcom cast ever says they'd be happy to do a tenth season of 'Friends'. The weird part, I'm talking about the cast of 'Seinfeld'. … The WB network is coming up with a new TV series where eight celebrities room together. Hmm. Hmm. Celebrities rooming together. Don't we already have this? It's called rehab" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 7/24).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Yankees-Indians.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is a second?"
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