| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| • | Buick Open Officials Begins PR Push Today Following Woods' Notification |
| • | MLB Labor Talks Continue With Revenue Sharing Discussions |
| • | Tempe City Council Throws Its Helmet Back Into Ring For Cardinals Stadium |
| • | WNBA Players To Address Off-Court Issues During Weekly Online Series |
| • | NFL Training Camp Updates: Browns Draw Record Crowds In Cleveland |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/Final Jeopardy!/TV Monitor |
“BATTLE AT BIGHORN” PLAYS OUT TO SCORCHINGLY GOOD REVIEWS
The "Battle of Bighorn" took place last night in Palm Desert, CA, with the team of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus defeating Sergio Garcia and Lee Trevino in the best-ball match, and the Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE reports that the fourth installment of Monday night golf on ABC "was a thing of beauty," with "the play as sizzling as the desert heat" (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 7/30). Earlier yesterday, The Bridges resort at Rancho Santa Fe and IMG announced that for three years beginning next July, the private course "will host the annual Lincoln Financial Battle at the Bridges. No financial details were announced" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/30).
Meanwhile, the DETROIT NEWS reports that IMG's Mark Steinberg alerted tournament officials that Woods would play in the upcoming Buick Open. Buick Open Golf Marketing Manager Larry Peck said that additional promotion and advertising for the August 5-11 tournament "will begin immediately with print ads appearing today." Peck: "We'll get Tiger's image on seven billboards around the metropolitan Detroit area as quickly as we can get it up" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/30).
MLB LABOR TALKS CONTINUE BUT LITTLE PROGRESS MADE
The N.Y. TIMES reports that representatives of MLB and MLBPA met yesterday in two separate sessions, with MLBPA Associate General Counsel Michael Weiner saying that "the two sides had not advanced past the point where they left off last week." Negotiations between the two sides are scheduled to resume today (N.Y. TIMES, 7/30).
FOURTH TIMES A CHARM: TEMPE WANTS BACK IN CARDINALS RACE
The AZ REPUBLIC reports that the Tempe City Council "wants to climb back into the running" for the NFL Cardinals stadium, and the city "plans to offer a 98-acre site on the northeastern corner of Interstate 10 and Warner Road today to the state Tourism and Sports Authority for the stadium." It's the "fourth stab" Tempe has made to retain the Cardinals, prompting Mayor Neil Giuliano to say, "It's like Groundhog Day," referring to the Bill Murray movie in which his character keeps reliving the same day (AZ REPUBLIC, 7/30).
WNBA TO LAUNCH FOUR-PART ONLINE SERIES ON OFF-COURT ISSUES
USA TODAY reports that WNBA.com today begins a four-part weekly series "in which some of the league's stars address off-court issues. Today's topic is the use of female sexuality in marketing women's sports" (USA TODAY, 7/30).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL reports that 3,783 fans showed up at the Browns' training camp in Berea on Monday, "the largest crowd ever to watch a practice since the Browns returned in 1999" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/30).
- The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that "an estimated 2,000 fans filed through the turnstiles of the sports complex and braved sweltering conditions to witness the first NFL training camp staged in the Orlando metropolitan area" on Monday as the Bucs opened training camp at Disney's Wide World of Sports (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/30).
The Red Wings' new championship video, "Red Alert: Hockeytown 3," goes on sale today (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/30).
The TORONTO STAR reports that Andre Agassi was fined US$80,000 "for withdrawing after the Friday noon deadline" from Tennis Masters Canada tournament. Tournament Dir Stacey Allaster: "Agassi wanted to be here, otherwise he wouldn't have booked three hotel rooms" (TORONTO STAR, 7/30).
The HARTFORD COURANT continues its chronicle of a week in Winston Cup racing today with a look at how Bobby Labonte's pit crew selects which car the driver will race on each individual track (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/30).
FIFA World Cup partner Avaya runs a quarter-page ad in USA TODAY with the tagline, "The beautiful game got a beautiful network" (THE DAILY).
Last night, TNN aired the debut of "Slamball," a "full-contact game" according to broadcaster Pat Parnell, who said the court is "totally enclosed" and was "inspired by basketball, but more an aggressive amalgamation of action sports -- football, hockey, lacrosse, even gymnastics." Broadcaster Reggie Theus: "Slamball is unlike anything I have ever seen. It's played way above the rim ... but it takes a toughness that is out of this world" (TNN, 7/29).
The Syracuse POST-STANDARD reports that "about 175 women" participated yesterday in "Football 101," the second annual clinic for women run by Syracuse Univ. coach Paul Pasqualoni and his staff on the school's campus (Syracuse POST-STANDARD, 7/30).
The Triple A Buffalo Bisons and CELLBUCKS announced the launch of In Seat Services, which allows fans to order and pay for food, beverages and merchandise from their mobile phones and have it all delivered to their seats (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
'00 Olympic Gold Medalist Marty Nothstein and '01 Jr. World Champion Sarah Uhl will present the yellow jerseys worn by cycling champions to NY Gov. George Pataki and N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg today at 11:00am ET to celebrate the inaugural N.Y. Cycling Championship, which will take place on August 4th. Today's event takes place at City Hall in N.Y. (THE DAILY).
Palace Sports & Entertainment employees will read to 600 underprivileged children during a two-day "Reading Time Out" at youth centers throughout the Detroit metropolitan area. The event begins today at 11:00am ET (THE DAILY).
Pro Player Stadium officials will hold a press conference in the stadium at 3:00pm ET to introduce its new Distributed Sound System (THE DAILY).
Two events around the Gravity Games: Event Dir Chris Prybylo will lead the Gravity Games Media Day at Browns Stadium at 11:00am ET. '00 Gravity Games Gold Medalist skateboarder Andy MacDonald will hold a Q&A at the Cleveland Public Library at 3:30pm ET (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
As the one-year anniversary of the attacks of September 11 approaches, the WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that many advertisers "plan to honor the day by staying off the air." Arnold MPG media buyer Bill McOwen: "I don't think you will see any of our clients advertising during the special 9/11 coverage on the TV networks." Instead, some networks say that they "may ink sponsorship deals, offering marketers a low-key form of credit for underwriting programming" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/30).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Sprite "is taking another new turn in a campaign that emphasizes individual passions … through the stories of real young people." The "Portraits in Thirst" campaign, which began last night and replaces the company's "Voices" campaign, is "the latest attempt by Sprite to turnaround sales and market share that declined in 2001 for the second consecutive year" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/30). This strategy "will be incorporated into future ads Sprite plans for basketball star Kobe Bryant, who has been the brand's recent pitchman" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/30).
ADAGE reports that Salon Media Group, parent of Salon.com, said today it has "lined up financing to fund the company as it seeks to arrange new bank loans to support its operations." The S.F.-based company announced it has "secured a bridge loan of $715,000 from a group of 11 investors and is in discussions for a new line of credit with a commercial bank" (ADAGE.com, 7/30).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Legendary Characters."
"Led by Nicholas, a German boy, the children's crusade of 1212 may have been the inspiration for this character."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "It was so hot (yesterday) that Allen Iverson went looking for his wife at the beach. ... Elizabeth Dole turned 66 (yesterday), and you know she got exactly what she wanted from her husband. For (one day) only, he's not going to take the Viagra. ... Whenever President Bush goes to his ranch down there in (TX), he loves doing stuff out on the ranch. He likes to spend a lot of time clearing brush (and) dumping stock" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/29).
NBC's Jay Leno, on the nine trapped PA miners: "Were you like me when you first heard there were nine guys hopelessly stuck in a hole? Did you think, 'Oh my God, the Dodgers are in trouble again?' ... I guess these miners broke into this flooded mineshaft by accident because the map they had was wrong. ... Isn't that ironic. The one time guys stop to read a map, and it almost kills them. ... They said on the news that the last time this many miners were trapped in one place, I guess, was in the attic at Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch." Leno, on Lance Armstrong's fourth Tour de France victory: "This is the fourth time Armstrong has rolled into Paris with no one to stop him. Even the Germans could only do it twice. … A Philadelphia judge threw out all but one of the fourteen charges against 76ers Allen Iverson. ... By the way, if you want to talk to this judge, you can always find him in row one at half court at all the home games next season. ... The Dallas Cowboys now have the world's first 400-pound football player. ... The guy's name is Aaron Gibson, (and he) weighs 410-pounds. I'll give you an idea of how big he is: His number is 6,358. ... A (FL) woman is suing Delta Airlines for reportedly humiliating her when they found a vibrating sex toy in her luggage. ... The whole airport was buzzing. ... Here's the really embarrassing part. It wouldn't fit in her carry-on bag. ... I don't know what's more annoying. Having to sit next to a woman with a screaming baby, or sitting next to woman screaming 'oh baby.' ... A man in (NY) now is suing McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and (KFC) saying their food made him fat. Today, he announced he's also suing Budweiser for all the ugly women he had to sleep with. ... Starbucks announced ... they want to open 1,200 more locations across the country. Where?! Are they putting them inside other Starbucks now?" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 7/29).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Signs The President Needs A Vacation" ("The Late Show," CBS, 7/29).
| 10. | "Holding all press conferences outside to work on his tan." |
| 9. | "Asking Al Qaeda not to do anything until the end of August." |
| 8. | "Had workers remove Oval Office desk to make room for hammock." |
| 7. | "It's been, what, two weeks since he went fishing?" |
| 6. | "Constantly studying satellite photos of Club Med." |
| 5. | "Page 386 of his budget simply states, 'Need nap.'" |
| 4. | "Visited Disney World's Hall of Presidents, asked, 'Which one am I?'" |
| 3. | "Started nodding off during 'WWF Smackdown.'" |
| 2. | "Barely has the energy to help Cheney shred Halliburton documents." |
| 1. | "He's choking on pretzels just so he can pass out for a couple of minutes." |
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Yankees-Rangers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who was the Pied Piper?"
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