| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, August 8, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | MLBPA's Steroid Testing Program Greeted With Warm Reviews |
| • | Will Glendale Become Top Sports Destination In Southwest? |
| • | Hub Of The Universe Tabbed As Best Sports City In North America |
| • | Conflicting Reports Surface Regarding Cablevision's Financial Plan Of Attack |
| • | How Much Would You Pay For A Round Of Golf With Arnie? |
| • | In Other News/Today's Events/TV Monitor/Lighter Buzz/Final Jeopardy! |
MLBPA PROPOSES DRUG TESTING POLICY FOR STEROIDS
MLB labor talks are scheduled to resume today in N.Y., with discussions centering on revenue sharing and a payroll tax. This comes after the MLBPA yesterday "ended their long-standing opposition to drug testing with a proposal yesterday … to allow unannounced tests for illegal steroids starting next season." MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred called it "a very significant proposal." MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr, on the proposal: "This is the approach that the players believe makes the most sense" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/8). In addition, the N.Y. TIMES reports "management negotiators viewed the union's move as so positive that Manfred said they might make a counterproposal at today's bargaining session" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/8).
GLENDALE MAKES LATEST PITCH FOR NFL CARDINALS STADIUM
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that Glendale officials "are moving full steam ahead on their bid to land the new Arizona Cardinals stadium, and they plan to release the details of their proposal today." Glendale's proposal has the area becoming "a 400-plus-acre sports megacomplex, combing the stadium and [Coyotes] arena with millions of square feet of commercial development, including restaurants, offices, hotels, shopping and residential lofts" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/8).
THE SPORTING NEWS TO ANNOUNCE BEST SPORTS CITY TODAY
The Sporting News Exec Editor Bob Hille will be in Boston today with representatives of the city's four major pro teams, four college hockey teams, the Boston Marathon and skater Nancy Kerrigan to announce the winner of the magazine's Best Sports City in North America. The event begins at 6:40pm ET at Fenway Park (THE DAILY). The BOSTON HERALD reports that Boston's selection will be The Sporting News' top story next week, with Red Sox P Derek Lowe featured on the cover (BOSTON HERALD, 8/8).
CONFLICTING REPORTS ON CABLEVISION'S PLANS CROSS THE WIRE
The N.Y. POST reports that "today's the day" when Cablevision will "start detailing its long-awaited plan to get itself financially healthy." Speculation involves Cablevision selling off The Wiz retail chain or parting with its sports ventures, though a combination of sales and shutdowns "is the most likely course of action that'll be announced" by the company today (N.Y. POST, 8/8). However, NEWSDAY reports that "despite intense pressure from Wall Street," Cablevision is "not expected today at its high-stakes analysts meeting to announce any deals to sell assets such as The Wiz" (NEWSDAY, 8/8).
SIGNS: ALI, RIPKEN LEAD AUTOGRAPH SESSION AT CONVENTION
The 23rd annual National Sports Collectors Convention begins today and runs through Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL, and USA TODAY reports that the convention will feature "an autograph lineup second to none, led by Muhammad Ali's last public signing session and Cal Ripken's first in 10 years." Convention co-Exec Dir John Broggi: "The autograph lineup is one of the best ever put together for any show" (USA TODAY, 8/8).
LATEST PGA TOUR AUCTIONS INCLUDE A ROUND WITH PALMER
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that the PGA Tour Auctions will begin today, and will offer a round of golf with Arnold Palmer. The package is up for bid on eBay, and includes golf and lodging for three at the Bay Hill Lodge and Club in Orlando. Also in the auction are tournament flags signed by Tiger Woods and autographed material from David Duval, John Daly and Phil Mickelson. Some of the proceeds from the auction will go to the Tour Wives Association, The First Tee and prostate cancer research (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/8).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
MLB and the White Sox last night unveiled the logo for the '03 All-Star game, which will be held at Comiskey Park. The White Sox held a ceremony, including players from both the current and past White Sox squads who made the All-Star team, to unveil the logo, which features an image of the exploding Comsikey Park scoreboard. White Sox All-Star Game Coordinator Tiffany Walker: "We wanted the logo to represent Chicago. And we felt there was no better way to represent the White Sox than to have the exploding scoreboard with the fireworks" (MLB.com, 8/8).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the Texans and the TX Department of Transportation yesterday unveiled a Texans logo license plate. Fans can buy the plate for $35, which will "help pay off a slim portion of the city of Houston's Reliant Stadium debt," with $25 from each plate being used toward the $317M owed (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/8).
The DETROIT FREE-PRESS reports that Tiger Woods joked about a goatee he is attempting to grow yesterday while practicing for the Buick Open. When asked if he had been working on the facial hair long, Woods replied: "Too long" (DETROIT FREE-PRESS, 8/8).
USA TODAY's sports Cover Story features a day in the life at the Blair County Ballpark in PA, home of the Double-A Eastern League's Altoona Curve. As an example, this past Monday the Curve "delivered a camp for kids, a big announcement, a big win after a rain delay – and fireworks" (USA TODAY, 8/8). In addition to Mario Lemieux and Jerome Bettis, the Curve's ownership group also includes Lou DiBella (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
The 76ers will hold a 2:00pm ET press conference at the team's practice facility in Philadelphia to introduce newly acquired F Keith Van Horn and C Todd MacCulloch (THE DAILY).
As part of the NBA's "Read to Achieve" program, Hawks C Theo Ratliff will make a 1:00pm ET visit to Whitehead Reading & Learning Center to attend a party the 50 children at the center earned by reading a combined 360 books (THE DAILY).
NASCAR President Mike Helton and driver Jeff Gordon will join FDNY Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Chief Daniel Nigro for an 11:30am ET press conference at FDNY Engine 23 to announce a special equipment donation to the FDNY (THE DAILY).
The NCAA BOD will discuss the eligibility of freshman athletes at a meeting in Indianapolis today. Up for discussion is the use of grade-point averages as opposed to standardized test scores (WASHINGTON POST, 8/8).
IN OTHER NEWS….
AD AGE reports that magazine ad pages "increased 0.5% in July compared to year-earlier results." The increase, however marginal, was the "first up month for publishers" since October '00 (ADAGE.com, 8/8).
The L.A. TIMES reports, "Questions about Michael Eisner's performance as Walt Disney Co.'s chief executive grew sharper Wednesday as the media giant's stock fell to an eight-year low in the wake of last week's dismal earnings forecast and amid shakiness in the company's credit ratings." Disney stock closed at $13.90 yesterday (L.A. TIMES, 8/8).
Meanwhile, Disney's Miramax Films plans to announce today a "three-year marketing alliance with Adolph Coors Co.'s Coors Brewing unit that will make the beer company a promotional partner." Coors will be the official sponsor of Miramax movie premieres in the U.S., and help "pay for those often expensive events that help generate publicity for film releases" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/8).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Sports Marketing."
"Tiger Woods' 22-page booklet 'The Making of a Champion' came free on one million boxes of this product."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
NBC's Jay Leno: "The stock market finally had a good day (yesterday). Nobody got arrested. ... President Bush passed his annual physical with flying colors. The President is in tip-top shape and of course Bush (was) very pleased. It's not that often he passes an exam. ... According to the current issue of Time magazine, Bill Clinton had a secret plan to make Osama bin Laden go away. Do you believe that? He couldn't even make Paula Jones go away. ... A Houston woman has been arrested for running over her husband three times. Ran him over three times and killed him with her Mercedes. The woman claims it was an accident. ... See, that shows you what a smooth ride the Mercedes is. ... A Yugoslavian man fell asleep in the water on a beach and had to be hospitalized after a barnacle attached itself to his penis. Let me tell you something. That's when you know your love life is dead … when you've got barnacles. ... In an operation that lasted more than 24 hours, a team of doctors at UCLA Medical Center was successfully able to separate Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. ... Madonna is thinking about writing a children's book. You want your daughter reading that? What the hell is that book going to be like? 'Then the elves tied up the witch and spanked her'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 8/7).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
NBC's Conan O'Brien: "The premiere of Anna Nicole Smith's new show was the most watched show ever on the E! network and was watched by 4.1 million viewers. Coincidentally, 4.1 million is also the age of Anna Nicole's current boyfriend. … The Wall Street Journal has apologized for mistakenly reporting that movie star Sylvester Stallone was overweight and currently weighed 228 pounds. The Journal also apologized for mistaking that Stallone was currently a movie star. … In Canada, police stopped a man because he was driving down the road while having sex with his girlfriend. Reportedly, both the police and the girlfriend accused the man of going too fast" ("Late Night," NBC, 8/7).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "L.A. officials have a plan to make stray cats and dogs at the pound cuter. They're going to dress them up in little sweaters, bow ties, and hats. It's all part of the new 'Adopt a Gay Pet' program. … On this day (yesterday) in 1887, the revolving door was patented. This is interesting. It was first installed in Joan Collins' bedroom" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 8/7).
Jon Stewart: "I watched on TV (Tuesday) night, the Anna Nicole Smith show on E!. And ah … um … normally, you know obviously, I have great respect for the people at E!. The "Wild On" series educates many young Americans to the world's geography. Who knew so many people in Bali liked to shake their asses? I didn't. But this show is an abomination and not because of her. She's helpless … but if I may make a suggestion to the people at E! … Put down the camera and help her. Like when you're filming, and all of a sudden she slurs and falls, put down the camera and say, 'You know, there's a phone number I can call for you. We can get you help.' And as far as the people who are doing this show … god bless … good luck in hell. And by the way, if you're wondering who will be in hell with you … Joan Rivers will be the one welcoming you and critiquing your hell outfit" ("The Daily Show," Comedy Central, 8/7).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with A's-Red Sox.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What are Wheaties?"
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