| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, September 23, 2002
9:00am ET | |
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| • | NBC's Olympic Coverage Helps Boost Network's Emmy Haul |
| • | ESPN Campus Continues To Grow, Wellness Center Next Amenity To Be Added |
| • | Detroit Hosts Combined NFL, MLB Afternoon Games For First Time In 27 Years |
| • | Reds Play Last Home Game In Riverfront/Cinergy And Remember The Past |
| • | President Bush Closes Out Second Season Of White House T-Ball |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Weekend Box Office |
'02 SALT LAKE OPENING CEREMONY WINS SEVEN EMMY AWARDS
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that NBC's broadcast of the Opening Ceremony of the '02 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City won a total of seven Emmys, "more than any other program." Meanwhile, the net delivered an "unexpectedly strong showing" at last night's 54th annual Primetime Emmy Awards. While HBO had an "industry-leading" 93 nominations, NBC "ended up on top" last night with nine top awards. When totaled with the Creative Arts Awards given September 14, HBO and NBC tied with 24 total awards. CBS finished with eight, Fox with seven and A&E with six (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/23).
USA TODAY reports that NBC's broadcast last night "wasn't awful … it was just too long and too dull" (USA TODAY, 9/23).
To view the complete list of winners, click here.
RAPID EXPANSION IN BRISTOL AS ESPN CAMPUS CONTINUES GROWTH
The HARTFORD COURANT reports that ESPN will file paperwork today for the purchase of a Bristol, CT, facility that they plan to turn into "wellness center on their rapidly expanding campus." The sale brings the total number of buildings occupied by ESPN to seven, with "two more … under construction, and a variety of previously purchased homes and commercial buildings await demolition." ESPN Dir of Communications Mike Soltys said, "It was an important piece of property for us to fully develop our master plan for the campus. In the short term, it offers us a chance to improve the amenities we offer employees" (HARTFORD COURANT, 9/23).
BUSY SPORTS SUNDAY IN MOTOWN WITH KEY TIGERS, LIONS GAMES
The DETROIT NEWS reports that the "streets of Detroit were filled Sunday with sports fans who came downtown for the first regular season home game at Ford Field, and the Tigers final home game of the year at the Comerica Park" (DETROIT NEWS, 9/23). The DETROIT FREE PRESS reports that it was "the first time in 27 years" that Detroit was "truly home to its baseball and football namesakes," as the Tigers drew 23,930 hosting the Yankees, in a special noon ET start, while 61,505 attended the regular season opener of Ford Field between the Packers and Lions (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/23).
REDS BID FAREWELL TO RIVERFRONT/CINERGY FIELD
The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that 40,964 fans attended Sunday's Phillies-Reds game, the last game at Cinergy Field. In its 32 seasons, Riverfront/Cinergy hosted 2,572 games with over 65 million fans in attendance. Sunday's game "was mostly a footnote to the day-long pageant designed to celebrate the past and greet the future." The Reds new park will be the $280M Great American Ball Park (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/23). Meanwhile, as reported in Friday's Closing Bell, the final public event at Cinergy Field will be a softball game tonight between former Reds and ex-major leaguers (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/23).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The THOROUGHBRED TIMES reported that the 12-day Keeneland September sale "ended on Saturday with gross receipts of $210,802,500, which marked the fourth highest total in the sale's history but a 17.1% decrease from last year's sale." Overall, 2,934 of the 3,840 yearlings were sold at an average price of $71,850. Last year, the horses average sale price was $87,803 (THOROUGHBRED TIMES, 9/22).
As noted in Friday's Closing Bell, the Coyotes held an open house on Saturday where fans could watch the team's practice, and also select their seats and purchase season tickets. The club announced that it sold 260 ticket packages during the event, or the equivalent of 150 full season tickets (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/22).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that President Bush "closed out the second season of his White House T-ball league yesterday." T-ball Commissioner Cal Ripken said he would serve another season if asked, "I think it's one of the coolest things" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/23).
The Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL reports that D'Rays 3B Russ Johnson, "who returned from a midseason bout of depression as a born-again Christian, intends to ask club chairman Vince Naimoli to drop the word 'Devil' from the team's nickname." Johnson: "There's no use honoring that part of the spirit. … I just don't think he needs to be put up on a pedestal by any means" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 9/22).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports "only 28,890 tickets were distributed" for the Chargers-Cardinals games, making it the franchise's "smallest crowd for a home opener" since '63 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/23).
TODAY'S EVENTS
A delegation from the Int'l Softball Federation will meet with IOC President Jacques Rogge today in Lausanne, Switzerland, to discuss the recommendation by the IOC Program Commission to exclude softball from the '08 Olympic Games in Beijing (THE DAILY).
Bulls Chair Jerry Reinsdorf and Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) will hold a press conference at the Park District Building in Foss Park in North Chicago at 12:30pm CT to announce plans for a basketball court renovation project. Coach Bill Cartwright, broadcaster Jim Paxson and C Tyson Chandler will also be in attendance (THE DAILY).
Chargers QB Drew Brees, S Rodney Harrison, RB LaDainian Tomlinson, WR Curtis Conway and other players will hand out shoes to underprivileged children today at four Payless Shoe Source locations in S.D. from 9:00-11:00am PT (THE DAILY).
NASCAR driver Jeff Burton will visit Kernersville (NC) Elementary School at 11:00am ET to announce the beginning of a statewide literacy program, "Race To Read" (THE DAILY).
The Hornets Caravan tour will make stops in Shreveport and Bossier City, LA, today with appearances by F P.J. Brown and play-by-play announcer Bob Licht. The tour continues tomorrow when F Kirk Haston and TV/radio analyst Gerry Vaillancourt will appear in Alexandria (THE DAILY).
EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Below are this week's confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THE DAILY).
| DATE | TICKER | COMPANY | QUARTER |
| 9/23 | VANS | Vans | Q1 2003 |
| |
IN OTHER NEWS….
This week's cover of TIME offers "The Legacy of Abraham." Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines organic foods under the headline, "Should You Buy Organic?" (THE DAILY).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that as the '02-03 broadcast TV buying season begins today, "consensus choices as hits in the making" are NBC's "American Dreams" and CBS' "CSI: Miami." Fox's "30 Seconds to Fame" and ABC's "Less Than Perfect" have been "labeled as likely losers" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/23).
A government survey to be released today shows that "almost all" U.S. families live in areas where a high-speed Internet connection is available, but "many see no compelling reason" to pay extra for it. The report cites a "need for more music, movies and games" in order to make broadband connections more popular (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/23).
MTV bought the "financially troubled" College Television Network for $15M in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year (N.Y. TIMES, 9/21).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Historic Objects."
"It's the historic object seen here."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
NBC's Jay Leno: "If (President) Bush wants Congress' support for attacking Iraq, you know what he should do? He should remind Congress that in Iraq, they stone adulterers to death. ... One of the men arrested (in Buffalo for being a suspected terrorist) listed his occupation as telemarketer. Forget the terrorism. That alone should get him life in prison. ... The Catholic Church is expected to settle for $10(M) in the case of Father Gagan, who molested over 86 people. $10(M) will be split among 86 people. The church called it a fair settlement. Michael Jackson called it a real bargain. ... Two shirtless, tattooed fans – if you can call them that – a father and his 15-year old son jumped out on the field (and) physically attacked the (K.C.) Royals first base coach. I know it sounds bad, but hey, how many dads take the time to take their son to a ballgame? ... Delta Airlines is in a lot of trouble for accidentally shipping a dead body to Greece, instead of Mexico, where it was intended to go. The flight attendant said she suspected something was wrong when she kept whacking the guy in the knee with the beverage cart and he didn't respond. ... The fall TV season has started. Woody Allen has a new show coming out. It's called, '8 Simple Rules For Dating My Own Teenage Daughter.' ... There's a new book out called 'That Bitch In The House.' It's a collection of stories by women about all the stress in their daily lives. It's a follow up to the number one best-seller, 'That Bastard On The Couch'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 9/20).
SUNDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 12:00am ET "SportsCenter" led with Chiefs-Patriots.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that it was a "sterling weekend" at the box office, as the estimated total for the top 12 films was up a "sensational 61% from the comparable frame" a year ago. After an eight-week streak of "down" sessions, this marks the second consecutive "up" weekend (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/23).
| Title | This Weekend | Cumulative |
| Barbershop | $13.3M | $38.9M |
| The Banger Sisters | $10.3M | $10.3M |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding | $10M | $124.3M |
| Ballistic: Eks Vs. Sever | $7.1M | $7.1M |
| The Four Feathers | $7.1M | $7.1M |
| One Hour Photo | $4.7M | $21.8M |
| Stealing Harvard | $3.5M | $10.8M |
| Swimfan | $3.4M | $24.4M |
| Trapped | $3.2M | $3.2M |
| City by the Sea | $2M | $20.2M |
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FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is Plymouth Rock?"
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