| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, October 8, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | NBA BOG To Discuss Possible Return To Charlotte Today |
| • | After Contraction Threat, Will Bud Selig Show Up For ALCS Games In MN? |
| • | Fox Bumps MLB To Be The Only Broadcast Net To Carry President’s Speech |
| • | Depositions To Begin In NFLPA Collusion Inquiry Against Vikings And Chiefs |
| • | Phoenix Radio Personality Fired Over Flynn Kile Prank Call |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NBA TO DISCUSS TODAY PLACING TEAM BACK IN CHARLOTTE
The AP reports that the NBA BOG will discuss returning to Charlotte for the ’04-05 season during a meeting today in N.Y. Prospective Charlotte owner Steve Belkin, on today’s meeting: “I know they are going to bring it up for discussion and we’re quite optimistic that it’s going to be favorable. Our hope is that they might even consider voting on it at the meeting.” While NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik will “outline Charlotte’s progress to the NBA owners,” NBA Senior Dir of Sports Media Relations Tim Frank said, “There is no plan to vote on expanding that I know of” (AP, 10/8). Meanwhile, the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports, “A tentative deal reached between Charlotte and NBA negotiators has the city paying to build an uptown arena, with a new team operating the building and making all the money off it” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/8).
COMMISSIONER, PRESS TO KEEP TWINS FROM ATTENDANCE MARKS
The ALCS begins tonight with Game One between the Angels-Twins, starting at 8:00pm ET on Fox, and the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that “a few scattered single and obstructed-view tickets remain” for the game at the Metrodome, after “about 11,000 tickets were sold in 2 ½ hours Monday morning” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/8).
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that while the Twins set a single-game attendance mark with 55,960 fans in ALDS Game Four against the A’s, the team “had to convert about 450 seats in the upper deck of the right field corner into auxiliary press seating, bringing capacity well under 56,000.” Meanwhile, the Twins “have added about 60 seats near the visitor dugout to accommodate Commissioner Bud Selig,” and members of the league office, but “no one was sure if Selig would attend today’s game” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/8).
Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Rick Reilly, on Disney’s interest in keeping a minority share of the Angels: "I love the fact that all of a sudden Michael Eisner wants back into the Angels. All year he didn't want anything to do with it. Now he'd like to kind of own part of the team again. 'Yeah, thanks for sticking right by our backs, Mike'" ("The Last Word," FSN, 10/7).
Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON POST’s Thomas Boswell wonders, “Do you think Eisner has any bonuses tied to Angels performance?” (WASHINGTON POST, 10/8).
FOX DELAYS NLDS GAME TO CARRY PRESIDENT’S SPEECH
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes Fox Sports “persuaded [MLB] to delay last night’s divisional series game by 14 minutes so it could air President Bush’s speech on Iraq – even though none of the other three major broadcast networks carried the speech and the White House did not request airtime.” President Bush’s speech began at 8:01pm ET, delaying the opening pitch of the Giants-Braves game until 8:31pm. Fox Sports Chair David Hill said the affils let Fox know “they were going to run [the speech] come what may, so … let’s make a virtue out of necessity” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 10/8).
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports announced attendance at Turner Field for Giants-Braves NLDS Game Five was 45,203, “nearly 5,000 below capacity” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/8).
VIKINGS VP TO BE DEPOSED TODAY IN NFLPA’S COLLUSION INQUIRY
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that Vikings VP/Football Operations Rob Brzezinksi is “scheduled to give a deposition” today in the NFLPA’s collusion inquiry against the team. The NFLPA announced August 13 that is was investigating the Vikings and Chiefs on suspicion the teams improperly exchanged information about their respective first-round picks, Bryant McKinnie and Ryan Sims. Sims has since been signed, but Chiefs officials will be deposed next week nonetheless. If guilty of collusion, the teams could be fined or lose draft picks or both (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/8).
NETS KIDD ADORNS GOTHAM BILLBOARD TO PROMOTE VIDEO GAME
The Bergen RECORD reports that Nets G Jason Kidd is now featured on a 30-foot-tall billboard in downtown Manhattan at 49th Street and Seventh Avenue, "promoting a new video game for which he is the cover boy." Kidd's billboard will back EA Sports' new '03 NBA Live video game, which hits the market today and it is "the most tangible evidence of his and the Nets' newfound marketability" (Bergen RECORD, 10/8).
CROSS-EXAMINATION OF STEINBERG TO CONTINUE TODAY IN L.A.
Cross-examination of agent Leigh Steinberg is expected to continue today at noon ET when Steinberg v. Dunn resumes in an L.A. Federal Court (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The Riverside (CA) PRESS-ENTERPRISE reports The Home Depot National Training Center “will host the 2003 MLS All-Star game and MLS Cup 2003.” The 27,000-seat soccer-specific stadium will be the home of the MLS Galaxy (Riverside PRESS-ENTERPRISE, 10/8).
The NFL announced that games for the week of September 30-October 6 were the top-rated programs in 16 NFL markets, up from ten markets in Week Five last season. The combined overnight Nielsen rating for the games was up 2%, registering a 38.5, as compared to a 37.6 a year ago (THE DAILY). To view the entire chart, click here.
The DAYTON DAILY NEWS reports that wrecking crews yesterday “began demolishing” Cinergy Field. The stadium “is to be toppled” December 29 to make room for Great American Ball Park, which is scheduled to open in April ’03 (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 10/8).
The L.A. TIMES reports that the two fans fighting for control of Barry Bonds’ 73rd HR ball have “agreed to let a mediator make the ownership call” as their civil trial was set to open. Former Contra Costa Judge Coleman Fannin will mediate the dispute and will “meet with the parties Wednesday” (L.A. TIMES, 10/8).
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that Phoenix radio station KUPD-FM has fired morning radio show personality Beau Duran for his prank phone call to Flynn Kile, the widow of former MLB Cardinals P Darryl Kile (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/8).
The Radio-Television News Directors Association honored the 74 Edward R. Murrow Award winners at a ceremony last night in N.Y. To see the complete list of winners, click here (THE DAILY).
TODAY’S EVENTS
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will speak today to the Economic Club of Indianapolis at noon CT at the Indiana Convention Center (THE DAILY).
Bills President & GM Tom Donahoe will give a speech at the Saturn Club in Buffalo at 8:00am ET (THE DAILY).
The Bills will kick off their fourth annual Rush for Reading Challenge at Black Rock Academy Public School 51 from 10:30-11:15am ET. QB Drew Bledsoe and other Bills representatives will be present. In addition, the Bills will host a bowling and pizza party from 4:30-6:30pm for children with physical and emotional challenges at the Airport Lanes in Cheektowaga, NY. LBs London Fletcher and Eddie Robinson and DT Pat Williams will attend (THE DAILY).
The Lions will host 100 at-risk males at their practice facility in Allen Park from 1:00-3:00pm ET as part of the NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle. QB Ty Detmer, WR Desmond Howard, LB Chris Claiborne, S Lamar Campbell and mascot Roary will participate (THE DAILY).
Seahawks players and staff will plant flowers and build and paint shelves at the Kindering Center in Bellevue, WA, from 10:00am-2:00pm PT as part of the NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/8).
Colts DT Brad Scioli and LB Donnel Thompson will be at Washington Middle School from 3:00-4:00pm ET as part of the NFL/United Way Hometown Huddle. The players will lead students in after-school art activities (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/8).
Redskins LB Jeremiah Trotter, OT Chris Samuels, DT Daryl Gardener, TE Walter Rasby, LB Eddie Mason and other team members will participate in building a community playground at the Wellington Park apartment complex in southeast DC at 11:00am ET (THE DAILY).
The Jets and Giants today will host 200 children who were affected by the American Airlines flight 587 crash in Belle Harbor, NY last November 12. The event will take place at the Highbridge Recreation Center in Washington Heights from 11:00am-1:00pm ET. Jets Owner Woody Johnson and Giants co-Owner Robert Tisch will speak at the event (THE DAILY).
Vikings players and coaches will help open the field at North Commons Park in Minneapolis. In addition, the Vikings will also hold a clothing and household goods drive from noon-1:30pm CT (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/8).
49ers WR J.J. Stokes, T Scott Gragg, CB Mike Rumph and other players will join with volunteers to build a playground at St. Elizabeth’s day home in San Jose from 11:00am-1:00pm PT (THE DAILY).
The Nashville Sports Council will host a face-off luncheon for the Predators at the Nashville Convention Center from noon-1:30pm CT. The entire team will be in attendance (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
EchoStar Communications Corp. said it is prepared to make “major revisions” to save its $18B bid for Hughes Electronics Corp. from “near-certain rejection by federal regulators” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/8).
MSNBC President Erik Sorenson said he is not concerned about the future of his network and told the INDIANAPOLIS STAR, "Television is one of the most changeable, cyclical, organic, crazy businesses there is. ... Fox is No. 1 now, and CNN's No. 2, and we're No. 3, but five years from now it could be upside down" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/8).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Movie Music.”
“The end credits for this 1998 film with Woody Allen feature the song ‘High Hopes.’”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman:"Dinner for two in (N.Y.): $100. Hansom cab ride through Central Park: $50. Yankees World Series tickets: worthless. ... Before I came out here I was just backstage watching TV and Joe Torre just brought in another pitcher. ... Don't kid yourselves. The Yankees now have really dug themselves into a hole. ... No team, which was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, has ever gone on to win the World Series. ... The Yankees lost earlier (yesterday), so Mayor Bloomberg made good on his bet and sent the mayor of Anaheim a kilo of primo weed. ... Mother Teresa has had her first miracle confirmed. So now all she needs is a second miracle confirmed, in order to be considered for sainthood. So she needs one more miracle and I'm thinking, Well, hell, what about a win for the Jets?” (“The Late Show,” CBS, 10/7).
NBC’s Jay Leno, on the Angels defeating the Yankees: "George Steinbrenner is gone. One dictator down, one to go. ... (The Yankees) said this was the most embarrassing thing to happen to (N.Y.) since the Mets." Leno: "Earlier (yesterday), President Bush made a primetime speech to the nation from Cincinnati. He was in Cincinnati to declare (Paul Brown Stadium) a federal disaster area. ... President Bush said (last night) there are three reasons we need to go to war right now: the Dow Jones, the NASDAQ and the S&P 500. ... The three major networks – NBC, CBS and ABC – refused to give Bush airtime. Isn't that amazing – that ABC is still a major network? ... NBC said they would air the speech but only if our President, Martin Sheen, delivered it. ... Al Gore has put on so much weight, his Secret Service code name is now Anna Nicole. ... Mike Tyson is in the middle of a divorce settlement in which he is pleading that he is broke. Tyson claims he wasted all his money on cars and women. Cars and women! That's not wasted money. The money spent on therapy that looks like it was wasted! ... Hugh Hefner says he'd like to see more articles in Playboy and less naked women. Well, that's it folks. He's now gay! Hef has gone gay! If they can get Hef, they can get anybody! ("Tonight Show," NBC, 10/7).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s “Top Ten” was “Top Ten Signs Your Neighbor Is a Cannibal (“The Late Show,” CBS, 10/7).
| 10) | “You see repairmen go in, but you never really see them come out.” |
| 9) | “Your name: Lou Levy; recipe on his refrigerator: ‘Lou Levy Almondine.’” |
| 8) | “Lives alone, yet at his garage sale, had men’s and women’s shoes in most sizes.” |
| 7) | “Asks if sailors count as seafood.” |
| 6) | “Sues Denny’s for false advertising over its so-called ‘Lumberjack Breakfast.’” |
| 5) | “Calls his hot tub ‘the slow cooker.’” |
| 4) | “On Halloween, he always has extremely realistic skeletons on the porch.” |
| 3) | “You ask for a beer, he replies, ‘They’re in the fridge next to Steve.’” |
| 2) | “Says, ‘I’m in the mood for a Mexican…uh, I mean Mexican.’” |
| 1) | “The ‘pork shoulder’ he serves is wearing a wristwatch.” |
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “This Friday Barbara Walters is going to interview Fidel Castro on ‘20/20.’ Me and my buddies are going to play a little drinking game; you have to do a shot every time she says ‘Castwo.’ … A new study has found that boys raised by a single domineering woman are worse at socializing, competing and confrontation, but they are way better at cooking a pumpkin tortellini to die for. … In Spain, they’ve launched a campaign to reduce street noise by hiring mimes to gesture for people to be quiet. It seems to be working. Any time police ask, ‘Who beat up the mime?’ nobody says anything” (“Late Late Show,” 10/7).
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 12:00am ET "SportsCenter" led with Knicks F Latrell Sprewell being fined $250,000 by the team for failing to report an offseason injury.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is ‘Antz?’”
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