| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, October 10, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | USGA To Officially Announce Today Return To Bethpage's Black Course For '09 |
| • | GHO Execs To Hold Press Conference Today To Announce Future Plans |
| • | Wilson And Laimbeer To Discuss WNBA Shock's Future Today |
| • | Twins Set Attendance Record And 20,000 Show Up For WS Tickets In Anaheim |
| • | The Great One Gets His Day, And A Statue, In L.A. |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BACK IN BLACK: USGA TO ANNOUNCE RETURN TO BETHPAGE IN '09
The N.Y. TIMES reports USGA Exec Dir David Fay and NY Gov. George Pataki will host a press conference today at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, L.I., to officially announce that the U.S. Open with return to Bethpage State Park's Black Course in '09 (N.Y. TIMES, 10/10). Fay: "The open at the Black was a resounding success in every respect" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/10).
WITH OR WITHOUT A TITLE SPONSOR, GHO WILL BE HELD IN '03
GOLF WORLD BUSINESS reported that Greater Hartford Open and PGA Tour officials will hold a press conference today to announce that the '03 event will be held without a title sponsor, and instead "be funded … by a coalition of local sponsors putting up from $50,000 to several hundred thousand dollars each" (GOLF WORLD BUSINESS, 10/9).
However, the HARTFORD COURANT reports that "no definitive answers are expected" during today's press conference. Tournament Dir Dan Baker: "Nothing has been finalized. We just want to let people know where we're at and to give a timetable on what we hope to do" (HARTFORD COURANT, 10/10).
A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM: WNBA TEAM TO REMAIN IN DETROIT
The DETROIT NEWS reports that WNBA Shock officials "are expected to announce at a news conference today that the team will remain in Detroit for the coming season." Shock President Tom Wilson and coach Bill Laimbeer "will talk about the team's commitment to Detroit and address some league restructuring" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/10).
TWINS SET ANOTHER RECORD, ANGELS SURPRISED BY TURNOUT
The Twins set an attendance record of 55,990 during last night's ALCS Game Two against the Angels, and the ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that "two factors led to the ability to squeeze 428 more bodies into the Dome." First, the Vikings, "who control luxury suite sales, sold more for Wednesday's game than any of the first three playoff games, freeing up hundreds more admission tickets for the Twins to sell. Second, the Twins reduced the size of one of the auxiliary press boxes, freeing up dozens more seats to sell" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/10).
Meanwhile, the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that before leading the crowd in signing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame," MN Gov. Jesse Ventura said, "This is dedicated to Bud Selig" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/10).
The L.A. TIMES reports that "an unprecedented crowd of about 20,000" Angels fans arrived early yesterday morning at Edison Int'l Field "gambling on the chance to buy World Series tickets." The turnout "took Angel officials and Anaheim police by surprise" and the police "hurriedly called in about 80 officers – some in riot gear – to help manage the line." While the crowd "occasionally grew impatient, … sales were mostly orderly" (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).
THE KINGS GIVE GRETZKY HIS DUE IN RETIREMENT CEREMONY
The Kings paid tribute to former C Wayne Gretzky by retiring his jersey in a 30-minute ceremony prior to last night's season-opening game against the Coyotes. The L.A. DAILY NEWS called it "an inevitable but long-overdue gesture." Kings President Tim Leiweke, in a speech before unveiling a statue in Gretzky's likeness, said: "After three years of operation and 18 months to build, Staples Center is finally complete." Kings broadcaster Bob Miller, on Gretzky's significance: "I think he realizes his impact on the league and on fans. … Now, because of Wayne, it's in Texas, it's in Florida, it's in Georgia and Carolina and Arizona. That's the lasting impact he had on this league" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/10).
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: "Hockey can thrive in the South and in the West, and it's all because Wayne Gretzky came [to L.A.] in 1988" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/10). However, T.J. Simers jokes, "We've got Wayne Gretzky to thank for giving us the Mighty Ducks?" (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).
Each player on the Kings wore Gretzky's No. 99 during pregame warm-ups. The jerseys were later autographed by Gretzky and the players, and will be put up for auction (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).
BASEBALL CARD COMPANY TO UNVEIL SPANISH-LANGUAGE SET
USA TODAY reports that TX-based Donruss today "will unveil the first Spanish-language set of baseball cards." The set, entitled "Super Estrellas," which means superstars, will feature 225 cards and sell for $1.99 a pack, with an emphasis on Latin players. This year, nearly 23% of MLB players were born in Hispanic countries (USA TODAY, 10/10).
KORDELL STEWART TO TESTIFY TODAY IN STEINBERG v. DUNN
Steinberg v. Dunn is scheduled to resume at noon ET today in L.A. Federal Court with testimony from Steelers QB Kordell Stewart. For the latest update on the trial, please visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that the Pacers wore their road uniforms for last night's home preseason game against the Hornets because Reebok "hasn't provided" the Hornets with a road uniform yet (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/10).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena "has reached agreement in principle with the U.S. Soccer Federation on a new, four-year contract" believed to be "worth about $700,000 annually" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/10).
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that BET Founder Robert Johnson will meet today with District Sports and Entertainment officials to "discuss the future of major league baseball in the city and funding for a new ballpark" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/10).
ESPN Auctions today is offering NFL Giants memorabilia and experiences up for bid on eBay, with partial proceeds to benefit "Take the Field," a public-private partnership that is dedicated to rebuilding public school athletic facilities. Among the items up for bid are VIP tickets to a Giants game and a "Sunday NFL Countdown" experience. The auctions end on Friday (THE DAILY).
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports the Colts are facing a local TV blackout, which would end their streak of consecutive televised home games at 26. The game must be sold out by noon CT today to be televised locally. Colts Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Ray Compton said, "I don't see us making it" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/10).
TODAY'S EVENTS
The ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES reports that NBA Commissioner David Stern will attend a 9:00am ET breakfast meeting at the Asheville Country Club "to show support and dedication to the success of the NBDL" and "to rally support from local communities and businesses" (ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES, 10/10).
The Wizards will hold an open practice today at 9:00am ET at MCI Center. Team President Susan O'Malley will address fans, and all in attendance will receive a complementary ticket to tonight's 76ers-Wizards preseason game. In addition, the game will be Webcast, as will their second preseason game on October 14 at Philadelphia (THE DAILY).
ISC will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss fiscal Q3 '02 earnings at 9:00am ET. The call will be Webcast on the company's Web site (THE DAILY).
Heat President of Business Operations Eric Woolworth, Heat Exec VP/Heat Group Enterprises Mike Walker, ESPN sports commentator Al Bernstein and boxing trainer Angelo Dundee will attend a press conference at 11:00am ET at American Airlines Arena to announce the first event in their Miami Fight Night series (THE DAILY).
The Heat will hold a practice at the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In addition, F Brian Grant, F LaPhonso Ellis and assistant coach Bob McAdoo will lead a clinic for underprivileged children, and the entire team will meet Dominican President Hipolito Mejia at the presidential palace (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 10/10).
The National Sports Marketing Network will host a luncheon and discussion on "The Economics of NYC Sports" today at the Marriott Marquis in N.Y. from noon-3:00pm ET. The Daily's Editor-at-Large Terry Lefton will moderate a roundtable discussion featuring Jets President Jay Cross, MSG Sports Group President of Sports Team Operations Steve Mills, and NYC Marathon and NY Road Runners President Allan Steinfeld (THE DAILY).
The kick-off press conference for the 25th Anniversary LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will be held today at noon CT at the Hilton Chicago. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, LaSalle Bank President and CEO Norman Bobins and Exec Race Dir Cary Pinkowski will be in attendance (THE DAILY).
The Bucs will host "NFL 101," a three-hour seminar designed to instruct women on the game of football. Bucs coaches will act as instructors, and 600 women are expected to attend (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The AP reports that when the USPS "unveils its 2003 stamp subjects today" in CA, the list will include Walter Camp, Ernie Nevers, Red Grange and Bronco Nagurski (AP, 10/10).
The L.A. TIMES reports actor Sean Connery sued producer Peter Guber and Mandalay Pictures in L.A. County Superior Court "over the unraveling" of the film "End Game." Connery alleged that Mandalay "was 'nothing more than a house of cards,' using the film project to mask a precarious financial situation" (L.A. TIMES, 10/10).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "The Census."
"The 1930 U.S. Census was the first to ask if residents owned one of these and 12 million were counted."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "The subway fare is going up $0.50. For your $0.50, you get the full-body massage and aroma therapy. ... Actor Harrison Ford is now engaged to Calista Flockhart. Harrison Ford proposed to her and then he slipped the ring around her waist. ... For the last nine years in a row the Nobel Peace prize for medicine has gone
to ... the guy who invented Q-Tips. ... There was a flight from Thailand to (L.A.) and the cops took a guy off the plane because ... he was smuggling monkeys in his pants. ... Talk about a weird scene" ("Late Show," CBS, 10/9).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Signs You Are Too Fat" ("Late Show," CBS, 10/9).
| 10. | "Only thing you read: takeout menus." |
| 9. | "You've had a garage door installed in your bedroom." |
| 8. | "Got cable just for the food network." |
| 7. | "You skip your son's wedding because you don't want to miss the Blimpie's two-for-one sale." |
| 6. | "Red Cross changed your blood type from 'O' to 'Pancake Batter.'" |
| 5. | "Scientists won a Nobel Prize for measuring your gravitational pull." |
| 4. | "Blinking leaves you winded." |
| 3. | "You buy ham by the square foot." |
| 2. | "Southwest Airlines makes you buy three tickets." |
| 1. | "You start each day with a nice, steaming hot cup of gravy." |
TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley appeared last night on CBS' "Late Show." Barkley: "You know what's amazing. When you get arrested it's like in big, bold letters and when you get acquitted it's in those teeny-weeny, little letters. That always pissed me off." Barkley, on his gambling: "I'm trying to lose all my money because my family is freeloaders and I don't want to leave it to them" ("Late Show," CBS, 10/9).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "This is national "Get Organized Week." I'm sorry, that was last week. … A man from Thailand was stopped at an airport after attempting to smuggle eight monkeys down his pants. Eight monkeys in his pants, or as Michael Jackson likes to call it, a romantic weekend. … In order to save money, Frito Lay will be putting four or five less chips in each bag. At least that's what the fat guy on the assembly line is saying. … A new study shows 20% of all American children are overweight. It has gotten so bad that teachers have started sleeping with other teachers" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 10/9).
NBC's Conan O'Brien: "It was reported today that apparently in the next month, the Republican party is going to make a serious push to attract Latino voters. President Bush said, 'After we get the Latino voters, we are going to go after the Hispanic voters.' … Rapper Snoop Dogg has announced he is giving up smoking marijuana. As a result, he now has 16 free hours a day. … Chris Judd, Jennifer Lopez' ex-husband, has announced he's launching a new career as an action star, and says he's going to be 'the next Vin Diesel.' Judd says if that doesn't work, he's just going to marry Vin Diesel. … A new medical study claims that 64% of Americans are now overweight. The good news is the other 36% are chubby chasers, so everyone's happy ("Late Show," NBC, 10/9).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Rangers-Hurricanes, followed by Stars-Avalanche.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What are radios?"
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