Morning Buzz, October 16, 2002

DICK'S READIES FOR ITS INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that the IPO of Findlay, PA-based Dick's Sporting Goods (Symbol: DKS) "is expected to begin this morning when the bell rings" on the NYSE. Dick's originally announced its intention to go public back in July, "just before the beginning of the longest initial public offering drought in 25 years" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/16). The IPO was priced at $12 per share on Tuesday night, "below an expected range of $15 to $18" (QUICKEN.com, 10/15).

OFFICIAL TO LAUNCH INQUIRY INTO POSSIBLE BREACH BY BENGALS

The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that Hamilton County (OH) Commissioner Todd Portune this morning will "call for the county to renegotiate its Paul Brown stadium lease" with the 0-6 Bengals. Pointing to a clause in the lease that states a one-half percent increase in the county's sales tax was needed to "keep competitive and viable major league football and baseball teams in Cincinnati" by building facilities, Portune will "ask if the Bengals are in breach of contract for failing to field a competitive team" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 10/16).

PAC BELL WORLD SERIES TICKETS GO ON SALE TODAY

MLB.com reported that a "total of 14,000 tickets for all three potential World Series games at Pacific Bell Park will be up for grabs" today, beginning at 10:00am PT. The available tickets will be sold online and through phones (510-762-2277), as well as at the Pacific Bell Park ticket windows. While fans began queuing up at ticket windows last Friday, the MLB Giants have issued wristbands and will conduct a lottery for tickets (MLB.com, 10/14). The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reports that tickets cost $60-175, and fans can purchase up to four tickets (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/16).

The AP reports that on Monday "there was a 90-minute wait to get into the Angels gift shop" at Edison Int'l Field. Additionally, "about 75 fans lined up outside the park, hoping returned tickets from other teams would be put on sale" (AP, 10/16).

BETTMAN TO TALK WITH GOLISANO TODAY REGARDING SABRES

The ROCHESTER DEMOCRACT & CHRONICLE reports that prospective Sabres owner B. Thomas Golisano "is scheduled to have further talks" with the NHL today as the "league is prepared to set a deadline for groups to submit bids" to purchase the team. The discussion is "expected to take place over the phone" and "will be a follow-up to a meeting" Golisano had with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on October 4 (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/16).

SPORTS LAW: DAVID DUNN; BOB CLARKE LIKELY TO TAKE THE STAND

Steinberg v. Dunn continues today in L.A. Federal Court and the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reported that Anita Wortzman, a former corporate secretary of Assante Corp., testified yesterday that Brian Murphy, two days after joining David Dunn in resigning from Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn, told her that "any legal action (against Dunn and Murphy) would result in the release of embarrassing information about the firm and its leader, Leigh Steinberg." Today's witnesses will be either David Dunn or Assante General Counsel/Sports David Cornwell. For the latest on the trial, please visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that Flyers President Bob Clarke is due on the witness stand in Atlantic County (NJ) Civil Court today as former Flyers D Dave Babych's lawsuit against Comcast-Spectacor and Flyers team physician Arthur Bartolozzi continues. Babych contends the Flyers "cut short his career by two or three seasons" by "coercing him to play" when he was injured (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/16).

JERRY BUSS RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER COLLAPSE

Lakers Owner Jerry Buss was released from the hospital early this morning. Buss was hospitalized "after he collapsed when he apparently tore a neck muscle at a fund-raising dinner." Lakers spokesperson Bob Steiner said, "When I talked to him, he seemed fine. He's a little bit embarrassed by it all" (AP, 10/16).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

NEWSDAY reports that "reaction from fans, players and the rest of the league" has made the Islanders' Ice Girls – a "combination cheerleading/cleaning squad on skates" one of the "hottest acts on ice." The brainchild of Islanders Dir of Game Operations Tim Beach, the team has been contacted by about six other franchises "about starting their own Ice Girls squad" (NEWSDAY, 10/16).

KRIV-Fox in Houston reported last night that Big 12 Associate Commissioner Britton Banowsky has been offered the commissioner's job with Conference USA (Mult., 10/16).

MLB Exec VP/Operations Sandy Alderson is interviewed in today's OAKLAND TRIBUNE and is asked how MLB can "become the national pastime again." Alderson: "Baseball is followed by the average fan differently than football. They follow it by reading boxscores, playing fantasy baseball. Baseball needs to get back to the game on the field. This is the first mutually agreed upon collective bargaining agreement in years. We need to get away from the game off the field" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 10/16).

Nike said it "is experiencing delays delivering some of its products" in the U.S. "as a result of the recent West Coast port closures, which may result in delays receiving revenue or order cancellations" (REUTERS, 10/16).

The DENVER POST reports that residents of Breckenridge, CO, are "outraged at what they see as drug references" found on Breckenridge ski resort's Web site. On Monday, text on the site read: "At Breck, everyone has a stash. And if you're lucky, you might just get someone to reveal their favorite line to you." Local innkeeper Niki Harris, on the text: "It has all to do with cocaine" (DENVER POST, 10/16).

The NFL trading deadline passed yesterday and ESPN.com noted that "for the fifth time in the past eight years, there were no deadline-day swaps." Most of the GMs and personnel directors said that there "wasn't even much trade discussion during the day." There have now been only 12 deadline trades since '90 (ESPN.com, 10/15).

TODAY'S EVENTS

Fox Sports President Ed Goren along with analysts Kevin Kennedy and Tim McCarver and announcer Joe Buck will participate in a 1:00pm ET conference call discussing the '02 World Series (THE DAILY).

The Hornets and Cox Communications will hold an 11:30am ET press conference at the New Orleans Arena to officially announce the team's new TV schedule. Hornets Owner George Shinn, F P.J. Brown and Cox Communications VP & GM Greg Bicket will participate (THE DAILY).

The Mavericks will host their Select-A-Seat Day from 10:00am-8:00pm CT. The Mavs Dancers will sign autographs all day and an open practice will be help from noon-2:00pm (THE DAILY).

Molson Canadian has scheduled a 1:00pm ET news conference at the Tijuana Yacht Club in Winnipeg to announce that a major sporting event is coming to the city (THE DAILY).

The 76ers will hold "Hoops Hysteria" at 3:30pm ET at the Liacouras Center on the Temple Univ. campus. The afternoon will include a closed coaches' clinic, followed by an open 76ers practice and a co-ed scrimmage between the Temple men's and women's basketball teams (THE DAILY).

Sports Media Canada will recognize football and hockey commentator Don Wittman as broadcaster of the year at their annual awards luncheon in Toronto (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

AOL announced Tuesday that it will stop selling pop-up ads. AOL Chair & CEO Jon Miller said, "This new policy will contribute to our most important goal – a better member experience." The decision will cost AOL "$30 million next year of its $1.5 billion ad and commerce revenue" (USA TODAY, 10/16). AOL will continue running the pop-up ads "until it fulfills certain contractual commitments" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/16).

The N.Y. TIMES' Stuart Elliott today writes of "some of the highlights, lowlights and sidelights from the 2002 conference of the Association of National Advertisers," which was held in Naples, FL, this past weekend (N.Y. TIMES, 10/16).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports, "In an effort to create a deeper connection with consumers, companies are increasingly trying to associate themselves with worthy causes. But as `cause marketing' becomes more popular, advertising critics and advocacy groups are questioning the companies' motivation" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/16).

FINAL JEOPARDY

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Fields of Science."

The answer was, "Ludwig Prandtl, an expert in wind tunnel and wing design, is called 'The Father of' this aviation-related field."

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "I had a bad subway experience this morning. I'm on the subway coming to work and the guy sitting next to me starts giving me his eight simple rules for dating him. ... Mayor Bloomberg celebrated Columbus Day by having lunch with the cast of 'The Sopranos' ... and things were going great, I guess, until Ralphie got whacked." Letterman, on being No. 17 on Entertainment Weekly's `100 Most Powerful in Show Business' list: "I'm right between Dr. Phil and Spongebob. ... I thought, 'Well, that's kind of exciting to be on the `100 Most Powerful in Show Business' list and I'm 17.' I haven't seen the list. CBS wouldn't let me get a subscription" ("The Late Show," CBS, 10/15).

NBC's Jay Leno: "We have an all (CA) World Series. ... The Angels, of course, represent the (AL). The Giants represent the (NL). The Dodgers are going to be working the concession stand. ... (S.F.) versus Anaheim. It's like 'The Fog' versus 'The Smog.' ... It's a little bit of a conflict for the guys up in (S.F.). What do they do on Thursday? Do you watch the World Series or 'Will And Grace?' … The Twins ... were shocked the other night when they got beat (by the Angels). They said that was the most embarrassing thing to happen in (MN) since the Vikings. ... (Monday), the Cincinnati Bengals were beaten at home by their wives. ... Sex toys are now legal in the state of (AL) and I'll tell you something, the whole state is buzzing. ... Porn star Jenna Jameson ... has received a six-figure advance to write a book called 'How To Make Love Like A Porn Star.' Why would you buy this book? How many guys would just rather rent the video? Do you think women will buy this? Women already know how to make love like a porn star. Just fake it" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 10/15).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

CBS' Craig Kilborn: "Today in Iraq they held their big presidential election, and somehow, Al Gore lost again. Saddam Hussein received over 99% of the popular vote, and is still demanding a recount. … This weekend I saw Madonna's new movie 'Swept Away,' and you know things are bad when a woman is demanding a refund at the ticket counter, and it's Madonna. … Actor Nick Cage has sold his comic book collection for $1.6M. In a related story, President Bush had his secretary hold all his calls today " ("Late Late Show," 10/15).

Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "This weekend's (Columbus Day) Festivities were marred by scandal, as N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg chose to skip the parade because his invited guests, two cast members from the hit TV series 'The Sopranos' were told they could not attend. … They were barred from the parade because the organizers felt that their show reinforces negative stereotypes about Italian-Americans; namely, that they are all in the Mafia, and that they are not all that interesting this season" ("Daily Show," Comedy Central, 10/15).

NBC's Conan O'Brien: "Big elections today in Iraq … the only candidate was Saddam Hussein. So far exit polls show that Saddam was doing very well with voters who want to continue to live. … Geraldo Rivera, big important journalist, that's not the funny part, was spotted at a Hooters restaurant signing autographs for waitresses on their rear ends. Apparently, the waitresses came up to him and asked 'would you sign our Geraldos?" … The new Madonna film, 'Swept Away,' had its opening weekend; it took in only $375K. Producers blame the low box office on strong word of mouth. … Later this month, tennis star Serena Williams will make her debut as an actress on an ABC sitcom. Not to be outdone, later this month Anna Kournikova will make her debut as a tennis player" (Late Night," NBC, 10/15).

TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

Last night's 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with a World Series preview, followed by Flyers-Canadiens and Maple Leafs-Rangers.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What is aerodynamics?"

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