Morning Buzz, October 23, 2002

ARBITRATOR HEARS ARGUMENTS ON ALBERTA'S NHL PLAYER TAX

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that an arbitration hearing will continue in Chicago today between the NHL and NHLPA over the "controversial players tax implemented by the Alberta government this season." Oilers President Patrick Laforge and Flames President Ken King are scheduled to testify. After a "contentious day" yesterday "in which opening arguments were heard" by arbitrator Joan Parker, "it is clear this issue will not be resolved for some time" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/23).

MASTERCARD HOPES TONIGHT'S “MOMENTS” WILL BE PRICELESS

MasterCard's MLB Memorable Moments campaign concludes tonight before Game Four of the World Series with a ceremony unveiling the top ten moments as selected by fan balloting. USA TODAY notes that Cal Ripken Jr. breaking Lou Gehrig's consecutive games-played streak in '95 "is expected to win the voting" (USA TODAY, 10/23).

The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports Pete Rose was invited by MLB to participate in tonight's program, "only the second time since his lifetime ban" Rose will be allowed to attend an official event. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig said, "The fans vote for the most memorable moment. This is only a fans vote, and I'm certainly not going to get in the way of that" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/23).

The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER's John Levesque jokes, "The vote here for most memorable baseball moment will be tomorrow's telecast of Game Five, only because it should be the first game in months without a reminder that the MasterCard [MLB] Memorable Moments winner will be announced tonight before Game Four. If ever a promotion became more unwelcome than a Troy Percival fastball under the chin, this was it" (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/23).

Meanwhile, the L.A. TIMES reports that 57,000 disposable cameras that "were supposed to be given away to fans tonight" as part of the MasterCard promo are stuck on a ship harbored outside L.A.. CA entrepreneur Mitch Tendler was told his shipment of cameras would not be unloaded in time to make the game, even as "unionized dockworkers Tuesday volunteered to unload the container on their off time" (L.A. TIMES, 10/23).

SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS TO RESPOND TO SHAREHOLDER SUIT

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI) will respond today to the legal action taken against NASCAR by SMI shareholder Francis Ferko. Ferko's lawsuit claims NASCAR "has failed to deliver a promised second Winston Cup date to Texas Motor Speedway, along with claims of alleged anti-trust violations" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/23).

CUBS AND CITY OF CHICAGO COULD REACH WRIGLEY DEAL TODAY

The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that the Cubs and the City of Chicago plan to meet today "to iron out final details of an agreement to landmark Wrigley Field that could pave the way for an elusive deal" on ballpark expansion. Cubs VP/Business Operations Mark McGuire said, "I'm optimistic, but we've been here before and not quite gotten it done." In addition to adding bleacher seats, the club is hoping to phase in additional night games (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/23).

TITLE IX HEARINGS CONTINUE TODAY AFTER YESTERDAY'S DEBATE

The third of four public hearings on Title IX scheduled by the U.S. Dept. of Education continues today in CO Springs, CO, and the ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that yesterday the 15-member Commission on Opportunity in Athletics heard testimony from USOC President Marty Mankamyer and reps from three other Olympic sports (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 10/23). The AP noted that "members of the public offered passionate testimony both for and against legislation" yesterday afternoon (AP, 10/22). About 100 people attended yesterday's hearing (CO Springs GAZETTE, 10/23).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Steinberg v. Dunn continues today in L.A. Federal Court, and the next witnesses scheduled to testify are Joby Branion, an agent who left agent Leigh Steinberg's firm for the start-up Athletes First, and Wycliffe Grousbeck, a prospective owner of the Celtics, who considered investing in Athletes First. Both will testify through videotaped depositions. For the latest trial updates, please visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.

Attendance at the Gaylord Entertainment Center for last night's Coyotes-Predators game was 10,123, "the smallest attendance – by more than 2,000 fans -- in franchise history" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/23). Meanwhile, columnist David Climer was at last night's game and writes, "You could cut that figure in half and be closer to the actual number of seats that were occupied" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/23).

The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS writes the "marketing minds were on full display" last night in S.F. before Game Three of the World Series, as "Choke the Monkey" versions of Anaheim's Rally Monkey, "complete with nooses around their necks," were being sold outside of Pac Bell Park (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/23).

Meanwhile, the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER reports that 1,467 fans watched last night's Game Three of the World Series at the Arrowhead Pond. Tickets were $5 and the net "proceeds benefit AngelsCare, the Anaheim After-School Program and the Anaheim Boys and Girls Club" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/23).

TODAY'S EVENTS

The Washington, D.C., chapter of the National Sports Marketing Network will host SFX Sports Chair & CEO David Falk for a discussion entitled "The Making of an Icon: Falk on Jordan," from 8:00-10:15am ET. Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon will serve as moderator (THE DAILY).

Charlotte (NC) City council member and new arena proponent Lynn Wheeler will debate former Charlotte City Council member and arena critic Don Reid on the issue of a new uptown Charlotte facility this morning on WFNZ-AM (THE DAILY).

Chiefs President & GM Carl Peterson will speak at the noon luncheon of the Lawyers Association of K.C., to be held at the K.C. Marriott Downtown (THE DAILY).

Richard Petty will visit Technical Sgt. Stephen Peterson, winner of TNT's "Win the King" sweepstakes, at noon ET at Seymour AFB in Goldsboro, NC (THE DAILY).

U.S. Soccer, along with reps of the MLS Crew and Galaxy, will hold a press conference at Crew Stadium at 1:00pm ET to preview tomorrow's '02 U.S. Open Cup Final (THE DAILY).

ESPN President George Bodenheimer, Senior VP & Executive Producer/Remote Production Jed Drake, NBA broadcaster Brad Nessler and NBA analyst Bill Walton will participate in a 2:00pm ET conference call with the media to discuss the upcoming NBA season (THE DAILY).

NBC Sports co-host Charlie Cantey, handicappers Mike Battaglia and Bob Neumeier and producer David Michaels will hold a conference call with the media at 2:00pm ET to preview the '02 Breeders' Cup (THE DAILY).

NBA Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik will hold a season tip-off conference call with the media at 4:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that entertainment executive and CFL Argonauts marketing consultant Garth Drabinsky and long-time colleague Myron Gottlieb "surrendered to the RCMP yesterday" in Toronto, facing charges that they, along with two other colleagues, defrauded investors in Livent Inc. "out of" $500M from '89 to '98 (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/23).

USA TODAY reports Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's dream "to turn Charter Communications into an interactive T.V. and Internet juggernaut" continued to fade Tuesday, as the cable company's stock dropped more than 31% "after an unexpected management change" (USA TODAY, 10/23).

McDonald's Corp. announced plans to boost sluggish sales and said it "will open just 100 new restaurants in the U.S. next year." Company CEO Jack Greenberg added that he would not "rule out job cuts" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/23).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that RealNetworks' "net loss for the third quarter widened," even as the company's consumer business, including subscription fees from its online news, sports and entertainment service, "continued to grow, as subscribers rose to 850,000 from 400,000 a year ago," and consumer revenue totaled $28M, up 13% from $25M (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/23).

FINAL JEOPARDY

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Women Authors."

"A line in her first novel reads, 'I am to replace my mother, whose seat at the Mah Jong table has been empty.'"

LAUGH TRACK

All of our late night favorites are taking the week off. The laugh track will return next week.

TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

Last night's 11:30pm ET edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Penguins-Canadiens, followed by Flyers-Sabres and an injury update on Steelers RB Jerome Bettis.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who is Amy Tan?"

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