| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, November 6, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Decision 2002: Results From St. Louis; Romney Continues To Ride Olympic Gold |
| • | IOC Inspection Team Arrives In Athens Today To Check Construction Progress |
| • | Gatorade To Announce Expansion Of NBA Partnership Today |
| • | Keeneland's November Breeding-Stock Sales Two-Day Average Down From '01 |
| • | Cablevision BOD To Add Investment Banker Steve Rattner Today |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
DECISION 2002: ANY PUBLIC AID FOR CARDINALS' PARK TO FACE VOTE
The Morning Buzz helps you sort through last night's election results with some of the sports-related highlights:
In St. Louis, Proposition S, a bill that would require voter approval of any financial assistance to a new ballpark for the Cardinals and other professional sports facilities, was close to approval with 70% of precincts reporting. The vote was 35,382 to 28,551 (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/6).
The AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN reports that Cedar Park, TX, voters "blocked a proposal for a $32 million ice arena and outdoor amphitheater." The proposal failed with 4,196 voting no and 2,973 voting yes. Under the deal, Southwest Sports Group agreed to acquire its CHL affil, the Austin Ice Bats, and relocate them to the new arena in Cedar Park if the measure was approved. The team will remain a Stars affil, but will continue to be owned by John McVaney (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 11/6).
The L.A. TIMES reports that L.A. voters "spurned both San Fernando Valley and Hollywood secession proposals Tuesday, deciding overwhelmingly to keep the nation's second-largest city intact." In the Valley, "the spawning ground of the secession movement, the breakup plan was leading, but to pass, the measure needed a citywide majority. In Hollywood, secession was losing badly" (L.A. TIMES, 11/6).
The BOSTON GLOBE reports former SLOC President and Republican candidate Mitt Romney earned a "decisive victory" for governor of MA over Democrat Shannon O'Brien by "making major inroads into Democratic strongholds and holding his own base among independent voters in the suburbs." With 90% of precincts reporting, Romney led O'Brien 50% to 45% (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/6). The BOSTON HERALD reports "the surprisingly lopsided win in a traditionally Democratic state vindicates Romney from a bruising" '94 U.S. Senate loss and "vaults him to the national political stage" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/6). MA resident Julie Ivey: "I like what he did at the Olympics. I'm looking for anything to get the economy going" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/6).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that Sabres suitor and Independence Party candidate B. Thomas Golisano's $60M campaign for governor of NY ended "with 14% of the vote." While Golisano's staff "had hoped at least for a second-place showing, if not a miracle," the result was disappointing. Golisano: "Overall, we did well, folks. It didn't come out as well as we wanted it to, but we certainly did well" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/6).
Among other sports personalities:
Former Seahawks WR and U.S. Rep (R-OK) Steve Largent, the GOP candidate for governor, was defeated by "a razor-thin" margin of 6,357 votes by Democrat Brad Henry. The vote was 448,133 to 441,776 (AP, 11/6).
In KS' Second-District, former Olympic distance runner and U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) won easily re-election with 60% of the vote (CNN.com, 11/6).
Former Univ. of NE football coach and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne (R-NE) won a second term with more than 90% of the vote (Lincoln JOURNAL-STAR, 11/6).
IOC TEAM TO WITNESS "LAGGARD" CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE
The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that when an IOC inspection team arrives today "for one of its period checks on Athens' progress, it will find a city that looks like the world's largest construction site." While "the digging and accompanying dust seem to have had minimal effect on Athens' laggard Olympic construction schedule," it has added to the city's "lamentable status as one of the most polluted, traffic-snarled, pedestrian-unfriendly and shadeless cities in Europe" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/6).
GATORADE GOES GLOBAL WITH NBA MARKETING PARTNERSHIP
Gatorade will officially announce today that it has agreed to expand its multi-year marketing partnership with the NBA from a U.S. relationship into a fully integrated global partnership. Wizards F Michael Jordan and Raptors G Vince Carter will appear on Gatorade packaging and in-store materials in int'l markets, while the partnership, which dates back to '84, will expand to include NBA-themed advertising, promotions and merchandise programs. As reported in THE DAILY in late July, Gatorade will also support a wide range of NBA grass-roots programs (THE DAILY).
MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS INVITE SCHOOLS TO AFTERNOON GAMES
The AHL Philadelphia Phantoms today will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for an 11:05am ET "School Day Game" at the First Union Spectrum. More than 8,000 students are expected to attend the game and take part in math, geography and science lessons revolving around hockey (THE DAILY).
Meanwhile, the DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that the MISL Dallas Sidekicks today will host the K.C. Comets for a 10:45am CT "Cool School Day" at Reunion Arena. Over 10,000 students are expected to attend the game, which "allows classes from kindergarten to eighth grade to take a field trip" to the game (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/6).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
USA TODAY reports that Fox Sports TV Group Chair David Hill will receive the Order of Australia today, which is comparable to knighthood, for his "contributions to the development of quality sports broadcasting" (USA TODAY, 11/6).
The DENVER POST reports that the Nuggets have suspended Kenn Solomon, who plays "Rocky," the team's mascot, "until his alleged domestic dispute situation is settled." While he will continue to collect his paycheck, no one will substitute in his absence (DENVER POST, 11/6).
The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reports that Keeneland's November breeding-stock sale continues today, and that 182 horses were sold for $53M yesterday, down 7% from last year. The second day average of $291,253 was down 8% from last year. After two days, 368 horses have been sold for $111.9M, an average of $303,966, down 5% from last year (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/6).
Two racing partners run full-page ads today in USA Today promoting their respective partnerships. Valvoline congratulates Johnny Benson, James Ince and the entire No. 10 Pontiac crew for winning the Pop Secret 400. Meanwhile, Firestone congratulates IRL champion Sam Hornish Jr. and Infiniti Pro Series champion A.J. Foyt IV. The ad includes the '03 IRL schedule (THE DAILY).
TODAY'S EVENTS
Bills coach Gregg Williams will host a reading assembly at School #45 in Buffalo as part of the "Rush for Reading Challenge" to promote literacy (THE DAILY).
As part of the NBA's "Read to Achieve Week," the NBDL Asheville Altitude will host 150 members of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club at the Asheville Civic Center for a team practice and reading event (THE DAILY).
ABC will conduct a 2:30pm ET conference call to discuss the 500th game in "MNF" history, next week's Raiders-Broncos match-up. ABC Sports President Howard Katz, broadcasters Al Michaels and John Madden, former Broncos QB John Elway and Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith will participate (THE DAILY).
ESPN will host a 4:00pm ET conference call featuring Suzy Kolber and Paul Maguire of "Sunday Night Football" and analysts Tom Jackson and Sean Salisbury (THE DAILY).
The TAMPA TRIBUNE reports that today the Univ. of South FL will unveil architectural plans of a new athletic facility at 10:30am ET. Naming rights for the facility are still available for $6M (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/6).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that The Clash's "London Calling" is the "perfect accompaniment" to Jaguar X-Type commercials. Jaguar Retail Communications Manager Mark Scarpato: "I was a little concerned, because the lyrics weren't appropriate for our message. … It's a fairly dark song when you listen to it, but we used it in a positive way" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/6).
NEWSDAY reports that high-profile media investment banker Steven Rattner is joining Cablevision's BOD. Last year, Rattner's Quadrangle Group "withdrew a $160[M] investment in YES, citing economical and control issues." Quadrangle is investing $75M in Cablevision (NEWSDAY, 11/6).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that MSNBC News President Erik Sorenson is "on shaky ground with the cable news network." NBC CEO Bob Wright declined to comment on Sorenson's situation, but did say he is "working his tail off" at turning around the company (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/6).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Famous Phrases."
"Phrase associated with very dissimilar events of April 19, 1775 and October 3, 1951."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
NBC's Jay Leno: "How many vote only when it's something important like the show 'American Idol?' ... With 80% of the vote in, NBC News is predicting the real loser is the American people. ... What is it, 11:35(pm ET)? You voters in (FL), pencils down! Pass your ballots forward! ... This is, of course election day, or as voters in (FL) call it, the first day of the counting season. ... Our democratic process is truly an amazing thing. Election day is the one day in America when we close the bars to go vote on whether we should legalize marijuana. ... (NM) had a strange measure on their ballot. They voted (yesterday) whether idiots and insane people should be allowed to vote. I say why not? We let them drive. ... For the first time since 1979 there is no curfew in Kabul, Afghanistan. Of course, now the hard part is finding something to do in Kabul, Afghanistan. ... In (NJ), a man has been arrested for the 13th time for drunk driving, and officials say they may take away his driver's license forever. The good news … he can still keep his pilot's license" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/5).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Serena Williams appeared on last night's edition of "Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. When asked about filming commercials, Williams said, "I do a lot of commercials. I just did a McDonald's commercial. [Venus and I] just got a new deal with McDonald's, I'm real excited about that. They are great to partner with." Leno asked about the Puma "cat suit" which she has been wearing for tournaments. Leno: "I heard that they are sold out of these." Williams: "Yeah, they are sold out again. It's hard to keep them in stock. Everyone wants to look sexy these days" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/5).
Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "Let's give you some of the major results. (NC) is a big race, Elizabeth Dole versus Erskine Bowles to take over the seat that Jesse Helms had, so really, no matter who wins, it's America that wins tonight. … In (NH), a very interesting race, former Governor Jeanne Shaheen versus John Sununu, a race between two passionate people with incredibly silly names. … In Ohio, James Traficant, running as an Independent against Democrat Tim Ryan and Republican Ann Benjamin, has lost. Boy, this is a shock. I guess Traficant found that from prison, it is just really hard to run. It's probably really hard to raise money with that one phone call" ("The Daily Show," Comedy Central, 11/5).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "A Taiwanese couple just celebrated their 85th wedding anniversary. Married 85 years, and if you listen carefully, you can hear Frank Gifford slamming his head in a car door. … The stars of 'Sex and the City' say the show has run its course and should end next season. Translation: Those drunk ho's want $1[M] a week ("Late Late Show," CBS, 11/5).
TUESDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Lakers-Cavaliers, followed by Kings-Magic.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is 'The Shot Heard 'Round The World?'"
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
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