| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, November 8, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Colts Owner Irsay And Indy Mayor To Begin Negotiations Today To Keep Colts |
| • | af2 To Conduct Conference Call Today Regarding Status Of ’03 Season |
| • | Pretrial Hearings To Begin Today In Lawsuit Against MLB And Marlins Owner |
| • | NTRA To Form Task Force On Security Measures As Early As Today |
| • | TV Makers And Cable Companies Reach Tentative Agreement On HDTV |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NFL SURE TO WATCH NEGOTIATIONS BEGINNING TODAY IN INDY
Colts Owner Jim Irsay and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson today will begin negotiations aimed at securing the team’s long-term viability in the small-market city, and the INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that Peterson acknowledges that the negotiations “are full of potential political pitfalls.” While Peterson has made it clear that “he thinks the Colts are worth fighting for,” the escape clause in the team’s current lease with the RCA Dome could mean the city “will have to make payments that could top $10[M] a year” beginning in ‘04 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/8).
JACKSONVILLE, TWO OTHER TEAMS COULD DROP OUT OF LEAGUE
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that the af2 will conduct a conference call today regarding the upcoming season, and a league source said last night that “as many as three more teams … could drop out” of the 34-team league. The source said that the Jacksonville Tomcats are “going to ask for the opportunity to freeze the franchise for one year.” Tomcats Owner Steve Umberger said Wednesday that he “would better know the team's status” for the upcoming season following the conference call. (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/8).
FORMER PARTNERS’ LAWYER SAYS NO PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the pretrial hearing in the Expos' former limited partners lawsuit against MLB and Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria will take place today at U.S. District Court in Miami. Jeffrey Kessler, who is representing the Expos' former limited partners, said that “there has been no progress on a settlement” between the parties (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/8).
RED WINGS TO VISIT WHITE HOUSE TODAY
President Bush will honor the ’02 Stanley Cup Champion Red Wings today in a ceremony at the White House at approximately 1:15pm ET. It is the Red Wings’ third trip to the White House as the team has been invited after each of its Stanley Cup victories (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Turner Sports NBA analyst Charles Barkley appeared on yesterday's edition of "The Oprah Winfrey Show," where he discussed his new book, "I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It." Barkley said Wizards F Michael Jordan is "cheap" because "Michael never tips." Barkley said Jordan "always gets mad" when Barkley gives money to homeless people. Barkley: "Jordan says, 'If they can ask you if you got any spare change, they can say welcome to McDonalds, can I help you please?'" ("The Oprah Winfrey Show," 11/7).
Puma runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating A’s pitcher Barry Zito for winning the ’02 AL Cy Young Award (THE DAILY).
The Baltimore SUN reports that as early as today an NTRA task force on thoroughbred racing “plans to announce measures to boost security – including changes in the way bets are processed in computers” (Baltimore SUN, 11/8).
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that IN Univ. AD Michael McNeely “could resign as early as today,” as recent “fiscal troubles and morale problems” within the IN Univ. athletic department have “clouded” McNeely’s tenure (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/8).
The BOSTON HERALD reports that pending Celtics co-Owner Wycliffe Grousbeck “entertained a group of potential” Celtics investors at the FleetCenter during last night's game against the Lakers. Sources say Grousbeck’s partnership is “close to signing up 10 to 12 investors” (BOSTON HERALD, 11/8). Meanwhile, during last night’s TNT telecast, Marv Albert said, “I know the new ownership group is on hand. They have to be enjoying what they have seen to this point.” Mike Fratello added, “Pretty good price [$360M] for a franchise, isn't it? Got those numbers up there” (TNT, 11/7).
Responding to reports that his CFL Grey Cup championship ring was up for auction on eBay, 49ers QB Jeff Garcia said, “I have always been in possession of my Grey Cup ring and I would never get rid of it. … It is unfortunate that a lot of people try to take advantage of false memorabilia” (THE DAILY).
The Ottawa SUN reports that Michael Croteau has filed a lawsuit against Hockey New Brunswick because he “feels his 16-year-old son should have been named MVP of a bantam hockey league.” Croteau is seeking $300,000 for psychological and punitive damages (Ottawa SUN, 11/8).
END OF THE WEEK RANTS:
- The N.Y. POST’s Phil Mushnick fires back in his feud with WFAN’s Mike Francesca and Chris Russo over comments that he calls “lies,” they made on their “Mike and the Mad Dog Show” this week. Read Mushnick’s response.
- Under the header, “Michael Jordan – Boring,” SALON.com’s King Kaufman writes, “This feels stupid and weird and juvenile and I keep trying to talk myself out of it, but I just can't. I'm sick of Michael Jordan.”
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Sports Media & Technology 2002 Conference, presented by sister publication SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, continues today at the Hilton N.Y. Today's featured topics include: "Digital Video Recorders: The Digital Successor to the VCR or a Threat to the Economics of Commercial Television," "Media, Video and Digital Asset Distribution: Expanding Revenue Opportunities & Leveraging Sports Content through Media Asset Management" and "Quiksilver Goes Hollywood: Increasing Brand Awareness Through TV Programming, Movies and Music" (THE DAILY).
The Predators will tour the NORAD command center today in Colorado Springs, CO. The team is in CO for its game Sunday against the Avalanche (THE DAILY).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, we wonder what were the hottest Halloween costumes of the year? While Royals 1B coach Tom Gamboa has accepted the apology of his 15-year-old attacker, CBS’ David Letterman ensures that the bare-chested duo of idiots will not soon be forgotten (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
USA TODAY reports that TV makers and cable companies “have tentatively reached a landmark agreement aimed at kick-starting the tepid rollout of digital high-definition TV (HDTV),” which would eventually eliminate the need for cable boxes (USA TODAY, 11/8).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Volkswagen’s print campaign for its new Beetle includes scent strips that smell like freshly cut grass, pine trees and the ocean, to “help readers picture life with the top down” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/8).
The N.Y. POST reports that Cablevision has laid off 1,300 workers at its “money-losing Wiz electronics store chain,” as a result of the closure of 26 of 43 Wiz stores during Q3 ’02 (N.Y. POST, 11/8).
The L.A. TIMES reports that the "top song on Radio Disney is by a Disney Channel actress under contract to a Disney label," and that critics are calling for "more disclosure from the parent company" because the song has "fallen completely flat" among other radio networks (L.A. TIMES, 11/8).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that CBS’ revamped “The Early Show” saw a 9% increase this week over the current TV season in viewers. The program’s new four-anchor format averaged 2.8 million viewers, however, “can be attributed to changeover from daylight savings time” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/8).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was “Historic Books.”
“Published in 1611, the Pilgrims in 1620 refused to bring it to America; they brought the Geneva version.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "Jennifer Lopez is marrying Ben Affleck. Ben will serve a two-year term. ... Ben sealed the deal last night. He gave her a ring and then shot up a nightclub. ... The Winona Ryder trial is over. They found Winona guilty of grand theft, and you know ladies and gentlemen, in all seriousness, I just hope to God this serves as a wake-up call for mom. ... After the verdict came down, Ryder's lawyer said he had no idea that an L.A. jury would actually look at the evidence" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/7).
NBC's Jay Leno: "More problems for Winona Ryder… Now they found her guilty of stealing $9 from every person who went to see the movie 'Autumn In New York.' ... Tuesday night NBC aired a special 90-minute edition of 'Fear Factor,' or as the Democrats call it, the election coverage. ... Because the election was such a disaster for the Democrats, it looks like the leader of the Democratic Party may be stepping down. But enough about Barbra Streisand. ... The state of (OK) voted to ban cockfighting. Well, there goes my weekend. If we just ban it in West Hollywood, now we'd be fine. ... According to a new study by (OR) researchers, one out of every ten rams may be gay. Now there was a rumor that a couple of the Mets were gay, but one out of every ten of the Rams. I find that hard to believe. ... Last night they handed out the Country Music Awards. Those are also known as the Whities" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/7).
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 10:30pm ET “SportsCenter” (late due to NCAA football) led with Lakers-Celtics, followed by Bruins-Red Wings.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is the ‘King James Bible?’”
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