| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Charlotte Approves Tentative Agreement For $200M Arena Deal |
| • | Augusta Chair Hootie Johnson’s PR Push Begins Today With Several Interviews |
| • | MLB GMs Meetings Continue Today In Tucson |
| • | Rockets, Compaq Center Owners To Begin Talks Today Regarding Lease |
| • | Venus Williams To Launch New Interior Design Company Today |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL VOTES 8-3 TO APPROVE ARENA DEAL
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that the Charlotte City Council last night “approved a sweeping deal … that gives the city a fresh shot at NBA basketball.” In an 8-3 vote, the council approved “a tentative agreement that commits the public to building a $200[M] uptown arena, in return for an NBA expansion team that would operate the building and keep most of the revenue from it” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/12). See today’s issue of THE DAILY for more on this story.
HOOTIE JOHNSON’S PR EFFORT INCLUDES WSJ OP-ED TODAY
Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chair Hootie Johnson spoke to reporters from the N.Y. Times, L.A. Times, Augusta Chronicle, Sports Illustrated and the AP last week regarding the club’s membership practices on the condition that the story not be published until 12:01am ET Tuesday. However, GOLF WORLD BUSINESS reported that ESPN “ignored the embargo and broadcast the story” last night (GOLF WORLD BUSINESS, 11/11).
Johnson tells the AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, “I guess you kind of wondered why I wanted to see you. There's been so much speculation on when and if we were going to take in a woman member. I felt like we needed to get the record straight on that. … We have no timetable. … And in the meantime, we'll hold dear our traditions, and our constitutional right, to choose and to associate” (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 11/12).
Meanwhile, Johnson writes an Op-Ed in today’s WALL STREET JOURNAL titled, “Why I’m Teed Off” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/12).
HOT TOPICS: AGE REQUIREMENT FOR BATBOYS, FREE AGENT OFFERS
The MLB GMs annual fall meetings continue today in Tucson, and the L.A. TIMES notes that “among the complex and critical industry issues to be reviewed … is the subject of ... batboys.” MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations Sandy Alderson will “seek feedback” from the GMs to determine an age requirement for batboys (L.A. TIMES, 11/12). Meanwhile, Alderson said that the determined age for batboys “would be at least double digits” (AP, 11/12).
USA TODAY notes that MLB free agents can “receive contract offers from all teams beginning today,” and Padres GM Kevin Towers said, “We really won't know until the first (contracts) what the market will be. Most teams are looking to move payroll. Few teams are in position to add (to their payroll)” (USA TODAY, 11/12).
During yesterday’s meetings, GMs “were briefed on the new [CBA], umpires and a worldwide draft” (AP, 11/12).
ROCKETS TO BEGIN TALKS TODAY TO ALTER COMPAQ CENTER LEASE
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the Rockets and the Arena Operating Company, which owns the Compaq Center, will “begin talks today that could determine if the Rockets will be permitted to open next season in their new home.” While both sides agree the team “is bound by a court injunction to its lease” with the AOC, the sides differ on lease requirements. AOC officials contend that the team must play its home games at the Compaq Center through November 30, 2003, “unless they reach an agreement with the AOC to play elsewhere sooner” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/12).
THREE BREEDERS’ CUP SUSPECTS TO SURRENDER TODAY IN NY
The N.Y. TIMES reports that three men suspected of conspiring to fix the Breeders’ Cup Ultra Pick Six last month, today will “surrender to the federal authorities” in White Plains, NY. According to one of the defense lawyers, the men who will appear at Federal District Court “will be charged with criminal conspiracy to commit wire fraud” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/12).
VENUS TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT & CEO OF V STARR INTERIORS
Venus Williams will hold a noon PT news conference today in West Hollywood to announce the creation of V Starr Interiors, a full-service interior design and decorating company based in Palm Beach, FL. Williams will serve as President & CEO of the company, which will initially focus on residential-based clients and projects. Williams plans to continue her playing career as well (THE DAILY).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that The Great BASOC Garage Sale continues today in Palo Alto, and that profits from the sale “will pay for final office expenses.” Former BASOC Communications Dir Tony Winnicker: “The bottom line is, what are we going to do with 5,000 posters?” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/12).
Jury deliberations are expected to begin today in Steinberg v. Dunn in L.A. Federal Court. For more on this story, visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.
The BOSTON GLOBE notes that in their unsuccessful attempt to lure A's GM Billy Beane to Boston, Red Sox execs had NBC's Katie Couric sing "Happy Birthday" over the phone to Beane's wife, Tara, who is a self-confessed fan of the perky morning "Today" show co-host. Couric has been romantically linked to Red Sox Chair Tom Werner (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/12). Assessing the team's failure to land Beane, ABC Radio's Keith Olbermann deadpanned, "Apparently Katie can't sing" (ABC Radio, 11/12).
The GRAND RAPIDS PRESS reports that the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins are expecting more than 3,000 students to attend a noon ET game against the Manitoba Moose at Van Andel Arena. While at the game, students will test their knowledge on certain subject matter as part of the team’s education initiative (GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, 11/11).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that 10,112 fans attended last night’s Warriors-Grizzlies game, the smallest crowd since the Grizzlies moved to Memphis. The Grizzlies also tied a franchise record with eight consecutive losses to start a season (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 11/12).
TODAY’S EVENTS
Miami-Dade Mayor Manny Diaz will attend an 11:00am ET press conference at the Orange Bowl to announce the kick-off of Torneo de Las Americas (Americas Tournament), to be held January 18th, 22nd and 25th of 2003 (THE DAILY).
The SMU Athletic Forum will host U.S. Soccer coach Bruce Arena for a luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas. Attending will be NFL and MLS Owner Lamar Hunt and his son Clark, SMU men’s soccer coach Schellas Hyndman and women’s soccer coach George Van Linder; Dallas Cup Exec Dir Gordon Jago, MLS Burn GM Andy Swift and coach Mike Jeffries and MISL Sidekicks Owner Sonny Williams and GM Jim Tolbert (THE DAILY).
ESPN broadcaster Bill Walton will visit with Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA participants at the Harlem (NY) PAL Center from 4:00-4:30pm ET (THE DAILY).
Chiefs President & GM Carl Peterson and TE Tony Gonzalez will attend the opening of a new flag football field at Cleveland Park in Kansas City at 4:00pm CT. They will participate in a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony, and afterward Gonzalez will coach Boys & Girls Club members in a game (K.C. STAR, 11/11).
Redskins DL Renaldo Wynn, WR Darnerien McCants, WR Derrius Thompson, FedEx Express CEO David Bronczek and First Union-Wachovia Regional President Sam Schreiber will read to children at the Noyes Elementary School in Washington, DC at 11:00am ET. In addition, FedEx Express, the Redskins Leadership Council and First Union-Wachovia will donate 25,000 books to 21 area elementary schools (THE DAILY).
Lions DE James Hall, DT Travis Kirshke, DE Robert Porcher, DT Kelvin Pritchett, OL Tony Semple and LB Josh Thornhill will sign autographs at the “Take a Test Save a Life” bone marrow testing drive from 11:00am-6:00pm ET at Ford Field (THE DAILY).
Falcons TE Derek Rackley will speak to children about teen pregnancy at a Barrow County (MI) community forum (THE DAILY).
Vikings DT Chris Hovan and LB Jim Nelson will visit the Minnesota Veterans Home to meet with residents and thank them for protecting our country (THE DAILY).
Bills players and team mascot Billy Buffalo will visit with residents of the Buffalo Veterans Home from 1:30-2:30pm ET (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
To honor the 50th Anniversary of the U.K. Charts, Britain’s official record rankings, 150,000 voters selected the top 100 songs of the past 50 years. The chart below lists the top ten (USA TODAY, 11/12):
| Rank | Song Title | Artist |
| 1 | “Bohemian Rhapsody” | Queen |
| 2 | “Imagine” | John Lennon |
| 3 | “Hey Jude” | The Beatles |
| 4 | “Bridge Over Troubled Water” | Simon & Garfunkel |
| 5 | “My Sweet Lord” | George Harrison |
| 6 | “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” | Procol Harum |
| 7 | “House Of The Rising Sun” | The Animals |
| 8 | “Dancing Queen” | ABBA |
| 9 | “Good Vibrations” | The Beach Boys |
| 10 | “Under Pressure” | Queen and David Bowie |
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is “threatening to move the Emmy awards show … to HBO, after the big four broadcast-television networks refused to pony up a higher price for the rights to broadcast the program” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/12).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the Wall Street Journal laid off 23 news employees yesterday, including reporters and editors in its legal affairs and regional economic news departments, as part of the 230 announced layoffs last week by Dow Jones. The layoffs “are scheduled to take effect at the end of December”(N.Y. TIMES, 11/12).
The N.Y. POST reports that AOL Time Warner’s Turner Broadcasting Chair Jamie Kellner “is to get roughly” $65M from the company for his “stake in the WB television network.” The “expected payout is fueling speculation among insiders that Kellner will take the money and run – or get the boot” (N.Y. POST, 11/12).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Theories of Science.”
“Physicist John Wheeler compared possible passages through space and time to the work of this creature.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "Today is Veterans Day. It's one of those Monday holidays. This is good news. It means the hookers in Times Square are still on weekend rates. … Tough times in my house ... I'm exhausted. I was up all night trying to calm my mom down after Ralphie got whacked. ... Congratulations to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. They're engaged. I have six months in the office pool. ... Ben Affleck didn't really want to get married to Jennifer Lopez, but he received a notice in the mail that it was his turn to serve. ... Everybody is excited about the nuptials. Today, Winona Ryder was out shoplifting for a wedding gift" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/11).
NBC's Jay Leno: "Over the weekend (police) discovered a big file on Winona Ryder had been stolen from the police station. The suspect is described as armed and extremely ironic. Well, now it turns out there are two other videos of Winona Ryder shoplifting at other stores in Beverly Hills. How insulting is that? Not only is she stealing stuff, she's not even a loyal customer. ... The White House had a great Veterans Day plan. I understand they're scheduling a parade of 250,000 veterans right through downtown Baghdad. They're working on it right now. ... It's hard to believe that it's that time of the year already … Time to start shopping for a Jennifer Lopez wedding present ... PETA says that turkeys are now being bred to have such large breasts that the turkeys are dying of heart attacks. Isn't that what killed Anna Nicole Smith's husband?" Leno, on a fan who attacked a player on the field during a CFL game: "Police said he had an IQ of 100, which of course is only 65 Canadian" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/11).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s “Top Ten” list was “Top Ten Things Never Before Said In Space,” as read by the men and women on the int’l space station (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/11).
| 10) “If we fly close enough to that satellite, we can get free movies.” |
| 9) “I’ve gotta go back – I have jury duty.” |
| 8) “Hey, could someone open the airlock? The pizza guy’s here.” |
| 7) “We’re caught in the Death Star’s tractor beam! Help us, Obi Wan.” |
| 6) “Delaware, we have a problem.” |
| 5) “Mission control – any chance you can beam up some more jerky?” |
| 4) “We’re testing the effects of zero gravity on lame comedy.” |
| 3) “Blue station wagon, (MN) plate HMZ-216, your lights are on.” |
| 2) “Which one of you guys ate my powdered lamb shank?” |
| 1) “ Run for your lives – space monkeys!” |
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 12:00am ET “SportsCenter” led with T'Wolves-Spurs, followed by Trail Blazers-Mavericks and Jazz-Celtics.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is a worm?”
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