PROPOSED WRIGLEY FIELD EXPANSION ISSUE OF CONTENTION

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reported that Cubs officials and Mayor Richard Daley are scheduled to meet today, "as both sides seek to reach agreement on a proposed Wrigley Field expansion and landmarking of the ballpark." While the Cubs have agreed to landmark status for some elements of the ballpark, the team wants city permission to add about 2,000 seats. Meanwhile, Cubs President Andy MacPhail said that he is "awaiting a new offer from owners of rooftop businesses bordering the ballpark that reportedly would include a licensing agreement under which the owners would compensate the team for use of its product." The owners are seeking an expansion design that would preserve the views of their customers (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/23).

VIKINGS CONFIDENT DEAL CAN BE DONE BEFORE STATE MEDIATION

The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that the Vikings "remain confident a resolution in their negotiations" with the Univ. of MN for a proposed joint-use stadium could come as soon as today, as attorneys for both sides will continue talks this morning. Vikings Exec VP Mike Kelly: "Essentially everything is in place. There's still things to be worked out, but we're finalizing some things." Both sides hope an agreement can be worked out, but "there could be some mediation through the state Legislature if the two sides don't come to a full agreement before the legislative session begins in January" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/25).

HOT TOPICS: ELIMINATION OF SPORTS; COST-CUTTING MEASURES

The IOC Exec Board begins meeting today in Mexico City, and AROUND THE RINGS reported that it is facing "the hottest issue it has had to face since it expelled members in 1999: expelling sports from the Olympic Program." While some Exec Board members have said that "any program changes will first apply for 2012," the group must decide "whether to make any recommendation on the proposal" to cut baseball, softball and modern pentathlon. Additionally, the recommendations of the "Phase One" commission, focusing on ways to cut the costs of the Olympics, are scheduled to be released today, and former SLOC COO Fraser Bullock will deliver a final report on the '02 Olympics later this week (AROUND THE RINGS, 11/22).

RED SOX TO NAME YOUNGEST GM IN BASEBALL HISTORY

The BOSTON HERALD reports that the Red Sox today will introduce assistant GM Theo Epstein, 28, as the team's new GM at an 11:00am ET press conference at Fenway Park. Epstein, a Brookline, MA, native becomes "the youngest GM in baseball history," in what is the "most significant move by the new owners since taking over less than a year ago" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/25).

JAMES DOLAN STILL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT KNICKS

Cablevision President & MSG Chair James Dolan spoke to reporters in New Orleans before the Knicks-Hornets game Friday night, and "accentuated his obvious attempt to sell tickets by taking a shot at the Nets." Dolan: "[Attendance at MSG] will come back more when we win. I think the fans that are there are die-hards, true fans. Those are ones we have to take care of. … The ones who have left us? I don't think they're going to New Jersey" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/23). The Newark STAR-LEDGER reported that Knicks GM Scott Layden may not use the $4.5M disabled player exception granted after losing F Antonio McDyess. Dolan: "Scott has the resources to use, but not to waste" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 11/23).

In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote, "This team is looking at years of mediocrity with Cablevision owning this team and Dolan's composed management team running it. Son of Cablevision once said that he knows hardly anything about basketball. In New Orleans, he showed he can prove it. These people running the Garden are ridiculously sensitive to criticism now. You know why Dolan gave that press conference? To look as if he's in charge" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/24).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The L.A. DAILY NEWS reports that the Lakers "honored their lost voice one last time, and made the tribute permanent by raising a jersey bearing [Chick Hearn's] name onto the Wall of Fame" prior to the Bucks-Lakers game on Sunday (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/25).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The EDMONTON SUN reports that 62,531 people attended the CFL Grey Cup yesterday in Edmonton (EDMONTON SUN, 11/25).

• The DETROIT NEWS reported that a record crowd of 105,539 attended the Univ. of MI-OH St. Univ. football game Saturday in Columbus, OH (DETROIT NEWS, 11/24).

• The Baltimore SUN reports that 17,590 people attended the Miami of OH-Univ. of MD basketball game yesterday, the "first being played at the $108[M] Comcast Center" (Baltimore SUN, 11/25).

• The AUGUSTA CHRONICLE reports that 14,922 people attended the East TN St.-Univ. of SC basketball game, the first men's basketball game at the Carolina Center in Columbia, SC (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 11/25).

• The NAPLES DAILY NEWS reports that while '02 Franklin Templeton Shootout officials "did not release an attendance figure," Tournament Dir Gina Monterossi said, "It appears to be the same, if not a little bit more" than last year's attendance of 30,000 (NAPLES DAILY NEWS, 11/25).

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are this week's confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

This week's cover of TIME offers "Return of the Rings," in anticipation of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers." Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines "Alternative Medicine" (THE DAILY).

Forrester Research today will release the results of a survey polling 112 marketing execs from the Association of National Advertisers on the advertising effects of TiVo and other personal video recorders. The survey shows that "marketers are less sanguine than ever about the looming danger, and the survey is likely to increase the pressure on Madison Avenue to explore alternate forms of TV advertising such as product placement, sponsorship and content creation" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/25).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Classical Music."

"One of the 2 planets of the solar system not represented in Gustav Holst's 1916 work 'The Planets.'"

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "Every time (my mom) sees the new James Bond movie, the next day it's the same thing; she wants to get an ejector seat for the car. … Boy, this Michael Jackson situation, do you know anything about that? It gets weirder and weirder. Earlier today, he dangled Tito off a balcony. That's right, Tito. That guy's going to get a reputation as an oddball. … Here's an update from Iraq. … UN inspector Hans Blix and the team finished their inspection of a Baghdad Hooters. So that's where they stand now. According to recent reports, Saddam Hussein now has bio-terror labs on wheels. That's a scary prospect, isn't it? A bio-terror lab on wheels. Here's the interesting part: If the anthrax is not delivered in 30 minutes, it's free. … A week ago tonight, Al Gore was here. He says now that President Bush's economic plan has zero, zero chance of working – that's what Al Gore is saying now. ... I think this raises one important question: Bush has an economic plan? … The Catholic Church revised their policy toward abusive priests. It was good to see this. Here's the new policy now, it's a tough policy: Three strikes and you are a Cardinal" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/22).

NBC's Jay Leno: "As you know, `The Bachelor' couple, Aaron and Helene, they can finally go out in public together now for the first time. For the past two and a half months, they kept the show's ending a secret. They have been getting together at a secret undisclosed location. That's got to be tough … sharing a hot tub with Dick Cheney. Do you feel sorry for Brooke, the girl who didn't get chosen? That's got to be rough, getting that close only to lose. In fact, right after the show, she got a call from Al Gore: `I know how you feel.' I just hope she doesn't handle the loss the same way Al Gore did. Gain a hundred pounds and grow a beard. I'd hate to see that. … You know what I thought was nice. This was very sweet. Today Jennifer Lopez called Brooke and offered her one of her old husbands. … Here is a disturbing fact: I don't think I can ever watch the show again after reading this. In an interview with the L.A. Times, the producer of `The Bachelor' said that over a third of the girls they bring in for casting test positive for herpes. Of course, if they have herpes they won't put them on `The Bachelor,' they send them across the street to `Temptation Island.' ... According to a new study by National Geographic, only 13% of young Americans surveyed could locate Iraq on the map. 13%! Well thank goodness our bombs are smarter than our kids. ... In NBA news, the Memphis Grizzlies lost again last night. 0-12! Jerry West said it was so disappointing, and added that if he had wanted to be with a losing basketball team, he would have stayed with the Lakers" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 11/22).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Friday's "Top Ten" was "Top Ten Signs Your Kid Is Dumb" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/22).

SUNDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

ESPN's 11:30pm ET "SportsCenter" (late due to Colts-Broncos) led with Packers-Bucs and the post-game feud between Bucs DT Warren Sapp and Packers head coach Mike Sherman.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that MGM's "Die Another Day," debuted in the "top spot with a sterling estimate of $47[M] – the biggest opening in Bond history." Meanwhile, the "estimated total for the top 12 films was $146[M], up nearly 3% from the comparable frame last year" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/25).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What is Pluto or Earth?"

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