| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, December 17, 2002
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | NBA Expansion Committee To Deliberate, Ask Follow-Up Questions Today |
| • | City Of Ottawa Today To Unveil Revamped Sponsorship Program |
| • | Prosecutor's Opinion On Potential Bengals Lawsuit Might Be Released Today |
| • | Vikings Officials To Learn Today About Four Potential Stadium Sites |
| • | "On Our Feet" Benefit Tonight To Support United Way Of NY |
| • | A Lighter Buzz/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
COMMITTEE CHAIR COLANGELO CONFIDENT OF DECISION SOON
The two groups vying for Charlotte's next NBA franchise made presentations to the NBA Expansion Committee yesterday, and the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL notes Expansion Committee Chair Jerry Colangelo said that "further deliberations and follow-up questions for both groups were on the agenda for today, with a vote to follow sometime after that." Colangelo: "I'm very confident within the next 48 to 72 hours we'll be in a position to make a recommendation" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 12/17). The Expansion Committee is comprised of:
| Committee Member | Team | Position |
| Jerry Colangelo | Suns | Chair, CEO & Managing Partner |
| Stan Kroenke | Nuggets | Owner |
| Joe Maloof | Kings | Co-Owner |
| Lewis Katz | Nets | Chair |
| Larry Tannenbaum | Raptors | Gov. |
| Bob Vander Weide | Magic | President & CEO |
| Peter Holt | Spurs | Chair & CEO |
| George Shinn | Hornets | Majority Owner & Managing General Partner |
PROGRAM WILL STOP FINANCING FOR-PROFIT ENTITIES SUCH AS NHL
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the city of Ottawa will "stop financing for-profit entities such as the [NHL], the [CFL] and car races in the revamped version of its sponsorship program, to be unveiled today." The government "hopes that financing non-commercial groups only, and putting tighter administrative controls in place, will get rid of the patronage and overspending that has marred" the C$40M per year program since '97. Previously, Public Works Canada spent about C$1M per year to put up ads at NHL games and another C$1M to put Maple Leaf flags on the helmets of CFL players. Ottawa will now "focus on community groups and non-profit entities" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/17).
ARE BENGALS IN VIOLATION OF LEASE AGREEMENT?
The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that Hamilton County commissioners today might agree to release the legal opinion of Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen regarding the Bengals' lease on Paul Brown Stadium. The commissioners sought Allen's opinion on whether or not the Bengals "violated the agreement by failing to field a competitive team." Results of a telephone survey conducted yesterday by SurveyUSA showed that 69% of respondents believe the Bengals "have violated their lease agreement by failing to field a competitive team." The survey sampled 500 Hamilton County adults (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/17).
VIKINGS TO "MEET AND GREET" ANOKA COUNTY OFFICIALS
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that Vikings officials today "will learn about four potential stadium sites in the northern suburbs … at a meeting with Anoka County officials." The meeting is described as a "meet and greet" session with Vikings Exec VP Mike Kelly, reps of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce, the Anoka County Economic Development Partnership and former state Sen. Steve Novak, who is now Anoka County's Manager of Governmental Services (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/17).
CELEBRITY LINEUP TO ATTEND "ON OUR FEET" BENEFIT
By Terry Lefton, Editor-At-Large, The Sports Business Daily
James Gandolfini from "The Sopranos," along with sports luminaries such as Ozzie Smith, Franco Harris, Dave Debusschere and Jake LaMotta are the guests at tonight's second annual "On Our Feet" benefit from Foot Looker at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in N.Y. The party benefits the United Way of NY, and is sponsored by Reebok, adidas and Converse.
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Kroenke Sports officials yesterday made a presentation regarding Denver's bid to host the '05 All-Star Game at the NBA office in N.Y. (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 12/17).
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that the Save Gopher Sports online auction, which ended yesterday, raised an additional $19,000, bringing the total raised over the weekend to $673,000. The group, however, still "needs to raise about $525,000" to save the men's and women's golf teams and men's gymnastics team (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/17).
Upon further review, the BOSTON HERALD reports that Celtics F Antoine Walker's United Center opponent-ticket record was 178, and "he tied it last night." Walker bought 170 seats and used his two as well as six from his teammates for his friends and family in the Chicago area (BOSTON HERALD, 12/17).
The AP reports that a two-and-a-half week auction of Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith's personal memorabilia ended Saturday, and the highlight was "$54,000 for a jersey, helmet and cleats Smith wore … when he broke Walter Payton's career rushing record." All proceeds will benefit Smith's The Open Doors Foundation (AP, 12/16).
Commenting on the Heat's promotion last night, which saw the team distribute 8,000 fortune cookies for last night's Rockets-Heat game, Rockets C Yao Ming said, "First of all, there's no such thing as a fortune cookie in China. I think fortune cookies are too small. … I think you have to go a little bigger" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/17).
Following the lead of several NHL teams, the OTTAWA SUN reports that the Senators introduced Ottawa's Ice Crew during last night's game against the Canadiens, consisting of "two guys and two gals who remove built-up snow from around the boards and nets three times a period" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/17).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The SEATTLE TIMES notes that 7,596 people attended last night's Sonics-Cavaliers game at 20,562-seat Gund Arena. Attendance was so sparse that one of the fans sitting in the upper section shouted, "Gary," during a break when (Sonics G Gary) Payton shot a free throw. After converting the foul shot, Payton shouted back, 'What?' (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/17).
TODAY'S EVENTS
MLB Exec VP John McHale Jr., Expos GM & VP Omar Minaya and MLBPA Special Assistant Tony Bernazard will attend a noon ET press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to formally announce the Expos' 22-game schedule in Puerto Rico for next season (THE DAILY).
U.S. Men's National Team coach Bruce Arena and U.S. Soccer President Dr. Robert Contiguglia will host a 1:00pm ET conference call to discuss Arena's contract negotiations. Arena reportedly has signed a new four-year contract (WASHINGTON POST, 12/17).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Madison Avenue "has found a new set of celebrities to endorse the products of its clients: other products." Ad agencies "are increasingly using unrelated brand-name products to help sell the brands they are paid to pitch" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/17).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Al Gore's appearance on "SNL" earned a 7.5/17 overnight Nielsen rating, "the highest such ratings earned" by the show since Britney Spears hosted on February 2 (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/17).
The American Film Institute yesterday announced its top 10 movies of '02 (THE DAILY):
| Movie | Studio |
| "About A Boy" | Universal Pictures |
| "About Schmidt" | New Line Cinema |
| "Adaptation" | Columbia Pictures |
| "Antwone Fisher" | Fox Searchlight Pictures |
| "Chicago" | Miramax Films |
| "Frida" | Miramax Films |
| "Gangs of New York" | Miramax Films |
| "The Hours" | Paramount Pictures/Miramax Films |
| "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" | New Line Cinema |
| "The Quiet American" | Miramax Films |
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Fortune 500 Companies."
"As its packaging reflects, this company began marketing its products from a Iowa cattle farm in 1985."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "I had carolers come by the house, and actually it's kind of inconvenient because first you have to turn off the electric fence, and then when they're done you have to turn it back on, and there's always somebody who gets burned in the ass. ... Here's what I like to do on Christmas Eve. I like to get a nice big fire going in the fireplace, just a great, beautiful looking fire. And then I get me one of those Kenny G CDs, and I just toss that right into the fire. ... Last night on '60 Minutes,' Al Gore announced he is not running for President in 2004. Trent Lott is hoping Strom Thurmond will jump into the race. ... Today is December 16. That means only eight more Trent Lott apologies until Christmas" ("Late Show," CBS, 12/16).
NBC's Jay Leno: "Looks like we're going to have a white Christmas. That's exciting news. In fact there's been so much snow this year, even Trent Lott is tired of seeing white. ... Earlier tonight, Trent Lott appeared on BET, the Black Entertainment Network. Of course, these days for a lot of folks, Trent Lott is black entertainment. It's a new show on BET called 'Cracker Talk.' ... Lott appeared (on the show) using his rap name, Old Racist Bastard. ... Al Gore shocked the nation yesterday by announcing he will not run for President in 2004. The bad news: now he has time to write another book. ... Al said now that he's done ["SNL"] he'd like to make a bunch of bad movies and never work again. ... What do Mark McGwire and Bernard Law have in common? They're both retired Cardinals. ... (Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal) is getting married. They said he's going to get married by the end of December. Why doesn't he wait until the Lakers season is over? Like during the playoffs" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/16).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Ways Trent Lott Is Preparing For the Holidays" ("Late Show," CBS, 12/16).
| 10) "Making a list of bigoted remarks and checking it twice." |
| 9) "Fill out membership form to the Augusta National Golf Club." |
| 8) "Trying to keep track of all the people calling to say they can't make it to his Christmas party." |
| 7) "Pray for peace and happiness for everyone...well, almost everyone." |
| 6) "Reminding friends to 'keep quiet about the old days.'" |
| 5) "Dipping his foot in delicious eggnog before putting it in his mouth." |
| 4) "Inviting media to 'Traditional Lott Family Kwanzaa Parade.'" |
| 3) "Phone jet propulsion laboratory in Pasadena – ask how much down force his hair is generating." |
| 2) "Joining Eminem in recording album of hateful Christmas duets." |
| 1) "Work on next year's apologies." |
Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "What an exciting day for New Yorkers. We were going to have a transit strike, which would have crippled mass transit. Of course, not necessarily effecting myself because I, as you know, chopper in … from my estate. I either chopper in or ride a polo pony. Our Mayor Bloomberg had recommended that people ride their bikes. Or that people with cars give strangers a ride. It's a wonderful thing. Let's say you get off your night shift at Bennigan's in Hell's Kitchen, and you're on the street, thinking 'I'll just hop into the stranger's car. Maybe I'll make a friend, or get stabbed through the neck'" (Comedy Central, 12/16).
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 12:00am ET "SportsCenter" led with Rockets-Heat.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is Gateway?"
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