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Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, January 23, 2003

The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, January 23, 2003
9:00am ET

Banks Expected To Reject Senators Chair Rod Bryden’s Proposal Today

Only 589 Time Warner Subscribers Take Advantage Of T’Wolves’ Ticket Offer

LPGAer Annika Sorenstam Would Relish Chance To Play PGA Tour Event

A-League Milwaukee Rampage Fold; MISL Owner Awarded Expansion Team

Eye On San Diego: Super Bowl Events Heat Up With Three Days Until Game

Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy!


BRYDEN FACES MORE ADVERSITY AS BANKS DON’T WANT TO TALK

The OTTAWA SUN reports that Senators Chair Rod Bryden “is expected to get the thumbs down today for his latest bid to restructure the financially troubled team.” Sources close to the negotiations said that the banks “don’t even want to talk to (Bryden) right now,” making it a “virtual certainty that the creditors, led by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and FleetBank of Boston, will reject the proposal unveiled last week” (OTTAWA SUN, 1/23).


T’WOLVES CAN’T EVEN GIVE AWAY TICKETS LAST NIGHT

Despite offering free tickets yesterday to Time Warner subscribers affected by the company’s carriage dispute with FSN North, the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that the T’Wolves’ “announced crowd of 13,273 had gaping sections of open red seats in the upper deck.” The team distributed 1,178 free tickets – meaning only 589 of the 180,000 affected households took advantage of the promotion (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/23).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that 18,298 attended last night’s Wizards-Hornets game at the New Orleans Arena, far surpassing the Hornets’ average attendance of 15,429 (WASHINGTON POST, 1/23).


CORPORATE TENTS AND SKYBOXES SOLD OUT FOR PHOENIX OPEN

The Phoenix Open begins today at the TPC of Scottsdale, and the ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that tournament organizers “sold all 90 skyboxes made available this year, even though they had 20 more than last year,” and that the “number of corporate tents held steady at 29.” Skyboxes cost $27,500 for the week. Corporate tents cost $30,000-100,000, excluding catering for the week, “which can cost $10,000 or more” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/23).


SORENSTAM NOT WORRIED ABOUT CARRYING BURDEN OF LPGA

The AP reported that LPGA golfer Annika Sorenstam yesterday said that she “would relish the chance to play a PGA Tour event.” Sorenstam’s agent, IMG's Mark Steinberg: “I suspect that after today, there will be more than one tournament that is very interested. There are going to be several tournaments that will not even consider it. … But there will be quite a few that express some interest” (AP, 1/22). Sorenstam, on carrying the burden of the LPGA’s reputation: “We're always judged compared to the PGA Tour anyway. So I feel it would be beneficial if I did well and it wouldn't hurt things if I didn't” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/23).


KRAUSE TO ANNOUNCE EXPANSION A-LEAGUE FRANCHISE TODAY

The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL reports that the A-League Milwaukee Rampage “has folded its tent,” and that MISL Milwaukee Wave Owner Tim Krause has scheduled a 12:30pm CT news conference today to announce an expansion A-League franchise. Krause “reached agreement with the A-League” for a team to play the ‘03 season late Wednesday afternoon. Krause indicated a “$350,000 expansion fee was required” by the second tier outdoor league (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/23).


EYE ON SAN DIEGO: THREE DAYS UNTIL SUPER SUNDAY

With the Super Bowl only three days away, the Morning Buzz and Closing Bell highlight events and news of the day in San Diego:

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will participate in a panel discussion, entitled “Big Game, Big Business – Evolution of the Super Bowl,” to be held at noon PT at the Univ. of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion (THE DAILY).

The NFL, in conjunction with the Chicano Federation, will host the Leaders of Tomorrow Workshop at the San Diego Hall of Champions. HOFer Anthony Munoz and NFL motivational speaker Zach Minor will discuss topics including ethnic power structure, influence and use of media and ethics challenges (THE DAILY).

CBS NFL analyst and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms will host a press conference of former Super Bowl MVPs – Patriots QB Tom Brady, Cowboys RB Emmitt Smith, former Steelers WR Lynn Swann and former Dolphins RB Larry Csonka – to discuss their favorite Super Bowl moments at the San Diego Convention Center at 2:00pm PT. Super Bowl MVP sponsor Cadillac hosts the event (THE DAILY).

Bucs WR Keenan McCardell defeated Raiders RB Charlie Garner in the 989 Sports NFL Gameday 2003 “Game Before the Game” on PlayStation 2. As the last seven winners of this event have gone on to win the Super Bowl, one has to assume the Bucs are a safe pick in this year’s game (THE DAILY).

The NFL alumni Tech4Kids program will present various technology products to Horace Mann Middle School in San Diego at 1:30pm PT. Qualcomm is the title sponsor of the event, and Motorola, Sun Microsystems, Canon and CompUSA are supporting sponsors (THE DAILY).

The NFL Alumni Golf Tournament begins at 8:00am PT at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego (THE DAILY).

The NFL Coaches Association Celebrity Golf Challenge begins at 11:00am PT at Admiral Baker Golf Club in San Diego (THE DAILY).

The Black Sports Agents Association will host its Empowerment Meeting from 10:00am-4:00pm PT at the U.S. Grant Hotel in San Diego (THE DAILY).

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that Eagles CB Troy Vincent today will receive the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 1/23).

The San Diego Super Bowl XXXVII Host Committee and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) raised $475,000 last night for the San Diego chapter of the NMSS at the All Star Salute to San Diego (THE DAILY).

A Univ. of Toronto study concludes that “automobile crashes climb more than 40[%] in the hours after the Super Bowl, with the surge highest in the losing team’s territory, perhaps because heartbroken fans are not concentrating on their driving.” The study also found an “average of seven additional deaths and 600 extra injuries” (AP, 1/23).

Newspapers in the participating teams’ markets and host city San Diego are offering in-depth coverage of the event:

Tampa Tribune

Oakland Tribune

St. Petersburg Times

San Diego Union-Tribune

During last night’s edition of NBC’s “Tonight Show,” Jay Leno said he had two Super Bowl tickets but couldn’t “go to the game because I told my wife I would take her to Pottery Barn this Sunday.” Leno had two audience members compete for the tickets ("Tonight Show," NBC, 1/22).


THE DAILY TESTS YOUR ABILITY TO PICK THE SUPER BOWL WINNER

The Daily is fueling the hype surrounding Super Bowl XXXVII by testing the prognosticating abilities of the top execs in our industry. Submit your Super Bowl winner and final score by 11:00am ET Friday for the chance to receive the ultimate honor – not a prize of monetary value, not a One-on-One feature, but even more impressive – industry recognition! Our winner will receive special billing in Monday's Morning Buzz, issue of The Daily and Closing Bell with details of his or her uncanny ability to predict the game's outcome. Submit your pick – including winner, final score, your name, title, company/ affiliation/organization and email address – today. Just ONE SELECTION per reader.


MORNING BRIEFS

The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association “is starting a 10-city bull riders tour, called ‘Xtreme Bulls,’ which will go head-to-head with the Pro Bull Riders Tour.” The tour includes fours stops in TX. Each tour event will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2 (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/23).

NHRA Founder Wally Parks celebrates his 90th birthday today (THE DAILY).

The Harlem Globetrotters announced a six-week tour in Europe beginning April 12, which includes stops in England, Holland, Spain and France (THE DAILY).


THE BACK PAGES

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post
N.Y. Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
Boston Herald

TODAY’S EVENTS

The PGA Merchandise Show begins today at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, with over 1,300 exhibitors utilizing 600,000 square feet of space. Today’s sessions include “Consumer Golf Apparel Habits & Influences” and “Liquidating Inventory.” View the entire agenda. Among the exhibitors:

  • Tour Edge will showcase its Bazooka JMAX driver.
  • Dunlop will launch the 65u urethane golf ball and Dunlop 65 club set, the $399 TP-420 set, its LoCo fairway woods, three new Tad Moore Fairway Woods and an expanded collection of its DDH golf balls.
  • TaylorMade-adidas Golf will showcase its RAC LT and RAC MB irons, the RAC FE203 wedge, the V Steel fairway woods and the Maxfli Noodle Spin golf ball.
  • Nike Golf will offer its 450cc titanium forged driver, the Blue Chipper putter line and the CPR line of ironwoods.
  • Alpha Golf will introduce the Alpha C830 Ti and Alpha V2 Ti drivers, the Alpha C830 and Alpha V2 fairway-metal lines, the Alpha C1 Tour irons and the Alpha Pro Tour wedges.
  • Ben Hogan Golf will introduce Ben Hogan by Bettinardi putters, two new series of wedges, the Apex 50 iron and Ben Hogan Edge CFT irons (THE DAILY).

The 14th annual NCAA Conference Intern Seminar begins today at NCAA HQs in Indianapolis. NCAA President Myles Brand will deliver the welcome speech at 1:15 pm ET. View the entire agenda of the three-day event (THE DAILY).

Magic Senior VP Pat Williams will speak at the Polk County Sports Marketing quarterly luncheon in Winter Park, FL (THE DAILY).


IN OTHER NEWS….

The WASHINGTON POST reports that AOL “moved yesterday to generate a new stream of revenue by teaming with Hewlett-Packard to develop and market AOL’s instant-messaging service for corporate use.” AOL claims 195 million registered instant-messaging users (WASHINGTON POST, 1/23).

DAILY VARIETY reports that TiVo President Morgan Guenther is “ankling the post he held for less than two years … effective at the end of January” (DAILY VARIETY, 1/22).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that National Association of Television Programming Execs CEO Bruce Johansen resigned yesterday (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/23).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that Recording Industry of America CEO Hillary Rosen “will quit at the end of this year.” As one of the “highest-paid lobbyists in Washington, Rosen led the music industry’s legal battles to prevent digital piracy of recording music” (WASHINGTON POST, 1/23).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Fox’ “American Idol” opener on Tuesday night drew 26.5 million viewers and “a whopping 30 share in the adults 18-49 demo,” ranking “as the highest-rated nonsports telecast” in Fox’ history (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/23).


FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was “The Globe.”

“Of the more than a dozen countries through which the equator passes, this country stretches farthest south.”


LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: “It started out being funny. The first week when the temperature was zero every day; that was kind of funny. We all thought, ‘That’s pretty cute.’ The second week we were thinking, ‘Wait a minute, this ain’t so funny,’ and now we’ve just had it. Here’s how cold it is today. I ordered lunch, and the Chinese food delivery guy brings it over in his pants. ... It was so cold in Times Square today, I heard a hooker offering a tourist a mitten job. ... Trent Lott said it wouldn’t be this cold if we had elected Strom Thurmond in 1948. ... (North Korean dictator) Kim Jong Il drinks the blood of virgins. I'm going to tell you something. If this guy doesn’t watch his step, he’s going to develop a reputation as a nut. ... Five years ago President Bill Clinton said, ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman,’ ... or as we refer to it here, ‘The Golden Age of Comedy.’ ... Clinton felt that his behavior did not qualify as sexual relations. That’s what he was thinking. I don't know. If that happened to me, I think I'd count it” ("Late Show," CBS, 1/22).

NBC's Jay Leno: “I know the (Super Bowl) is going to be a big game, I know it’s going to be exciting, but you do not want to miss what NBC is running against the Super Bowl. This Sunday on NBC, skater Brian Boitano is going to get breast implants. ... (Raiders LB) Bill Romanowski already has four Super Bowl rings. You know what his nickname is? Jennifer Lopez. ... The city of San Diego will be providing security at the Super Bowl, and let me tell something, if it works half as well as the security they provide at the (Mexican) border, we should be fine. ... The U.S. Census Bureau announced that Hispanics have now officially passed African-Americans as the largest minority group in the (U.S.). In fact today, Al Sharpton changed his name to Alberto Sanchez. ... President Bush says this Iraq situation looks like a rerun of a bad movie. Well sure, there’s a Bush in the White House, the economy’s going to hell, we’re going to war over oil. I’ve seen this movie, haven’t I? ... It seems Saddam Hussein’s oldest son, Odai, ... allegedly tortures athletes for losing games. He makes them crawl over hotly poured asphalt, he beats them with sticks and he chokes them. In fact, do you know what Odai means in English? Bobby Knight. ... It seems women in Japan are buying a candy over there that claims to make their breasts grow bigger. Well, duh! Eating candy makes everything grow bigger – your breasts, your waist, your ass” (“Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/22).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Surprises On The Premiere Of ‘American Idol’” ("Late Show," CBS, 1/22).

10) "Contestants were only allowed to sing jingles from muffler commercials."

9) "Oates of 'Hall and Oates' tried to audition in disguise."

8) "Janet Reno has a lovely singing voice."

7) "Guest appearance by reigning ‘American Idol’: What’s-her-name."

6) "Celebrity judge Paula Abdul replaced by King Abdullah of Jordan."

5) "This time, the winner gets a contract for a low-interest home mortgage."

4) "Diana Ross staggers in looking for her car keys."

3) "That Justin kid is back, and his hair is now four feet tall."

2) "A lot of singing parrots."

1) "The first ‘American Idol’ was better, when the guy had sex with a pie."


WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:30pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Duke-NC State NCAA men’s basketball.


FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is Brazil?”


If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

The Morning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.

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