| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Bell Globemedia Could Announce MLSE Deal As Early As Today |
| • | Cablevision President James Dolan To Discuss Earnings, Sub Losses Today |
| • | Final Thoughts From NBA All-Star Weekend: Riley, Traffic, Economic Impact |
| • | ESPN2 To Announce Today That It Will Televise LeBron's Game On Sunday |
| • | Buick Invitational Credential Requests Doubled Since Tiger's Announcement |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BELL GLOBEMEDIA ANNOUNCEMENT COULD BE AS EARLY AS TODAY
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Bell Globemedia and the Thomson family as early as today are "expected to consummate a deal" to acquire a stake in MLSE's holding company, which owns the Maple Leafs, Raptors and the Air Canada Centre. Several sources said Bell Globemedia is acquiring MLSE Chair Steve Stavro's stake "partly to keep rival television companies away from the country's most valuable sports franchises" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/11).
CABLEVISION SHARES UP YESTERDAY AS ANALYST UPGRADES STOCK
NEWSDAY reports that Cablevision President James Dolan this morning "will face questioning from analysts" during a Q4 '02 earnings conference call, at which time the company "is expected to reveal subscriber losses for the year and perhaps address the YES impasse" (NEWSDAY, 2/11). Meanwhile, the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that shares of Cablevision yesterday rose more than 5% "after Merrill Lynch analyst Jessica Reif Cohen upgraded the stock to buy from neutral citing strengthening financial growth trends" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 2/11). Cablevision shares closed yesterday at $17.07.
Meanwhile, the N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that if Cablevision "can't find a buyer for the last 17 Wiz stores, it's pulling the plug on the chain" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/11).
MARLINS TO SHOOT TWO BOBBLEHEAD TV SPOTS TODAY
The MIAMI HERALD reports that the Marlins will film two TV spots today where bobblehead dolls "will be crushed inside" the bullpen at Pro Player Stadium. In one spot, Marlins P Josh Beckett approaches P A.J. Burnett while he's warming up and says, "You've been working hard." Burnett responds, "I've still got the Mets and Braves." Then viewers see Mets and Braves bobblehead dolls shaking while awaiting Burnett's pitch, then get knocked over after Burnett throws. The Marlins are spending $2.5M on marketing and advertising, "far more than last year" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/11).
ESPN2 TO RETURN TO THE LEBRON JAMES WELL FOR THE THIRD TIME
The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER reports ESPN2 is expected to announce today that it will broadcast Sunday's Kettering Alter–St. Vincent-St. Mary's high school basketball game. The 4:00pm ET game at the Univ. of Dayton Arena will be third game the net has televised featuring LeBron James (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/11).
RILEY AGREES WITH STERN THAT HARANGUING HAS TO STOP
Final notes from NBA All-Star Weekend in Atlanta: After NBA Commissioner David Stern ordered that coaches and players stop "whining" about officiating, Heat coach Pat Riley said last night, "I agree with him 100[%]. We all have to stop the haranguing. But I also think that maybe our commissioner got a message himself. It's not just isolated. It's not just me. I mean, it's throughout the league. And I think you can see with some of the altercations and some of the things that were said and a lot of the behavior patterns, that there's a lot of dissatisfaction" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 2/11).
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that Atlanta officials "all but admitted they had not planned for the worst and pledged to do better next time" in planning for a major event. Mayor Shirley Franklin: "Were we expecting people to come to the city and enjoy the parties? Sure. Were we expecting so many cruisers? No" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/11).
Despite the traffic gridlock and the organizational issues, Atlanta Sports Council President Gary Stokan said of the weekend, "I think this will blow through any economic impact estimates. We estimated $25[M]. I think we'll go above that" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/11).
THE KURT THOMAS INVESTMENT CHALLENGE BEGINS TODAY IN N.Y.
Knicks F Kurt Thomas and Merrill Lynch today begin "The Kurt Thomas Investment Challenge," a program in which N.Y. students in grades 4-12 are taught how to invest by participating in the simulation program, "Stock Market Game." MSG President/Sports Properties Steve Mills, Securities Industry Association Exec VP Donald Kittell and Merrill Lynch VP Eddy Bayardelle will ring the NYSE bell alongside Thomas this morning to open the event (THE DAILY).
MORNING BRIEFS
Golf Magazine unveils an updated look with the March '03 issue, which hits newsstands today. Among the cosmetic changes are new colors, typeface and layout. The magazine's new structure and reorganization features the following sections: "The Range," "GetAway," "The Shop" and "You Asked and You Answered" (THE DAILY).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that a police hazardous materials team "rushed to the West Side office of ESPN yesterday after a secretary opened a letter and a white powder spilled out, renewing fears of anthrax-laden mail." The woman "showed no symptoms of illness" and the police "did not evacuate ESPN's office in the ABC building" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/11).
USA TODAY reports that Buick Invitational PR Dir Rick Schloss has received "at least 150 more media credential requests" since Tiger Woods said last Thursday he planned to enter the event. Credentials now top 300, "more than twice the number in a normal year" (USA TODAY, 2/11).
The WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL reports that Toyota officials could announce sometime this week their entry in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 2/11).
The TAMPA TRIBUNE reports that tickets are still available for Sunday's Daytona 500, however, the "only tickets available are a combination package – the Daytona 500 and Saturday's Busch Series Koolerz 300 – selling for $175." Tickets can be purchased at Daytona Int'l Speedway's Web site (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/11).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS' Stu Bykofsky notes that Wizards F Michael Jordan was recently spotted in Atlantic City playing blackjack. After the "dust cleared, Jordan had lost a whopping $900,000" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/11).
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that Rockets C Yao Ming shot a Gatorade commercial last week with Colts QB Peyton Manning and Yankees SS Derek Jeter, in which Yao had only one line that could be used, "Can Jimmy play?" During a break, Manning "showed Yao how to grip and throw a football." Gatorade Sports Marketing VP Tom Fox: "They were slinging it back and forth" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/11).
The AP reports that PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has apologized to Champions Tour player Fuzzy Zoeller for his disqualification last weekend from the Royal Caribbean Classic for giving a lesson to a local television reporter. Zoeller: "The commissioner called me and said, 'Accept my apology. We screwed up.' That was good enough for me" (AP, 2/11).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today's back page sports covers from some of the nation's major metropolitan tabloids:
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| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News |
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| Philadelphia Daily News | Boston Herald |
TODAY'S EVENTS
NBC will host a conference call at 12:30pm ET to announce hosts for coverage of the '04 Olympics (THE DAILY). ABC Radio's Keith Olbermann: "I am privileged to say I'll be one of them, manning the anchor desk from Athens on MSNBC" (ABC Radio, 2/11).
CBS Sports will host a conference call at 2:30pm ET to announce a new analyst for its coverage of the '03 NCAA Men's Basketball regular season and the '03 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (THE DAILY).
Fox Sports will conduct a 3:30pm ET conference call to preview that 45th Daytona 500 and its coverage of the '03 NASCAR Winston Cup season. Producer Neil Goldberg, Director Artie Kempner, race announcer Mike Joy and analysts Darrell Waltrip, Larry McReynolds and Jeff Hammond will participate (THE DAILY).
Speedway Motorsports will host a conference call to announce Q4 '02 earnings and '03 guidance at 11:00am ET (THE DAILY).
The Thrashers and SciTrek will unveil "Science of Ice Hockey," an interactive exhibit exploring the scientific and historical sides of hockey, at 3:00pm ET at SciTrek in Atlanta. Thrashers RW Dany Heatley will participate (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this morning announced the nominees for the 75th Academy Awards. The five films nominated for Best Picture are "Chicago," "Gangs of New York," "The Hours," "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and "The Pianist." Read the entire list of nominees (THE DAILY).
The N.Y. TIMES reports on marketers shifting tactics on Web advertising, which is a response to a "rising chorus of disdain for online advertising clutter and intrusion, hallmarks of the widely despised pop-up ads. The reaction has forced advertisers to give something to consumers, like news or lifestyle information, in exchange for looking at their ads" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/11).
The N.Y. POST reports that CNN's Willow Bay, wife of Disney COO Robert Iger, is "wrapping up her work and will leave the cable news network in a few weeks" (N.Y. POST, 2/11).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that London-based Cunning Stunts Communications is "recruiting university students to wear brand logos on their foreheads" for $6.83 per hour. While on duty, the "human billboards are permitted to shower, but not to rub their foreheads vigorously. They also must agree to be out and about with other people for three or four hours a day" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/11).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Atlanta-based Major Broadcasting Chair & CEO Willie Gary will announce today "plans to launch a 24-hour news-and-talk channel aimed at black viewers, hoping to grab the niche abandoned" by BET (WASHINGTON POST, 2/11).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that Dell pitchman Benjamin Curtis, whose sales pitch – "Dude, you're gettin' a Dell" – "jump-started sales for Dell when the ads debuted three years ago," was "busted holding a small bag of marijuana" in N.Y. (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/11).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "World Geography."
"The world's highest city of over one million people sits at about 12,000 feet in these mountains."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "Are you aware of the fact it's Fashion Week in New York City? You can't tell by looking at you folks, but it really is. It's Fashion Week and the city is on lavender alert. ... You can tell it's Fashion Week. This morning on the subway, a guy measured my inseam. ... Puff Daddy has like a fashion line of clothing and stuff and he has a big Fashion Week party, and if you get invited to the big Puff Daddy Fashion Week party, you have to RSVP Diddy. ... It's also the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at (MSG). Usually, the Knicks are the only thing that rollover and play dead in the Garden. ... You have dogs from all over the world that are participating in the Kennel Club show, except for the French poodles and the German shepherds. They're refusing to participate. ... There's a lot of controversy at the Kennel Club show this year. They had to disqualify a Yorkshire terrier. Turned out it was a blow-dried rat. ... So we have Fashion Week and we have the Kennel Club. I'm telling you folks, the city is loaded with temperamental bitches." Throughout the show, Letterman had dogs participating in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show paraded through the studio ("Late Show," CBS, 2/10).
NBC's Jay Leno: "President Bush is once again getting tough with Iraq. He said today we have to stop Saddam Hussein from playing hide and seek with his weapons. Hey, we can't even stop Michael Jackson from playing hide and seek with his weapons. ... Iraq said today they approved the use of spy planes by the U.N. How secretive are these spy planes if we have to get permission from Iraq to fly them? ... Gas is so expensive now, women in Houston that want to run over their husbands are carpooling. ... How many people are still creeped out by that Michael Jackson interview? Well Michael himself said he is not happy about the way the documentary turned out. He said he was shocked when he saw it. Apparently, even he can't believe how creepy he is. ... What does Michael Jackson call a backyard with a kiddie pool? Temptation Island. ... Some people think that Yao Ming may have had an advantage in the All-Star selection because people in China can vote now on the Internet. In fact, they thought that might be the case after the first day of voting, when Ming was ahead by over a billion votes. In fact, Al Gore said today, 'Why didn't I think of that? I gave money to the Chinese. I should have had them vote for me'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/10).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear In A New York City Taxi," read by a "Late Show" stagehand who was posing as a cabdriver with a hidden camera while passengers were in the car ("Late Show," CBS, 2/10).
| 10) "I have to tell you this upfront – I don't have driver's license. I never had a driver's license and I don't plan on getting a driver's license." The passenger asked, "Can you get me there by 4:00?" |
| 9) "Just so you know, this cab is clothing optional." |
| 8) "If the cops pull us over, keep quiet – I got stolen TV's in the trunk." |
| 7) "You know anything about cars? Where's this go?" |
| 6) "Put on your seat belt – I'm going to ram into this car." |
| 5) "You seem sad. Why don't you talk to Mr. Sunshine?" |
| 4) "I'm only filling in for the regular driver. He got called back to serve in the Iraqi army." |
| 3) "I'm only two traffic violations away from setting a new cabdriver record." |
| 2) "In the event of an accident, my mustache will inflate." |
| 1) "Hey, did you hear Bloomberg said we could drink in the cab?" |
Comedy Central's Jon Stewart: "Last week's events obviously made a lot of Americans very jittery over the weekend, and while it is important to remain vigilant, it is also important not to overreact. To review: Based on a report seen on ABC's '20/20,' the Michael Jackson alert level has been raised from 'mochaccino' to 'pasty'" ("Daily Show," Comedy Central, 2/10).
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "The WB is working on a new game show where the winner gets a billion dollars. The name of the show is 'Bounced Check.' … New rumors now that Saddam Hussein is planning to flee to a castle in Libya with ten billion dollars. President Bush doesn't know whether to nuke him or give him a tax cut. … Yesterday an Ohio couple got married in a 7-11. The best man was the stoned teenager shoplifting Pringles" ("Late Late Show," CBS, 2/10).
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Sharks-Red Wings.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What are the Andes?" The city is La Paz, Bolivia.
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