Morning Buzz, March 12, 2003

’06 WORLD CUP AMONG TODAY’S MASTERCARD RENEWALS

By Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large, The Sports Business Daily

MasterCard has renewed its World Cup sponsorship through the ‘06 event in Germany.  In addition to the World Cup renewal, the payment card brand is announcing a series of complementary soccer sponsorship renewals in Berlin today: agreements that extend its deals with the 2004 UEFA European Football Championship in Portugal and the UEFA Champions League itself though through 2006, along with the CONMEBOL Copa America in ‘04 and the Copa Toyota Libertadores (2003).  MasterCard, a World Cup sponsor since 1990, continues as rights holder in payment categories, including credit, debit and charge cards, payment networks and travelers checks.  Marketing assets include perimeter field signage: two at the ‘06 World Cup, three at the ‘04 UEFA Championship, four double boards at Copa America and four double boards at the Copa Toyota Libertadores.  MasterCard also gets the first and only presenting sponsorship title to the ’03 Women’s World Cup tourney in China September 23-October 11, although given the time difference, little marketing activation is expected in the U.S. (THE DAILY).

2003 WORLD CONGRESS OF SPORTS OPENS TODAY IN N.Y.

The 2003 World Congress of Sports, presented by sister publication SportsBusiness Journal, opens today at the Waldorf-Astoria in N.Y. with CBS President & CEO Les Moonves delivering the keynote address at 9:00am ET.  Each day of the Congress will begin and end with feature sessions and panel discussions.  Throughout the day, the event will break into two specialty tracks: Sports Media & Marketing and Facilities, Franchise Operations & Finance.

The opening panel discussion entitled, “The Powers That Be: What Do People At The Forefront Of Sports Think About The Future Of Sports?,” features D’Backs/Suns Managing General Partner Jerry Colangelo, MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy, IMS and IRL President & CEO Tony George, Charlotte NBA franchise Owner Robert Johnson and Patriots Owner & Chair Robert Kraft.

The closing panel discussion entitled, “The Fans’ Point of View: Making Sports More Compelling And Valuable To Fans,” features AFL Commissioner David Baker, Falcons President & CEO Arthur Blank, MLB Exec VP Tim Brosnan, MLS Commissioner Don Garber, PG Ventures Chair Phil Guarascio and Capitals Owner & AOL Vice Chair Ted Leonsis.  View the entire agenda (THE DAILY).

DECISIONS ON AUGUSTA PROTEST APPLICATIONS DUE TODAY

The AUGUSTA CHRONICLE reports that the Richmond County Sheriff’s office “is expected to make a ruling today on three requests filed last week from groups seeking permission to protest during Masters Week,” including those from Martha Burk-led NCWO and the KKK.  Also, the ACLU plans today to file a lawsuit in federal court “challenging the city law that governs public protest and demonstration” (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 3/12).   

The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION cites sources as saying that city officals and Augusta National reps will “make available to protesters about five acres of land across the street from the club.”  Some groups are seeking permission to protest directly in front of the club (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/12).

USA TODAY notes that Westwood One Radio “is expected to avoid overt coverage of protest demonstrations” during The Masters.  VP/Sports Larry Michael: “Nothing has been said to us (by Augusta National).  But you have to be on Mars not to know this is going on” (USA TODAY, 3/12).

NFL STADIUM ISSUES ADDRESSED TODAY IN SAN DIEGO; DALLAS

The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that San Diego Attorney’s Office officials today are expected to “begin verifying” the Chargers’ financial data.  The meeting comes after the team triggered a clause in its lease that “forces a renegotiation” if players’ salaries “cross a financial benchmark linked to annual gate and broadcast revenues” throughout the NFL.  Chargers attorney Allan Mutchnik said that the team exceeded that threshold by $4.4M (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/12).

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that TX state Rep. Fred Hill today will introduce legislation similar to a bill filed in the state senate yesterday by Sen. Royce West that would “raise the limits on hotel and car-rental taxes that Dallas County can assess and use the money to pay for a new stadium” for the Cowboys (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM).

VEGAS PGA TOUR STOP HOPEFUL TODAY’S MEETING NETS SPONSOR

The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL reports that PGA Tour Las Vegas Invitational Tournament Dir Charlie Brown will meet today “with a potential [title] sponsor for this year’s event.”  The October 8-12 tournament is without a title sponsor after Invensys’ contract expired last year.  Brown said, “I feel a lot better about our chances now than back in November, when we were close (to a deal).  What’s going on in the world right now may put us back a little, but I feel very confident we’ll be fine in 2004 and probably this year, too” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/12).

MEETING OF HORSE RACING ASSOCIATIONS BEGINS TODAY

A joint meeting of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, Harness Tracks of America, and Racetracks of Canada begins today in Hollywood, FL.  The meetings, to run through Friday, will discuss such topics as “racehorse medication, in particular the use of blood-doping; a view of the parimutuel industry by regulators and legislators; off-track betting operations; the future of international simulcasting; television and simulcasting; women as racing fans; media coverage of racing; and overall views on the industry” (BLOODHORSE.com, 3/11).

BOTH SIDES IN BALLPARK DEBATE REPRESENTED AT DC HEARING

The WASHINGTON POST reports that roughly 100 people attended a public meeting last night discussing public financing for a DC ballpark.   Some were there to “declare their support,” but others “were adamantly opposed to the idea.”  DC Mayor Anthony Williams said that the public’s contribution to a ballpark could reach $300M, but “officials declined to reveal last night how much in public financing” they will offer to MLB at a March 20 meeting in Phoenix (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12). 

MORNING BRIEFS

The AP reports that “in the final 24 hours before the NHL trade deadline, all 30 teams got into the act, making it one of the busiest dealing days in league history.”  Forty-six players and “at least 16 draft picks were swapped in a flurry of 24 trades” before yesterday’s 3:00pm ET deadline, “the most number of deals and players moved since at least 1980” (AP, 3/12).

RealNetworks Media Systems Dir Erika Shaffer, on the company’s joint effort with MLB to Webcast MLB games: “We see this as being very important.  We think it’s going to be really exciting for consumers” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 3/12).  The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that MLB and RealNetworks officials said that “they hope to secure 25,000 to 50,000 subscribers this season.”  MLB Advanced Media Senior VP/Corporate Communications Jim Gallagher: “The video product we’re offering is primarily aimed at the displaced fan, like the Yankee fan who lives in Seattle.  Our second target group is the fan who wants to follow the teams his team is competing with in the standings.  We also think the international audience of displaced fans offers immense potential” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/12).

USA TODAY reports a bill that could lead to paying Univ. of Nebraska football athletes was “altered to remove a requirement for the stipend to go to football players.  Instead payment would be an option of the university and the stipends could be paid to any athlete, male of female, competing in the Big 12.”  The sponsors and opponents “continued to insist it would never become reality” (USA TODAY, 3/12).

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that Super Bowl traffic “helped [NV] casinos score big gambling-revenue gains in January.”  The Super Bowl helped casinos in Laughlin, NV, which “gets 24[%] of its visitors from Arizona, win $53.1[M] from gamblers,” 7.4% more than January ‘02.  Casinos on the Las Vegas strip won $429.6M in January, up 13.8% from last year (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/12).  The ’02 Super Bowl was played in February (THE DAILY).

The N.Y. TIMES’ Michiko Kakutani reviews Yankees P David Wells' autobiography “Perfect I’m Not: Boomer on Beer, Brawls, Backaches and Baseball” and writes that Wells “uses his colorful language to give the reader a locker-room view of baseball. … Wells spends a lot of time talking about the sort of stuff that baseball mythologists would rather ignore, like groupies, drug use and practical jokes: stuff that should come as less of a surprise in this day of reality television. … He also chronicles the dedication, physical grit and camaraderie that help sustain players in their short careers” (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12).

Mariners VP/Communications Randy Adamack, on the Mariners making $10.72M last season: “Safeco has allowed us to be successful on the field as well as off the field.  Prior to 1999, there were no profits to report.  Since 1999 have had profits to report.  The whole project has done what it intended” (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/12).

The N.Y. TIMES reports that the NFL “has asked eight game officials to resign,” the “largest number of referees who have ever been asked to step down at one time.”  While the names were not released, sources said that the affected officials are: James Duke, Dave Warden, Tom Johnson, Dave Anderson, Lloyd McPeters, Bill Spyksma, Ron Spitler and Tommy Moore (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12).

Eight CA counties filed suit Monday in Napa County Superior Court accusing Cytodyne Technologies, a seller of products containing ephedra, of “false advertising and are asking for a court order requiring the company to include information about health problems associated with ephedra” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/12).

AdWeek's Patty Orsini, on AdWeek rating "ESPN The Magazine" number two on its "Hot List" for magazines: "I think in this day and age it's a new game for magazines, and if you have a really successful network and a really successful Web site and the magazine is another part of that, it just helps to get the name out" ("The Biz," CNNfn,3/11).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that “about 500 people crammed into Don Pablo’s restaurant (last night) to watch Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban show off his bartending skills.”  Cuban spent more than two hours “mixing drinks, taking pictures, signing autographs and singing,” and the restaurant “debuted a new drink called the Cuban Margarita.”  The Championship Margarita will debut sometime during the playoffs (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/12).

The CP reports that “more than 10,000 … Flames fans were waving their tongues at … Oilers coach Craig McTavish last night,” as the first 10,000 fans to enter Pengrowth Saddledome were given cloth tongues as part of Rally Tongue Night  (CP, 3/12). McTavish famously ripped the tongue from the Flames’ mascot during a game earlier this year (THE DAILY).

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that TX Tech (TT) men’s basketball coach Bobby Knight kicked in a flat-screen TV in the locker room at halftime of the Univ. of NE-TT game February 5.  After kicking the TV, Knight said they “needed a new television, anyway.”  TT AD Gerald Myers said that “the screen was replaced the next day at no cost” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/12).

USA TODAY calls the film Bend It Like Beckham is a “coming of age tale set against the backdrop of the Indian community in London and amid the world of women’s amateur soccer, … is a rare amalgam of funny, sweet, action-packed and inspiring” (USA TODAY, 3/12).

Charlotte's WEND-FM reported 3 Doors Down is filming a music video at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  The video will feature Winston Cup drivers Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (WEND-FM, 3/11)

Last night's edition of ABC's "8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter" featured the no. 3-ranked ATP Tour doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan playing themselves. The Bryans had one word of dialogue (ABC, 3/11).

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 Sports Authority will report Q4 and FY ’02 results in a real time audio-only Webcast.  A follow-up conference call is scheduled for 10:00am ET (THE DAILY).

The NHL will hold its Club Marketing Meetings today through Friday at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta.  Cyberteks Design 15 year-old President, CEO and Chief Creative Dir Keith Peiris will showcase the company’s Web site design work at the trade show held in conjunction with the meetings (THE DAILY).

As collectors of the most All-Star ballots in the state, St. Joseph of the Palisades High School in West New York, NJ, will receive a visit from Nets F Kenyon Martin, F Richard Jefferson and G Lucious Harris during a 1:30pm ET pep rally (THE DAILY).

Sonics F Vladimir Radmanovic will visit North Beach Elementary School from 2:15-3:00pm PT as part of team’s “Hip To Be Fit” program.  The school earned the visit by recording the highest level of scores in the President’s Fitness Challenge (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

UPN and WWE have signed a multiyear deal to keep "WWE Smackdown" on the air.  The net now will air "Smackdown" “under a traditional license-fee arrangement, paying WWE less than $500,000 a week” for the two-hour, Thursday night program.  In exchange, UPN will “sell the show's advertising time and also get rights to four WWE specials” (DAILY VARIETY, 3/12).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that NBC Chair & CEO Robert Wright “earned nearly $1[M] in additional salary and bonuses” in ’02, “maintaining his position as the third-highest paid executive” within NBC parent GE.  Wright earned $2.23M in base salary and a bonus of $4.3M, which “with other minor compensation, brought his total to $6.64[M]” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/12).

The N.Y. TIMES reports that Ford Motor Company today canceled a new arrangement with WPP Group, after “an internal review of the deal”  (N.Y. TIMES, 3/12).

ADWEEK reported that satellite radio company XM is using Boston-based Pile + Co. to review its advertising account.  XM spent roughly $55M in media through November ’02 (ADWEEK.com, 3/11).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Actresses In History." 

"She was born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton on the island of Jersey in 1853." 

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

Last night's edition of CBS' "Late Show" featured guest host Vince Vaughn who did a monologue.  Vaughn: "Welcome to the 'Late Show.'  There has been a regime change tonight.  I am Vince Vaughn and you probably loved me in 'Swingers.'  You probably rented me in 'Made' and missed me entirely in 'Psycho.' ... Dave is gone for the night so let's party.  Let's have a good time. ... I'm here for a very good reason.  I actually answered the phone instead of letting the machine pick it up because I don't have the caller ID. ... Dave does have a bad case of the shingles.  It's terrible stuff but for those of you that don't know that's actually show business talk for 'drying out in Malibu.'  But that's the first step. ... He does have the shingles and I'd like to say that anyone out there that has been intimate with Dave in the last -- I don't know – six months, shingles is his story, you just might want to contact your local physician. ... Dave, get well soon. Thanks for having me.  I'm totally going to reimburse you for the vodka missing from the office. ... By the way, anyone here tonight that wants to leave and go see the movie 'Old School,' it's totally okay" ("Late Show," CBS, 3/11).

NBC's Jay Leno: "As you know, we're about to start March Madness.  That's the NCAA college basketball tournament.  We start with 64 teams and then whittle them down to just one.  Kind of like our allies. ... Mexico is still not with us.  Mexico said they don't believe we have the right to go into Iraq and believe me, if there's one rule Mexico is adamant about, it's respecting another country's borders. ... The Pentagon still has not given a name to the Iraqi war.  Somehow, 'Operation Re-Elect Bush' doesn't seem to be cutting it. ... God bless them. Hollywood insists that the Oscars will go on even if we are at war.  Pardon me, but I just get so emotional when I hear that kind of bravery. ... Today, they announced there is a new web site designed to help people cope with a national disaster.  Oh, that'll work good.  I'm sure they won't have any trouble logging onto the Internet after a nuclear attack.  I can't get AOL on a sunny day. ... It turns out Robert Blake asked five stuntmen to kill his wife.  Isn't that amazing?  He was originally going to ask his agent to do it but he couldn't get him on the phone. ... A pastor of a church in Sweden has installed a credit card machine that parishioners can use to make their donation.  But it only takes Visa, MasterCard and American Express.  Even God won't take the Discover Card" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 3/11).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “President Bush spent last night … calling world leaders to support the war with Iraq.  And is this sad?  The most powerful man in the world, on Earth, is heard yelling `I know you’re there, pick up!  Pick up!’  Today the U.S. Air Force successfully tested the most powerful bomb in its arsenal.  The bomb has the destructive power of 10,000 drunken Billy Joels.  Saddam Hussein has opened up a school for suicide bombers, the only good news about this: there will be no class reunions” (The Late Late Show,” CBS, 3/11).

TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

Last night's 11:00pm ET 60-minute edition of ESPN's "SportsCenter" led with Villanova-UConn NCAA women's basketball.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who was Lilly Langtree?"

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