| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | NFL Owners Meetings Continue Today In Phoenix; Playoff Vote Expected |
| • | Texans Vice Chair Chuck Watson To Further Reduce Ownership Stake In Team |
| • | Figure Skating Officials To Announce Alternate Federation Plans Today In DC |
| • | Oregon Stadium Campaign Today To Unveil New Print And TV Ads |
| • | Dallas City Council Member Concerned About Cowboys' Plans For New Stadium |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NFL OWNERS LIKE TO WAIT ON EXPANDING PLAYOFF FORMAT
The NFL Owners Meetings continue today at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, and the Nashville TENNESSEAN reports that the owners will vote this afternoon or tomorrow morning on a proposal to add one more team in each conference to the playoffs. However, "many in the league, including Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, do not support expanding the playoffs" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/25). The NFL Competition Committee favors expanding the format to 14 in '04, "and that now seems the likely outcome when it comes to the floor for a vote" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/25). Also on the agenda are discussions on overtime and instant replay (THE DAILY).
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reported that the AZ Super Bowl Bid Committee today "will make a presentation of roughly 25 minutes" to the owners, asking to host the Super Bowl in '08 or '09. No decision will be made until at least October (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 3/24).
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that NFL Senior VP/Special Events Jim Steeg "will give Jacksonville's Super Bowl plans a thumbs up today when he makes a five-minute presentation to the owners." Steeg will assure the owners that the game will be played in Jacksonville on February 6, 2005, and that the "cruise ship concept to supplement the city's hotel rooms is feasible" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 3/25).
WATSON TO SEEK APPROVAL TO REDUCE TEXANS OWNERSHIP STAKE
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that NFL owners today are expected to approve a request by Texans Vice Chair Chuck Watson to "sell a majority of his interest in the franchise to the team's existing partners." While Watson had originally been the largest minority partner with a 15% stake, he reduced his interest last year to 10%. An NFL source said that Watson would now "retain less than five percent" of the team (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/25).
SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TO MEET WITH NEGOTIATING TEAM TODAY
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that the San Diego City Council today will meet privately with a "newly hired negotiating team dealing with the Chargers' move to renegotiate their lease and demands for a new stadium." City Attorney Casey Gwinn said that council members are "expected to decide on a negotiating strategy," as well as be given a legal analysis of the city's contract with the team. The City Council voted 7-2 yesterday to add attorneys Paul Jacobs and Robert Kheel and sports consultant Dan Barrett to the negotiating team on initial retainers of $100,000 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/25).
PLANS FOR WORLD SKATING FEDERATION TO BE UNVEILED TODAY
The World Figure Skating Championships continue today in DC, and USA TODAY reports that figure skating officials and past Olympians will announce at a noon ET press conference that they "plan to form an alternative federation" to the Int'l Skating Union, to be called the World Skating Federation. The WSF, "which has drawn up a new constitution for the sport and has nearly a million-dollar budget, expects to begin meeting with national governing bodies and their skaters this spring and summer" (USA TODAY, 3/25).
NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol, on figure skating: "There's been a serious erosion of audiences. People have more and more choices. To have big ratings, you have to have big events that capture the public interest" (USA TODAY, 3/25).
OREGON STADIUM CAMPAIGN ADS TO TOUT BUSINESS SUPPORT
The Oregon Stadium Campaign today will unveil its newest TV and print ads touting expanded business support in its effort to bring the Expos to Portland during a 10:00am PT press conference at the OR Sports HOF in Portland. The group, which is a joint effort of the OR Sports Authority, Portland Baseball Group and OR Baseball Campaign, will also provide a full review of last week's meeting in Phoenix with the MLB Relocation Committee (THE DAILY).
MORNING BRIEFS
Dallas City Council member Mark Housewright, on the Cowboys' plans to build a new stadium: "We would love to have the Dallas Cowboys playing in the city of Dallas again. But any time someone is asking for part of our tax revenue, I'm always concerned" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/25).
The L.A. TIMES reports that the FIFA Confederations Cup, scheduled to be played in France in June, "will go ahead as planned, despite the war in Iraq." The U.S. is one of eight participants in the event (L.A. TIMES, 3/25).
MLB.com reported that Pete Rose will not attend the Opening Day festivities at Great American Ball Park (MLB.com, 3/24). Meanwhile, the CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reports that Rose also declined to be the Grand Marshal of the Opening Day Parade in Cincinnati. However, the parade will hold a Pete Rose look-alike contest, and the winner will receive two tickets to the opening day game (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/25).
The AP reported that Charles Barkley made his first public appearance at a Suns home game since his retirement, "receiving a huge ovation when he was introduced" as part of the Sun's retro-night celebration. Barkley, on a possible role with the Suns: "I want to be a season-ticket holder and come to the games, that's it" (AP, 3/24).
Wild Chair Bob Naegele, on the team going to the playoffs in its third year: "The little baby we were all part of at birth has taken its first steps and already is in kindergarten. It's Cinderella City, where dreams come true" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 3/25).
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the USOC honored Sarah Hughes as the SportsWoman of the Year, Lance Armstrong as the SportsMan of the Year and women's bobsled gold medal winners Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers as the USOC Team of the Year (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3/25).
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that CBC Sports Exec Dir Nancy Lee today is expected to meet with "Hockey Night In Canada" (HNIC) Exec Producer Joel Darling to discuss recent comments made by HNIC commentator Don Cherry. Cherry "backed the U.S. military attack to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and was critical of the Canadian government's refusal to enter the war." Cherry's co-host Ron MacLean, for continuing the debate after being told to stop, will "face more of a slap on the wrist than Cherry" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 3/25).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
A surreal scene occurred during last night's Raptors-Knicks game at MSG as the N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that designer Calvin Klein grabbed Knicks G Latrell Sprewell "by the arm and mumbled a few words to him before being ushered back to his courtside seat." Sprewell was unaware it was Klein, but when asked later while getting dressed if he wears any of Klein's clothes, Sprewell said, "Yeah. I'm trying to wear some more right now." A source said that Klein "was using a seat owned by the NBA" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/25).
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 |
TODAY'S EVENTS
The NHL and USA Hockey will host a luncheon to recognize the '03 Lester Patrick Award winners at 11:00am ET in Boston. Former Bruins D Ray Bourque, USA Hockey VP Ron DeGregorio and NHL Diversity Dir Willie O'Ree will be honored (THE DAILY).
NCAA President Myles Brand will participate in a Rainbow/PUSH Coalition-sponsored forum discussing the future of Title IX at 10:00am CT in Chicago (THE DAILY).
U.S. Federation Cup Captain Billie Jean King will name the final two members of the Fed Cup team during an 11:00am ET conference call (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that UPS will unveil a new logo as "part of the biggest rebranding push in the delivery company's 96-year history." The rebranding is expected to cost about $20M "over the next year but take several years to complete" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/25).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that estimates for the amount of ad spending "being displaced or postponed that were made before the war began are being revised downward, to less than $100[M] so far compared with earlier figures of as much as $400[M]" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/25).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Pepsi Chair & CEO Steven Reinemund received a $3.2M bonus in '02, down from the $3.5M bonus he received in '01 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/25).
The AP reported that the Discovery Times Channel, a joint venture between Discovery Communications and the N.Y. Times, launches today at 8:00pm ET with "Al Qaeda 2.0." The new channel, which "begins operation … in about 29 million homes," is a "bold move for the Times" (AP, 3/24).
Former CBS President/Advertising Sales and Discovery Networks President/Advertising Sales Joe Abruzzese, on viewers' relationship with cable nets: "My gut feeling is that people watch networks on cable. People say to me, 'I love TLC; I love Animal Planet.' I don't hear people saying, 'I love ABC; I love CBS.' That kind of relationship could obviously be valuable to advertisers" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/25).
OSCAR PARTIES RECAP:
In the recap of Sunday's Oscar parties, the WASHINGTON POST gossip column notes how one of its gossip colleagues received a less than warm welcome at Morton's in Beverly Hills. At the party hosted by Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter, agent Ed Limato hurled his drink into the face of New York Post gossip columnist Richard Johnson. Minutes later, actor Tim Robbins "threatened us with bodily injury." For more on this affair, read The Reliable Source (WASHINGTON POST, 3/25).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World."
"Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, this one was the smallest."
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
Paul Shaffer guest hosted the "Late Show" on CBS last night. Shaffer: "What are the odds that I'd be available tonight? I'll be honest, this is all new to me. I usually spend this part of the show staring at Dave's ass. It's a historic night here at the Ed Sullivan Theatre because, for the first time ever, CBS is allowing me to be photographed below the waist. … Dave, if you're watching, get well soon. But, I've made a few changes since I took over. I fired two of the writers and gave the band a raise. … How many of you watched the Oscars last night? Long show, a little boring. I felt like Queen Latifah's dress. I could barely stay up. Security was tight. Joan Rivers showed up wearing a bulletproof face. … What about that Michael Moore? What about that speech? To give you an idea of how unpopular that was, 10 minutes after Moore appeared in the dead actors' montage. And Roman Polanski won for Best Director, but he was unable to be there to accept his Academy Award. He's the only foreigner who cannot get into the country. Catherine Zeta-Jones won for Best Supporting Actress. She said she was just so happy that her husband Michael Douglas was alive to see it" ("Late Show," CBS, 3/24).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
CBS' Craig Kilborn: "Did you enjoy the Oscars last night? Roman Polanski won an Oscar for Best Director, and of course, if you saw this, R. Kelly accepted on his behalf. R. Kelly still doesn't get it. He thanked the little people. Last night at the Oscars a very rare, so-called Hollywood eclipse. Adrien Brody's nose blocks the shadow of J.Lo's ass. Robert Blake's new girlfriend just broke up with him. She is playing hard to shoot. Tomorrow night Celine Dion launches a three-year engagement in Las Vegas. The name of the show? Refundapalozza" ("Late Late Show," CBS, 3/24).
MONDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR
ESPN's 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" (late due to NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament coverage) led with Grizzlies-Magic, followed by a Rockets-Clippers update and Sonics-Suns.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What is the statue of Zeus at Olympia?"
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