Morning Buzz, April 7, 2003

CSTV TO ANNOUNCE COCA-COLA DEAL IN ANTICIPATION OF LAUNCH

College Sports Television (CSTV) President & CEO Brian Bedol will host a 9:30am ET conference call to announce that Coca-Cola has signed a letter of intent to invest in and form a marketing partnership with CSTV. The proposed $15M deal includes a $10M equity stake and $5M to be dedicated to integrated marketing and promotional activities. As part of the deal, CSTV and Coca-Cola expect to develop new programming, joint advertising and consumer marketing initiatives to complement Coca-Cola’s recently announced 11-year sponsorship of the NCAA. In the first execution, Coca-Cola will be the presenting sponsor of CSTV’s Sunday night block of Notre Dame programming, which premieres this fall (THE DAILY).

Bedol appeared on CNBC’s “Wake Up Call” this morning in the 6:30am ET window to tease the Coca-Cola announcement and to promote tonight’s launch immediately following CBS’s coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Bedol: “College sports are like a year-round Olympics, and if you look at TV today, you see football and men’s basketball, but outside of that there are 25 men’s and women’s sports that really don’t make it on to TV” (“Wake Up Call,” CNBC, 4/7).

THE MASTERS: CBS COVERAGE, COMMENTARY ON PROTESTS

Practice rounds for The Masters begin today at Augusta National Golf Club, and the CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that CBS Sports President Sean McManus will host a conference call today during which he is “expected to say that CBS News will cover the protest aspect during its broadcasts” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/7).

The N.Y. TIMES reports that CBS Sports will cover a protest “only if a spontaneous protest affects play.” Otherwise, “even on-course demonstrations might be ignored by CBS, much as networks refuse to show drunken fans racing across a football or baseball field” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/7).

Augusta National Chair Hootie Johnson, on the protests: “I think there’s going to be more smoke than fire” (COLUMBIA STATE, 4/6).

The impending protests over the membership practices at the golf club were the subject of columns across the country this weekend. The following offers highlights:

In Atlanta, Michael Carvell wrote, “The National has issued its policies for behavior at the golf tournament, and this year it’s reminding spectators that ‘in keeping with tradition and long-standing policy, Masters Tournament patrons are requested to avoid wearing any apparel, including hats, buttons/pins or similar items expressing an opinion, pro or con, on any social or political issue.’ … Club officials say the policy is not new, but this year they chose to clarify ‘appropriate-ness’” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/7).

In CO Springs, Dan Wolken wrote, “Though social protests have often crossed with the world of sports, [NCWO Chair Martha Burk’s] demonstration could be the biggest, most-organized, most-anticipated, and most-visible picket staged at a sporting event. In that sense, it will be unique. In another sense, it will merely be a continuation of a tradition of sporting venues as soapboxes” (CO Springs GAZETTE, 4/6).

On Long Island, Mark Herrmann wrote, “Burk’s group wants to become visible enough at its protest Saturday to send a message that Augusta never will be able to hold a ‘normal’ Masters until a woman member is admitted. The club wants to conduct the four rounds, put the focus on golf, put the green jacket on the champion and show it still can run a tournament no matter what Burk does” (NEWSDAY, 4/6).

In N.Y., Mark Cannizzaro wrote, “In the end, once balls are struck for real on Thursday, the tournament's opening round, the focus will be on what's going on inside the ropes and not the protest out on Washington Avenue. … It should all be much ado about nothing” (N.Y. POST, 4/6).

In Atlanta, Steve Hummer wrote, “The protestors can expect little support here. To the Masters customer, they will be curiosities at best, human pine borers bent on ravaging the grounds at worst” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/6).

In Boston, Joe Gordon wrote, “In what she fears will be a questionable decision, Burk feared instead all protests, pro and con, would be relegated to a five-acre parcel owned by the club.” Burk: “They say they were going to rule (Friday), they did not” (BOSTON HERALD, 4/7).

In Augusta, Greg Rickabaugh wrote, “More security will be part of the game at the 2003 Masters Tournament. Spectators walking the course can expect to see a uniformed deputy at every tee box and on every green this week as the security force swells for the second year in a row” (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/7).

In Palm Beach, Karen Crouse wrote, “The media inquiries have kept coming and Burk, by returning every phone call, has kept the controversy in play. Johnson, meantime, has retreated from the public" (PALM BEACH POST, 4/6).

PGA Tour player Phil Mickelson, on the protests: “When we get inside the gates and we’re teeing it up for the first major of 2003, the feel will be the same as it always has. But certainly, when you get out of the gates and drive home, it will be a little different” (DENVER POST, 4/6).

The AP’s Tim Dahlberg wrote, “Annika Sorenstam will be in Augusta on Wednesday to accept an award at the Golf Writers Association of America’s annual dinner.” Sorenstam: “I want to get out of there. [The protests are] not something I like to be a part of. I think it’s bad for the game of golf. I hope we can find a solution to it and move on” (AP, 4/6).

In Palm Beach, Craig Dolch wrote, “(PGA Commissioner Tim) Finchem recently made himself unavailable to talk to the media at a time when questions of the Augusta National controversy are certain to come up. He skipped his usual news conference prior to the World Match Play Championship at La Costa in late February. … Finchem insisted to a small group of reporters that he was comfortable with the Tour’s position.” Finchem: “It is a position based on the evaluation of all factors” (PALM BEACH POST, 4/6).

TENNIS CHANNEL TO TELECAST THREE MARQUEE ITF EVENTS IN U.S.

The Tennis Channel and ITF today will announce the signing of a three-year agreement for U.S. telecast rights to the Fed Cup, Davis Cup and Hopman Cup. The agreement, which includes live competition, classic matches and archival footage from the ITF library, will be supported by marketing and promotion of the ITF and its three marquee events. Davis Cup rights are for non-U.S. matches only. Financial terms were not disclosed (THE DAILY).

DIRECTV TO BROADCAST TELEVISION GAMES NETWORK

The Television Games Network (TVG) and DirecTV announced the completion of a multi-year agreement for DirecTV to carry the 24-hour horseracing network, beginning today. DirecTV will launch the net on its Sports Pack premium package (THE DAILY).

NHL SET TO OPEN PLAYOFFS WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH FOUR GAMES

The NHL today will hold its draft lottery to determine the order of the first 14 picks of the ’03 Draft at 2:30pm ET. The league also announced the first round series of the ’03 Stanley Cup playoffs. The following series begin Wednesday: Islanders-Senators, Bruins-Devils, Maple Leafs-Flyers and Oilers-Stars. Mighty Ducks-Red Wings, Capitals-Lightning, Wild-Avalanche and Blues-Canucks open their first round series Thursday (THE DAILY). The OTTAWA SUN reports that the Senators “have a lot of inventory to move” as 2,500 tickets are available for Game One against the Islanders and 3,300 are available for Game Two on Saturday (OTTAWA SUN, 4/7).

MORNING BRIEFS

The L.A. TIMES reports that “unless the situation changes dramatically between now and September, the fourth FIFA Women’s World Cup in China might have to be postponed” because of SARS. The Asian qualifying tournament for the world championship has already been postponed (L.A. TIMES, 4/7).

REUTERS reported that FIFA president Sepp Blatter “may consider standing for a third term in charge of world soccer’s governing body” when his current presidency ends in ’06. Blatter: “It will depend on a revision of FIFA’s rules that are currently being carried out whether a third period in office would be generally possible” (REUTERS, 4/6).

The WASHINGTON POST reported that the VA Baseball Stadium Authority met Saturday in a closed session to “discuss strategy for acquiring a stadium site” and “has contacted the owners of five sites identified as potential locations” for stadium (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6).

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reported that Twins Owner Carl Pohlad “missed his first Twins home opener since he bought the team in 1984” as he attended the Horatio Alger Association banquet Friday night in DC. Pohlad and his wife, Eloise, contributed $483,000 this year for the association’s scholarship program (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/5).

The home openers of the Yankees and Indians today were postponed because of forecasts of heavy snow (THE DAILY).

The AP reported that the Nando Times and the Nando SportServer “will shut down within 90 days” as the sites “no longer fit into the … broader strategy” of parent Interactive Media. However, none of the 54 Raleigh-based employees are expected to lose their jobs (AP, 4/6).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that because of engine problems with their plane, the Magic “had to use the Seattle Mariners’ aircraft Saturday night to fly to Houston. As nice as owner Rich DeVos’ jet is, the Magic did not complain” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/7).

ESPN.com reported that DC-based arbitrator Richard Bloch will decide today if the terms of Jets’ matching of the Redskins’ offer for KR Chad Morton was appropriate (ESPN.com, 4/4).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reported that because the Superdome “reduced its seating capacity to move several thousand seats closer, this is the lowest-attended Final Four in Dome history.”  The crowd of 54,432 Saturday “still was the fourth highest in Final Four history, behind the three previous events in New Orleans (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/6).

• The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reported that a crowd of 59,269 attended the Phillies home opener against the Pirates Friday night, the team’s “largest opening day since 1993 (60,985) and the largest for any game since July 15, 2001, when 59,470 tickets were sold” for a Yankees-Phillies game (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/5).

• The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that a crowd of 48,617 attended the Twins home opener against the Blue Jays Friday night, the team’s “largest home opener since 1993, when they drew 51,617” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/5).

• The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reported that the Reds “drew 91,317 for the three-game series (against the Pirates) to open Great American Ball Park. For the opening series at Cinergy Field last year, they drew 78,106” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/4). The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER also notes that “through six games, the Reds have drawn an average of 28,883 fans, … 7,057 more per game than Cinergy Field (21,826) after six dates last year” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/7).

• The N.Y. POST reported that due to unseasonably cold weather, Shea Stadium was “empty – about 20,000 short of the 36,817 announced as paid” for Saturday’s Expos-Mets game (N.Y. POST, 4/7).

• The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reported that with Saturday’s sellout against the Magic, the Mavericks “set a franchise record for home sellouts in a season” with 39 (FT. WORTH STAR TELEGRAM, 4/6).

• The NAPLES DAILY NEWS reported that a crowd of 3,860 attended Saturday’s JPMorgan Chase Tennis Challenge at the Naples Bath & Tennis Club. The event and an accompanying gala raised “more than $150,000” for the OWL Foundation, “surpassing last year’s total when the event was held in Delray Beach.” Oracene Price, mother of Venus and Serena Williams, founded the organization (NAPLES DAILY NEWS, 4/6).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reported that Zach Kirk, who caught Sammy Sosa’s 500^th homerun ball, said that “he had no idea how much the ball is worth but claimed that some fans gave him business cards and offered to pay $20,000 for the ball. A Cubs representative told Kirk he could exchange the ball for an autographed Sosa jersey and a couple of photographs.” Kirk “jokingly asked the Cubs for an internship in the media relations department for the ball but was rebuffed” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/6).

WEEKEND RAP…

The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “parting shots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:

• Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: “Do you want to know who’s responsible – indirectly – … for Derek Jeter’s injury? Pete Rose! Pete Rose is the showboat, hot dog, narcissist who reintroduced the useless headfirst slide to baseball after a 30-year absence. ... (Jeter) had no reason to go headfirst into third base, none. But sadly, that’s all he and 99.9% of modern players know. Proper sliding is a lost art.”

• N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, on North Carolina AD Dick Baddour firing men’s basketball coach Matt Doherty: “While paying lip service to his school, job one for (Baddour) at Carolina is his job. In modern college sports, (AD’s) have become as ruthless, scared and impatient as any owner or (GM) in professional sports. Matt Doherty ran up against all that and whining parents.”

• Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon: “From the too little too late department, we bring you Ben Howland who’s planning to say goodbye to his Pitt basketball players about a week after they heard it from an assistant coach and every sports show in America. ... These coaches talk character, but exhibit none.”

• ESPN’s John Saunders: “It’s been 20 years since Jim Valvano led NC State to the most unlikely NCAA Championship win in tournament history, and it’s been ten years since Jim Valvano lost his life to cancer. ... Jimmy V didn’t just work the room. He owned the room. ... Jim’s on-court accomplishments are small compared to what he’s done since learning he had incurable cancer and announcing with ESPN the birth of the V Foundation. ... Jim’s legacy has raised over $25(M) for cancer research. ... Think of Jim Valvano still coaching and winning another one that wasn’t supposed to be close” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 4/6).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• Lupica, on NCWO Chair Martha Burk: “I’m sick of her. She’s starting to act like Greg Norman. She had a big lead and she’s going to blow it before she even gets to the turn” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 4/6).

• Wilbon, on the protest site for The Masters granted to Burk, which is located away from the entrance to Augusta National: “How much of it are we going to see? It was going to be the news divisions that brought us whatever was going on outside of Augusta National in the first place. Who are you going to have out there to cover that?” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 4/6).

• ESPN’s Tom Farrey, on issuing penalties to Div. I schools with poor graduation rates among athletes: “Many coaches are nervous about the proposal, but the college presidents seem determined to do something about the issue. Some say nothing less than the marriage between universities and high-profile sports entertainment is at stake” ("OTL," ESPN, 4/6).

• ESPN broadcaster Tom Tolbert, on the Trail Blazers’ recent off-court problems: “If I’m Paul Allen and I’m losing $100[M], I expect a little more than this. I expect effort. I expect guys to be on time. I expect guys to not get busted. Guys not busting teammates in the face. I expect more than I’m getting” ("NBA Shootaround," ESPN, 4/4).

• L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers, on Mike Tyson singing on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and whether he could be a TV personality: “Put a cage around him and it becomes the greatest reality TV show of all-time” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 4/4).

• “SNL” castmember Jimmy Fallon, during a skit in which he plays a die-hard Red Sox fan attending a game at Fenway: “Nothing says baseball like a lukewarm $8 beer” ("SNL," NBC, 4/5).

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

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are this week’s confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

This week’s cover of TIME offers “Saddam’s Last Stand.” Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines “Saving Private Lynch” (THE DAILY).

The N.Y. TIMES reports that Cablevision “has abandoned its plan to bid for Hughes Electronics and its DirecTV satellite television operation,” leaving Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. as the sole suitor for Hughes (N.Y. TIMES, 4/7).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that “just as advertising schedules are returning to normalcy on cable news networks, the potentially lethal and graphic fight for the U.S.-led coalition to take control of Baghdad could reverse that trend (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/7).

The AP reports that Yahoo will unveil a rebuilt search engine today in a bid to “supplant business partner Google as the most popular way to find things on the Internet” (AP, 4/7).

The WASHINGTON POST reported that BoDog.com has eliminated betting on the outcome of “Survivor” after “becoming suspicious that CBS employees with insider information were wagering on the outcome and winning.” BoDog spokesperson Lance Bradley: “Every sportsbook had the same problem – their odds had really shifted in two players” (WASHINGTON POST, 4/5).

The N.Y. TIMES reported that Calvin Klein is “seeking professional help for substance abuse, nearly two weeks after his erratic behavior” during a Knicks game at MSG that briefly forced a halt in play. The incident “raised questions about the designer’s health and his role in his company” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/5).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was “Food Science.”

“In 2002, Japanese scientists discovered it contains the enzyme lachrymatory-factor synthase.”

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “I am still on high-powered pain-killers (because of shingles) so keep checking the paper for my celebrity mug shot. You just never know. ... I have a big weekend planned. I’ll be logging on to shingles.com. ... You can’t smoke anywhere in (N.Y.) anymore except here. ... You can’t smoke in theaters, you can’t smoke in restaurants, you can’t smoke nowhere. In fact, earlier today on the streets of (N.Y.), honest to God, I saw a rat with a nicotine patch. ... We can’t smoke anywhere in (N.Y.). ... What are we supposed to do after we have sex on the subway? ... Good news from Iraq. The U.S. forces have penetrated the red zone. ... You know what that means? No parking” ("Late Show," CBS, 4/4).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “U.S. forces are now in control of Saddam Hussein International Airport and here’s how you can tell. They’ve already added ten new flights a day from Baghdad to Vegas non-stop. ... Special Forces raided one of Saddam Hussein’s palaces and I understand Saddam was furious. He was really upset. Apparently, after Special Forces broke in, it took ADT Home Security more than 45 minutes to respond. ... His palace is located on Saddam Hussein Boulevard, next to the Saddam Hussein Soccer Field, which is next to the Saddam Hussein Airport. This guy names everything after himself. He’s like Donald Trump with better hair. ... Researchers at the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation in Chicago have discovered a new floral scent perfume they say can actually make men think that women are 12 pounds lighter than they are. Apparently, they just spray it in the guy’s eye” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/4).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last Friday’s “Top Ten” list was "Top Ten Saddam Hussein Weekend Plans” ("Late Show," CBS, 4/4).

CBS’ Craig Kilborn who continued to broadcast from New Orleans as part of CBS’ Final Four promotion: “We tape our shows normally in L.A. L.A. is kind of the opposite of New Orleans. We give girls real beads for fake boobs. … Five hundred pounds of marijuana washed up on the beaches of Florida. There’s a great combination, sharks with the munchies” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 4/5).

SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:30pm ET 90-minute edition of “SportsCenter” led with the Women’s NCAA Final Four: Texas-UConn and Tennessee-Duke, followed by an update on Reds CF Ken Griffey Jr.’s shoulder injury and Cubs-Reds.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that it was “another lukewarm weekend at the boxoffice, marking the fourth consecutive down session as the estimated total for the top 12 films was $84[M], down 10% from the comparable frame a year ago (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/7).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What are onions?”

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

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