| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, April 11, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Murdoch To Make Rounds On Capitol Hill Today To Push DirecTV Deal |
| • | USA Network Expanding Broadcast Today As The Masters Attempts To Play 36 |
| • | Burk, Strength To Meet In Augusta Today To Discuss Protest Sites |
| • | Red Sox Host Home Opener Today; Green Monster Seats Open |
| • | Word Of Iverson’s Olympic Selection Leak Because Of Telephone’s Mute Button |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MURDOCH TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR DIRECTV DEAL IN DC TODAY
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch “will make the rounds on Capitol Hill today to build support for his company’s proposed acquisition of DirecTV.” Murdoch is scheduled to meet with House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair Billy Tauzin (R-LA). Tauzin’s panel oversees “telecommunications issues, and his position on the deal will weigh heavily on federal regulators” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/11).
USA NETWORK TO EXPAND COVERAGE OF THE MASTERS TODAY
The AUGUSTA CHRONICLE reports that USA Network is “expanding its broadcast today as Masters officials attempt to squeeze in the first two rounds” following yesterday’s postponement due to rain. USA will begin its coverage at 2:00pm ET, instead of 4:00pm, and “will continue through the conclusion of play this evening.” The net’s HDTV broadcast will follow the same schedule. USA will then air a replay of coverage from 8:00-10:30pm. Yesterday, the net “filled its time slot with a rebroadcast of the 1997 Masters.” Although play was postponed, CBS Sports proceeded as scheduled with its “Masters Highlight Show” from 11:35-11:50pm ET. The show focused on weather conditions and Wednesday’s practice rounds and par-3 contest (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/11).
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE notes there “is a chance, at the beginning of its first-round broadcast today on USA, that network hosts Bill Macatee or Jim Nantz will briefly mention the controversy surrounding” the tournament (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/11).
BURK AND STRENGTH TO MEET TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE PROTEST SITES
The AP reported that NCWO Chair Martha Burk and Augusta-Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength are scheduled to meet today in Augusta to discuss protest sites for The Masters (AP, 4/10). Strength, on the meeting: “We want to iron out all the dos and don’ts at the protest site. … We want to answer any questions anyone may have about Saturday” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/11). Burk, on the loophole that allows groups of four or less to protest on public grounds without a permit: “We’ve not talked to the lawyers in any detail about [the loophole.] But take my word: We’ll be there. We’ll make a statement” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/11).
As vendors near Augusta National have been selling pro-Hootie Johnson, pro-The Masters and anti-Burk paraphernalia, the BOSTON GLOBE notes that the NCWO yesterday “unveiled its own collared shirts for the weekend, the women’s symbol with a golf ball in the circle framed by the words ‘Discrimination Is Not A Game’” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/11).
RED SOX OPEN FENWAY PARK TODAY; GREEN MONSTER SEATS READY
The Red Sox are scheduled to host the Orioles today at 2:05pm ET in their Fenway Park opener, and the seats above the Green Monster will be open to host a variety of non-patrons, including the many local construction workers responsible for completing the project ahead of the scheduled April 29 date. In addition, the Red Sox will also host a number of groups, employees, and special guests during the first three games. The team announced that tickets for the seats for the upcoming Devil Rays and Blue Jays series will go on sale Monday at 9:00am ET (THE DAILY). The Green Monster seats and a section of seats behind home plate and down the foul lines, added in the last two years, “will bring in another $10[M] annually” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/11). Furthermore, new advertising also appears on each side of the expanded scoreboard, “which for decades had been free of ads” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/11).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
Which enterprising league president eyes The Great American Race as an event he would like to attend, but has yet to get there because it coincides with one of his league’s premier events? To find out, see today’s Sports Industrialists section for “THE DAILY Goes One-On-One With...”
MORNING BRIEFS
The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that news of 76ers G Allen Iverson’s selection to the ’04 Olympic team “accidentally leaked out” during an NBA conference call yesterday when Senior VP/Basketball Operations Stu Jackson, who “did not realize his telephone line was not muted,” said to NBA Commissioner David Stern and Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik, “A.I. made the team.” When questioned, Jackson “would not elaborate, and Stern tried to cover up the remark” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 4/11). Pacers C Jermaine O’Neal has also been invited to join the team (AP, 4/10).
The L.A. TIMES reports that former D’Backs Minority Owner Arturo Moreno as early as this weekend will meet with MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to discuss the possible purchase of the Angels. Negotiations between the club and Moreno have become “feverish,” and one source said Moreno is “definitely the No. 1 guy” (L.A. TIMES, 4/11).
USA TODAY reports that the MLBPA has not decided “whether it’s going to approve MLB’s format change for the All-Star Game,” which would award the winner homefield advantage in the World Series. Discussions between the union and MLB Exec VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred have been ongoing this week (USA TODAY, 4/11).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
SI.com reported that PGA Tour player Fred Couples yesterday gave Giants RB Tiki Barber a tour of the Augusta National clubhouse (SI.com, 4/10).
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 Black Athlete Sports Network will hold its initial Black Sports Symposium through Sunday at the Adams Mark Hotel in Philadelphia. Featured guests include Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown and NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw. On Sunday, NCAA PR Dir Wally Renfro and NE State Sen. Ernie Chambers will be among those participating in a debate regarding the payment of college athletes (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 4/8).
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid Corporation and RBC Financial Group will host a game between the Canadian National Women’s Hockey Team and local media at 1:45pm PT at RBC Rink at Whistler Mountain (THE DAILY).
Southwest Airlines will host a fishing trip for 29 children from the Heart of L.A. organization with Lakers G Brian Shaw, F Devean George, F Tracy Murray and G Jannero Pargo (THE DAILY).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, upon recognizing that The Masters may be more important to CBS than he is, David Letterman does his part to walk the company line (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
A Publishers Information Bureau report revealed that magazine ad pages “continued to rise in March, increasing for the firth consecutive month.” Ad pages rose 9.1% in March compared with a year earlier period, and rose 5.3% over the first three months compared with a year earlier period (N.Y. TIMES, 4/11).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that AOL Time Warner’s IPO of shares in Time Warner Cable “scheduled for the second quarter, likely won’t occur at least until September, increasing the pressure on the debt-laden media giant to put other assets on the auction block” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/11).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Hispanic Americans.”
“He won the USA’s only boxing gold medal at the 1992 Olympics.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
NBC’s Jay Leno: “How many people have filed their taxes already? Do you know President Bush still hasn’t filed? Not because he’s too busy. He’s just waiting to see if can write off Saddam Hussein as a total loss. ... There’s going to be a big meeting this week to discuss post-war Iraq with the leaders of France, Germany and Russia, or as they’re also known, the Axis of Envy. ... Did you see the Iraqi people tearing down that statue of Saddam? It’s hard to believe he won a 100% of the vote in the last election. Voters are so fickle. ... Speaking at memorial dinner the other night, former First Lady Barbara Bush said, ‘I watch him guard our country through this difficult time and I can’t help but wonder is this the same kid I used to spank.’ Here's the weird part. She was talking about Donald Rumsfeld. ... The Lakers beat the Dallas Mavericks the other night for the 25th straight time in L.A. ... In fact, it’s so bad the Dixie Chicks said they were embarrassed that the Mavericks were from Texas. ... The first round of The Masters was called off due to rain. Four inches of rain just like that. Do you know what this means? Maybe God is a woman. ... Did you hear (Augusta National Chair Hootie Johnson) defending the decision not to let women join the club. Gee, hard to believe a guy from the South named Hootie would discriminate. ... Take your daughter to work day is coming up soon. ... Finally, a chance for the Detroit Tigers to win a game. ... They’re 0-8. They’re having a worse spring than the Republican Guard” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/10).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “From the book world, publishers are angry at Bill Clinton for taking so long to finish his book. Here’s the problem: Every time Hillary walks in, he changes the story. … Now, there’s a new book for people who have had their money in the stock market for the last few years. It’s called, ‘You Can’t Afford This Book.’ … Rolling Stones played a concert in Singapore despite fears of that deadly Asian virus. The result: the virus caught the Stones and died” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 4/10).
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” (late due to Mighty Ducks-Red Wings triple OT) led with Kings-Lakers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who was Oscar De La Hoya?"
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