| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, May 9, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Murdoch Praised By Republicans, Questioned By Democrats On DirecTV Deal |
| • | Celtics’ Deal With Danny Ainge Could Be Completed And Announced Today |
| • | Melnyk’s Purchase Of Senators And Corel Centre Could Be Recognized Today |
| • | ACHL Founder To Decide Today On Waronker’s League Buyout Offer |
| • | MLB To Begin Distributing All-Star Ballots In Dominican Republic Today |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MURDOCH PROMISES NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST DIRECTV RIVALS
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch’s “attempt to gain control of [DirecTV] was warmly received” by the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee yesterday as Republican reaction to the $6.6B deal “fell just short of fawning” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/9). The L.A. TIMES reports that Murdoch promised that he “will not discriminate against rivals or withhold his cable programming from others,” but he “declined to extend the company’s nondiscrimination promise to include its Fox broadcasting network” (L.A. TIMES, 5/9).
DAILY VARIETY reports that “only a handful of GOP lawmakers showed up for the hearing,” but the Democratic side of the dais was filled. U.S. Reps. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-CA) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) “were the most brutal” (DAILY VARIETY, 5/9).
CELTICS APPEAR READY TO BRING AINGE BACK INTO THE FOLD
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that a deal could be could be completed and announced as early as today for TNT NBA analyst & former Celtics G Danny Ainge to head the Celtics’ basketball operations. Ainge and the Celtics owners “met for a third time yesterday afternoon,” but co-Owner Wycliffe Grousbeck had “no comment.” Turner Sports Dir of PR Jeff Pomeroy: “We have spoken with Danny and he will not work any more games for us until the situation is resolved” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/9).
SENATORS’ STANLEY CUP RUN WILL HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT ON BID
The CP reports that Biovail CEO Eugene Melnyk’s purchase of the Senators and the Corel Centre could be recognized in court today. While tentative deals have been reached, “official closings of the purchase are still weeks away.” Sources close to Melnyk said that the Senators’ run to the Eastern Conference Finals “will have minimal impact” on his offer (CP, 5/9).
ACHL-WHA2 TURMOIL COULD COME TO AN END TODAY WITH SALE
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that ACHL Founder Bill Coffey has been given a noon ET deadline today to respond to David Waronker’s offer to buy the league. The two leagues have been involved in “nearly a month of negotiations and off-ice turmoil” since Waronker, owner of four WHA2 teams, announced that he was removing his teams from the ACHL. While Waronker “declined to detail his offer,” he said, “There is no cash value to the league ... but you are buying the end to what could be a lengthy legal battle” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/9).
The FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER reports that an “agreement in principle has been reached.” The result of the settlement will be a single league consisting of 10-12 teams (FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER, 5/9).
MORNING BRIEFS
NEWSDAY reports that HBO’s “Hard Knocks” will not return this year. HBO execs “made the calls to numerous top NFL teams, seeking access to training camps. None of their choices agreed.” The net “expects the series, which was watched in about 1.3 million households each week, to return in 2004” (NEWSDAY, 5/9).
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the San Antonio City Council yesterday “agreed to bring the Dallas Cowboys back to San Antonio to train this summer.” In a 6-5 vote, council members “endorsed a deal that will pay the Cowboys $400,000." The city will get $2 from the Cowboys for each ticket they sell to a scrimmage with the Texans at the Alamodome (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/9).
The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that Pat Summerall informed Fox Sports yesterday “that he is retiring from play-by-play duty.” Summerall: “It was hard to make the decision. I’ll miss it, but it’s time.” Summerall added that he decided to retire “after he and Fox could not agree on a schedule for the upcoming season.” Summerall wanted to work only Cowboys games (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/9).
USA TODAY reports that the World Track Cycling Championships, which were moved from China over fear of SARS, will be held in Stuttgart, Germany, on the originally scheduled dates of July 30-August 3 (USA TODAY, 5/9).
MLB today will begin distributing All-Star Game ballots in the Dominican Republic, marking the third straight year it has done so (THE DAILY).
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that Empire Maker trainer Bobby Frankel has pulled the horse from the Preakness field, “reducing to six a field that would be the smallest in 24 years.” Confirmed starters are Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, Scrimshaw, Indian Express, Senor Swinger, Midway Road and either Peace Rules or Midas Eye (WASHINGTON TIMES, 5/9).
USA TODAY reports that East TN State Univ. (ETSU) will eliminate its football program after this season, as ETSU President Paul Stanton said the university was in the midst of the “worst economic crisis since the Great Depression” (USA TODAY, 5/9).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that a crowd of 69,582 attended last night’s Mexico-U.S. soccer friendly at Reliant Stadium. As expected, it was “the biggest crowd to see a soccer game in the state,” and fans of the Mexican team “outnumbered the U.S. fans, although not by the 3-to-1 margin organizers predicted” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/9).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Lake Como Nudist Resort in FL is “planning what it’s calling the first-ever Webcast of a nude tennis tournament.” For a fee of $10-13, Internet users can watch the 20-person field compete for the $2,000 prize in front of 100 naked spectators at www.TennisInTheBuff.com, and “watch on demand the two-hour tournament after it’s played Sunday.” Miller Lite is among the sponsors (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/9).
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 |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The 2003 NHL/Sears Bring the Cup Home presented by MasterCard promotion begins today, offering one sweepstakes winner a day at home with the Stanley Cup. Over the next two weeks, Consumers will be automatically entered to win a day with the Cup by using their MasterCard card at select Sears locations. The Stanley Cup will visit select Sears stores in the four NHL Conference Finals markets (THE DAILY).
Upper Deck and SOHU.com will formally launch the official Yao Ming Web sites, www.yaoming.net and yaoming.net/china, to coincide with Ming’s SARS charity telethon airing Sunday in China (THE DAILY).
The ECHL today will release its ’03-04 schedule at 4:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
World TeamTennis will kick off the WTT KidCaster Program in Wilmington, DE, at noon ET in Rodney Square. WTT Youth Ambassador Luke Jensen will be the emcee and head judge for the program, which gives children ages 6-14 the chance to become the official KidCasters of the Delaware Smash (THE DAILY).
YAK Communications will celebrate its Nasdaq listing with a ceremony at 11:40am ET at the Nasdaq MarketSite in N.Y. YAK President & CEO Charles Zwebner and YAK investor & baseball HOFer Rollie Fingers will attend (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. In celebration of Mother’s Day this Sunday, David Letterman hosted ten celebrity mothers in studio to read the “Top Ten Things You Don’t Know About My Child.” The mothers of Jason Kidd, Venus and Serena Williams and Tony Hawk participated. At the conclusion of the list, Letterman gave each mother a dozen roses. To see the entire Top Ten list, see Laugh Track(THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that IPG yesterday released its Q1 ’03 earnings and “higher costs, lower revenue for many units and another write-down at a struggling motorsports operation contributed to a net loss for the quarter, in contrast to the modest profit that Wall Street had expected.” Revenue rose 0.7% to $1.43B from $1.42B in the year-earlier period. Additionally, there was an $11.1M charge “related to the impairment of assets at the motor-sports operation of Octagon” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/9).
DAILY VARIETY reports that NBC “remains the young-adult ratings leader at the halfway point of the May sweep – barely holding off a charging Fox.” NBC has averaged a 4.4/12 Nielsen rating in the 18-49 demo through two weeks, “slightly ahead of Fox’s 4.3/12” (DAILY VARIETY, 5/9).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that former AOL Time Warner COO Robert Pittman is “about to start his own private equity firm,” Pilot Group, which is “expected to invest in media companies” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/9).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was “National Statuary Hall.”
“Both partly of Cherokee decent, they’re the two men whose statues represent Oklahoma in the U.S. Capitol.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: “Tonight, right after the program, I go upstairs and read all of my e-mail spam. ... (N.Y.) has a terrible noise problem. Miserable noise pollution here in (N.Y.), but thank God New Yorkers are doing their part. Earlier today, I heard somebody whisper for help. ... Even the Mets are doing their part by eliminating the sharp crack of the bat. ... Mayor Bloomberg’s approval ratings are at an all-time low of 32%. Let me put that in perspective for you. Saddam Hussein is at 37%. ... Earlier today I heard that coalition forces found a mobile bio terror lab in Iraq. It’s a germ laboratory on wheels or as we call it here in the U.S., Domino’s. ... U.S. forces have captured the two of hearts in the Iraqi deck of cards. That makes 20 out of 55 captured, so that’s pretty good. Oddly enough, the eight of clubs: Winona Ryder" ("Late Show," CBS, 5/8).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Dick Cheney announced he has agreed to be President Bush’s running mate once again in 2004. He actually made the announcement yesterday while riding in Ambulance One. ... In fact, he’s got a new campaign slogan – ‘No chest pain, no gain.’ ... Quick note and this is kind of scary. If you see a bunch of people at LAX coming off a plane choking, that’s not SARS. That’s the Lakers coming home. ... Those Clinton-Dole debates on ‘60 Minutes’ aren’t doing well. The ratings are really bad and in fact there’s talk they may not be back next season. To be renewed, they said Bob Dole would have to come off as more charming and Clinton would have to come off as more honest. So in other words, they’re screwed. ... The debates are kind of dull. If they want some real fireworks, they should have Bill arguing with Hillary. I’d pay to see that. ... Prince William is reportedly thinking about moving to the U.S. after he graduates from college. He says he wants to live a free and easy lifestyle for a few years as opposed to the grueling life of being a prince. ... It seems yet another woman has come to forward to say that she was one of at least two other women who had sex with Mike Price in the hotel room. Two women now! Typical football coach. Even sex begins with a huddle” (“Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/8).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things You Don’t Know About My Child.” The list was read in-studio by ten celebrities’ mothers ("Late Night," CBS, 5/8).
| 10) Anne Kidd, mother of Nets G Jason Kidd: “After they lost to the Knicks, I grounded Jason for six weeks.” |
| 9) Lynn Spears, mother of Britney Spears: “I don't know how many times I've had to say, 'Britney, go back upstairs and put on something revealing.’” |
| 8) Judy Black, mother of actor Jack Black: “How my son isn’t working in a Home Depot, I’ll never understand.” |
| 7) Patrick Reeves, mother of Keanu Reeves: “I have photos of Mr. Matrix dressed like a ballerina.” |
| 6) Oracene Williams, mother of Venus and Serena Williams: “I’d say, ‘Hi,’ but they’re watching Leno.” |
| 5) Carol Baldwin, mother of Alec, Billy, Daniel and Stephen Baldwin: “Even I don’t know which one is which.” |
| 4) Nancy Hawk, mother of Tony Hawk: “His first word? ‘Dude.’” |
| 3) Janet Hanks, mother of Tom Hanks: “It’s been years since the movie, but he still talks to that damn volleyball.” |
| 2) Lamoine Knoxville, mother of Johnny Knoxville: “He may be a crazy jackass, but at home he’s a sweet, kind-hearted jackass.” |
| 1) Dorothy Letterman: “He used to pull that ‘shingles’ thing to get out of mowing the lawn.” |
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “I am taking my mom to Chippendales for Mother’s Day because dammit, for once, we’re going to do what I want to do. … They learned something interesting today about SARS. It’s spread by surgical masks. … Madonna performed a private concert in Paris to thank France for opposing the war. I’m not calling her Madonna anymore. I’m calling her Freedom Slut. … Scientists have developed a robotic doctor with functioning arms and legs. It will cure cancer as soon as it finishes a round of golf. … Courtney Love may be opening a restaurant in Hollywood. There’s already a sign in the bathroom that reads, ‘Employees must wash Courtney’” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 5/8).
Leno offered a Tale of the Tape between San Antonio and L.A. as the Spurs and Lakers are playing in the Western Conference Semifinals ("Tonight Show," NBC, 5/8).
| San Antonio | Los Angeles |
| Lone Star State | Porn Star State |
| Riverwalk | Nobody Walks |
| Don’t Mess With Texas | Don’t Mess With My Lexus |
| Tumbleweeds in the Streets | Tons of Weed in the Streets |
| Near Mexico | Is Mexico |
| Boots, Chaps & Whips | No Difference |
| Oil Derricks and Pipelines | Oily Man Named Derek the Pipeline |
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s midnight ET “SportsCenter” (late due to Kings-Mavericks Game 2) led with Blue Jays-Rangers, followed by 76ers-Pistons and Kings-Mavericks.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who are Will Rogers and Sequoia?”
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