Morning Buzz, May 12, 2003

"LOOK OF THE TEAM" LOGO TO BE UNVEILED TODAY BY USOC

USA TODAY reports that the USOC today "will roll out its 'Look of the Team' logo and plans for the marketing of licensed merchandise and apparel based on U.S. team gear" for the '04 Olympics, marking the "first such program for a summer team."  Roots and adidas will both create gear for the team, while S.F.-based design firm Landor Associates is creating the overall "brand identity system," a reprisal of its role for the '02 Winter Olympics (USA TODAY, 5/12).

Worldwide ticket sales for the '04 Olympics begin today, and the WASHINGTON POST reports that the IOC "decided to price the tickets an average of 34[%] less than for the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney to make them affordable to the average Greek consumer and encourage sales around the globe."  The average ticket will cost slightly more than $30 (WASHINGTON POST, 5/12).

KENTUCKY DERBY STEWARDS TO EXAMINE SANTOS PHOTOS TODAY

The MIAMI HERALD reports that Kentucky Racing Commission stewards Bernie Hettel, Richard Leigh and Jack Middleton today will determine "whether to press forward with their investigation of jockey José Santos' winning (Kentucky Derby) ride or that there is no photographic evidence of wrongdoing and close the case."  The stewards, who will "examine photographs taken soon after Santos and Funny Cide crossed the finish line," are scheduled to meet with the jockey and his attorney, Karen Murphy, at 8:00am ET at Churchill Downs to determine if Santos was holding an illegal object during the race (MIAMI HERALD, 5/12).

ONE AGENT NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT NHL PLAYING '04-05 SEASON

The BOSTON HERALD reported that NHL agents will meet today in Toronto with NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow for an update on the league's labor situation.  One unnamed agent said, "The distrust is so deep, we run the risk of a catastrophe. … Frankly, we're expecting a significant work disruption.  I don't think anyone thinks anything but that. … My guess is there won't be much talk before the shutdown.  I don't think we're playing in 2004-05."  The agent added that he "does not see any palace coup to depose Goodenow and put a more moderate leader in place" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/11).

ROCKETS' FLAP OVER MINORITY INTERESTS TO BE MEDIATED TODAY

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reported that court-ordered mediation between Rockets Owner Leslie Alexander and local minority leaders is set to begin today.  At issue is a "written agreement hammered out by Alexander and minority leaders weeks before the November 2000 election approving building the arena" regarding minority involvement in the new arena.  The plaintiffs, which include the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston, the Houston Area Urban League, the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Houston chapter of the NAACP, "contend Alexander is determined to keep the lion's share of the operations profits for himself, specifically food and drink sales" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/10).

SWOFFORD INSISTS EXPANSION WILL NOT DOMINATE ACC MEETING

The N.Y. TIMES reports that the ACC annual spring meeting continues today on Amelia Island, FL, and participants are expected to participate in a "discussion that could lead to the expansion of the ACC to as many as 12 universities, a move that would alter the power structure of college athletics and set other universities on a course for change."  However, ACC Commissioner John Swofford insisted that expansion "would not necessarily be a focus of the four-day meeting" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/12).

MORNING BRIEFS

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that the Sharks' search for a new GM could end today as Sharks President & CEO Greg Jamison is said to have narrowed the search to Canucks Hockey Operations Dir David Nonis, Blues Hockey Operations Dir John Ferguson, Jr. and Sharks Pro Development Dir Doug Wilson (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/12).

1999 Women's World Cup President & CEO Marla Messing, on the possibility of the '03 Women's World Cup having similar success as the '99 event in the U.S.: "It's always hard to have lightning strike twice.  That first time and the cultural impact of that, and [it being] something brand new, it's probably going to be hard to duplicate that.  But at the same time, can they put on a great tournament?  Absolutely" (L.A. TIMES, 5/12).

MULTICHANNEL NEWS reports that Starz! will air the ESPN X Games documentary, "Ultimate X: The Movie," in July and will run the "Ultimate X Sweepstakes" around the airings.  The grand prize is a trip for two to X Games IX in L.A. August 14-18 (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 5/12).

The AP reported that Rockets C Yao Ming's telethon in China yesterday brought in "more than $300,000 to help researchers seeking a cure for SARS" (AP, 5/11).

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reported that Bank of America Colonial Ticket Sales Chair Chuck Shearer has projected a "four-day crowd of 150,000-200,000" for the May 22-25 PGA Tour event.  LPGAer Annika Sorenstam will play in the event (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/11).

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that Univ. of Dallas Professor Rev. John Collet caught Rangers 1B Rafael Palmeiro's 500^th career home run during yesterday's Indians-Rangers game at The Ballpark in Arlington.  Palmeiro said the negotiations between he and Collet "weren't bad" and that he "was glad to get the ball back" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/12).  Viagra today runs a banner ad on ESPN.com congratulating Palmeiro on reaching the milestone (THE DAILY).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reported that a crowd of 39,357 attended Saturday's Giants-Braves game, "the biggest since opening day" at Turner Field (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 5/12).

• The L.A. DAILY NEWS reports that a crowd of 14,488 attended yesterday's Dodgers-Expos game at Olympic Stadium, the "largest crowd since opening day" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/12).

• The K.C. STAR reported that a crowd of 38,995 attended Friday's Orioles-Royals doubleheader at Kauffman Stadium, "the largest gathering since opening day" (K.C. STAR, 5/10).

• The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that a crowd of 44,486 attended Saturday's Yankees-A's game at Network Associates Coliseum, the "second straight game the A's drew over 40,000" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/11).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Following actor Jack Nicholson's outburst during Spurs-Lakers Game 3 at Staples Center, NBA official Mark Wunderlich threatened to eject Nicholson, who responded: "Two bad calls and you gonna run me?  You gonna run me?"  After being told he would be ejected after another outburst, Nicholson "spent the rest of the game doing nothing worse than making a joker face" (L.A. TIMES, 5/11). The L.A. DAILY NEWS reported that the Lakers phoned NBA VP/Security Bernard Tolbert and warned him that if Nicholson was ejected, "the media firestorm would make Jimmy Buffet's profane-laced ejection from a … Heat game on national TV a few years ago look like a Lara Flynn Boyle film festival" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/11).

WEEKEND RAP…

The following are excerpts from the panelists' "parting shots" on Sunday's edition of ESPN's "The Sports Reporters":

• N.Y. Daily News Mike Lupica, on Bob Ryan's comments about Joumana Kidd: "In a sports world where everybody is constantly trying to out-shout each other on television and especially radio, Bob got heard over everybody this week and crossed the line and got punished for it. ... You want to know the truth of things?  Everybody who does shows like this is always one comment away."

• Washington Post columnist Michael Wilbon, on HOF sportswriter Sam Lacy, who died Friday at the age of 99: "He had a serious problem just gaining admittance into press boxes ... yet he loved baseball enough to start a crusade that would help integrate the major leagues.  It was Sam Lacy who helped identify Jackie Robinson as the man best suited to be first. ... The history of race and sports in America cannot be written without a chapter devoted to Lacy."

• K.C. Star columnist Jason Whitlock: "Sexual morality got booted out of the American sports world so long ago that a reconciliation would take 15 years of counseling. ... Sports made a deal with the sexploitation industry when television networks and their trashy beer commercials took control of our major sports leagues 40 years ago."

• ESPN's John Saunders, on the NCAA imposing sanctions on the Univ. of MI: "College basketball history went through a major change this week as one of greatest eras in the game was wiped from the record book.  Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson did not go to back-to-back Final Fours in '92 and '93.  They're basketball's version of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.  ... What the NCAA has done is like a cop arriving on the scene of a hit-and-run, pulling over the next car that happens by and then arresting the passengers" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/11).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• Lupica, on the Univ. of AL hiring Mike Shula, which is being protested by Jesse Jackson: "There's going to be a woman in Augusta National before there's a black football coach at the (Univ. of AL).  They weren't ready to do it.  It's not like they're going to be in the forefront of this" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/11).

• Denver Post columnist Woody Paige, after Nets coach Byron Scott stated that African-American NBA players are uncomfortable playing in Boston: "These liberal Democrats (in Boston) are among the worst racists in the country and the Boston Celtics are proving it again.  They're hiring the whitest man in America in Danny Ainge" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 5/9).

• CBS golf commentator David Feherty: "I think the putting stroke is a real extension of someone's character.  David Toms' is kind of smooth.  It's elegant.  It's sort of quiet. ... Mine's a jerk" ("Wachovia Championship," CBS, 5/11).

• Washington Post columnist Rachel Nichols, on the Wizards not retaining Michael Jordan: "The people in Washington had been sold this bill of goods for the last two or three years. … Now they're being told they have to start from scratch all over again and I think you're going to see a lot of people not renew their season-tickets" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 5/9).

• Comedian Denis Leary, on the new Green Monster seats: "All I want to see before I die, I want to see a guy fall out of the new seats above left field wall and land on the leftfielder" ("On The Record," HBO, 5/9).

• Lupica, on the Mavericks-Kings Game Three: "David Stern liked the game so much (Saturday night) that he's changing the rules again and declaring Dallas-Sacramento the finals" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/11).

• ABC's Bill Walton, on Lakers coach Phil Jackson being hospitalized for an angioplasty: "Why do they need Phil Jackson here at Staples (Center)?  They've got Jack Nicholson to take care of the necessary business" (ABC, 5/11).

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	Philadelphia Daily News

TODAY'S EVENTS

SportAccord, the General Association of Int'l Sports Federations' new annual tradeshow and meeting, begins today in Madrid and runs through Friday.  View today's schedule (THE DAILY).

The DETROIT FREE PRESS reported that a city-appointed committee will meet to "map out a timetable for airing" on public access TV of the Pontiac Silverdome property renovation presentations (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/8).

THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…

This week's cover story examines the contract of Bengals QB Carson Palmer, the No.1 pick in this year's NFL Draft, with some agents claiming it will negatively set the market because they see it as flat compared to the contract of last year's No. 1 pick, Texans QB David Carr.

• Special Report Card Series On Sponsorship And Marketing Continues With A Look At The Auto, Credit Card and Airline Categories.
• NBA Takes In Estimated $15M In New-Look First-Round Playoff Schedule.
  
• Barry Bonds Inks Four-Year Deal With Fila.
• Major League Lacrosse To Open Third Season With ESPN2 Deal, New Sponsors And Eyes On Expansion.

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 "Why They Don't Make Democrats Like They Used To."  Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines "Treating Pain" (THE DAILY).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that the media upfronts begin today and "media buyers and executives say they expect spending to be robust and anticipate overall sales will likely exceed" last year's $8.2B.  Some media buyers and net execs "expect an increase this year of 5% or more, to a figure of between [$8.6-8.8B].  Keep in mind that the figures are fluid and that hype and hoopla are in ample supply" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/12).

DAILY VARIETY reports that Ray Romano will "pull down nearly $40[M] to return this fall for the eighth season of 'Everybody Loves Raymond'" on CBS, a per-episode fee of $1.8-2M.  The deal surpasses Kelsey Grammer's $1.6M+ per-episode fee for "Frasier" (DAILY VARIETY, 5/12).

The N.Y. POST reported that the CA Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) will "withhold votes for five AOL Time Warner directors at the company's annual shareholder meeting" May 16.  Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent is among those that will be opposed by CalPERS, because he is a member "of the audit committee and authorized the company's auditor to do non-audit services" (N.Y. POST, 5/10).

The Publishers Information Bureau reported that magazine ad pages in April declined 2.3% compared with a year earlier.  For the first four months of '03, ad pages decreased 3.1% compared with the same period a year earlier (N.Y. TIMES, 5/12).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Architectural History."

"Emperor Constantine commissioned several of these buildings, named from Greek for 'royal house.'"

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES: 

CBS' David Letterman: "Sunday of course is Mother's Day. ... That's the day we honor the woman we blame for all of our problems. ... I make the same mistake every Mother's Day.  I wait until the last minute to do my Mother's Day shopping and then I have to fight the huge crowds at the liquor store. ... I have a great day planned for my mom on Sunday.  We're going to have brunch at Tavern On The Green and then immediately after that we're going to go over to (NJ) so she can smoke in a bar. ... Joey Buttafuoco and his wife are getting a divorce.  Has there been trouble? ... Here in (N.Y.) in ten days, workers filled 17,000 potholes ... and the best part is they filled them with rats. ... Dick Cheney will be running again for (VP) and he says he is very healthy and he has a doctor watching him every day and I'm thinking, 'Well, that's an improvement.  It used to be a coroner.' ... Scientists claim that the SARS virus is becoming more frightening with every mutation.  It's basically the same thing they say about Michael Jackson" ("Late Show," CBS, 5/9).

NBC's Jay Leno: "This Sunday is Mother's Day or as Jesse Jackson calls it, the busy season. ... President Bush went to the (Univ. of SC) where he gave the commencement speech.  He was very encouraging.  He told the students, sure the economy is tough, things look bad, but if they manage to graduate with a C- average and have the right connections, they could end up President of the (U.S.). ... According to the latest medical report, SARS could live on a toilet seat for four days and if it's a toilet seat in a gas station, it could be three years. ... The (WHO) said today that for your health, you shouldn't travel to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and if you're an L.A. Laker, don't travel to San Antonio. ... Mike Price is now denying a story that he had sex with two women in a hotel room.  See, that's when you know a guy is guilty – when he's denying having sex with two women.  Most guys would be bragging about that. ... A man in Europe was arrested after being seen walking around town with a severed head in his hand or as we call that in (CA), circumstantial evidence. ... This summer, Microsoft will introduce the first public toilet with Internet access.  How creepy is that?  You get ready to sit down and you hear that voice, 'You've got hemorrhoids'" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 5/9).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last Friday's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Most Common Questions Asked Of The White House Switchboard Operator" ("Late Show," CBS, 5/9). 

CBS' Craig Kilborn: "You heard about the basketball coach at IA State, Larry Eustachy?  He lost his job for partying at a frat house and then kissing the winner of a wet T-shirt contest.  The good news, the Democrats have a new candidate for President. … A woman in CA spent her 102^nd birthday on the Internet.  The sad part is she thought she was petting a horse. … This weekend Eddie Murphy stars in a new movie, 'Daddy Day Care.'  It's about an out-of-work dad forced to take care of a bunch of kids until they greenlight 'Nutty Professor 3'" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 5/9).

SUNDAY NIGHT'S TV MONITOR

ESPN's 11:00pm ET 90-minute edition of "SportsCenter" led with Spurs-Lakers Game Four, followed by Rangers 1B Rafael Palmeiro hitting his 500^th career home run and

Mavericks-Kings Game Four.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that while the weekend's "top two films did exceptional business at the box office, overall it was a top-heavy, lackluster frame. … As a result, the estimated total for the top 12 films was $103[M], down nearly 11% from last year" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/12).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What are basilicas?"

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

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