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Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, May 21, 2003

The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, May 21, 2003
9:00am ET

NFL Owners May Not Vote On Playoff Expansion Today; L.A. Ball Rolling

Univ. Of Miami Officials To Huddle Today Following Big East Meeting

Reebok’s Offer To LeBron James Up To A Reported Seven Years And $94M

Paris Today Officially Enters Bidding To Host 2012 Olympics

Dodgers Suitors Leaving Offers On The Table In Case Glazer Negotiations Fail

Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy!


NFL OWNERS VOTE TO PUT FRANCHISE IN L.A. AS EARLY AS2006

The annual NFL spring meeting continues today inPhiladelphia, and the N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that NFL Commissioner PaulTagliabue“expressed doubt the ownerswould even bother voting today on the proposed expansion of the playoffs” afterthe Competition Committee voted 8-0 against it three weeks ago (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 5/21).  Today’sagenda includes a working breakfast with approximately 130 assistant coachesand a discussion on the league’s minority hiring initiative (THE DAILY).

The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that the owners “passed aresolution yesterday that could put a franchise in the [L.A.] area as early as2006.”  The resolution, which passed30-1 with one abstention, “would have at least one team, either by expansion orrelocation,” based in either Pasadena’s Rose Bowl or a new stadium inCarson.  The Raiders voted against theresolution, while the Colts abstained (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 5/21).


MIAMI AD EXPECTS “RAPID PROCESS TOWARD A CONCLUSION”

The Big East concluded its annual spring meeting yesterdayin Ponta Vedra, FL, and the N.Y. TIMES reports that Univ. of Miami AD PaulDee today will meet with Univ. of Miami President Donna Shalala todiscuss the potential move to the ACC. Dee said that his meeting with Shalala “would begin what could be arapid process toward a conclusion.” When speaking after the meeting, Dee “did not sound like a man buckingfor a long stay in the Big East” (N.Y.TIMES, 5/21).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that the Big East yesterdaybrought in a TV consultant to convinceMiami, Syracuse and Boston College “there is no way the ACC, which paid memberschools $9.4[M] last year, can come up with the whopper numbers needed in a newTV contract to help them arrive at the additional $30[M] needed to justifyexpansion” (N.Y. DAILYNEWS, 5/21).  Former RaycomSports President Ray Warren consulted the group (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 5/21).


AGENT SAYS LEBRON COULD SIGN SHOE DEAL AS SOON AS TODAY

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that LeBron James’agent, Aaron Goodwin, says that a shoe and apparel deal for his client“could be struck as soon as today.” While reports yesterday had the deal pegged between $75-80M, updated“figures floating around the industry put Reebok in the lead, offering … aseven year, $94[M] contract.”  Goodwinhas said that he would like to complete a deal prior to tomorrow night’s NBADraft Lottery (WALLSTREET JOURNAL, 5/21).


PARIS JOINS LIST OF MAJOR CITIES COMPETING TO HOST 2012GAMES

BLOOMBERG NEWSreports that Paris “will compete against London, Madrid, New York andLeipzig for the right to stage the 2012 Olympic Games” as the city todayofficially announced its bid to host the event.  Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe: “We’re entering the race,and we intend to win.  Paris will have everything for a memorableOlympics.”  Candidates have until July15 to submit an application to the IOC, which will select the host in July2005.  Moscow, Toronto and Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo “may stillenter the bidding” (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 5/21).


ACHL TO ANNOUNCE TUPELO FRANCHISE AS EARLY AS TODAY

The KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL reports that the ACHL, as earlyas today, will announce a franchise in Tupelo, MS, “giving the second-yearleague a minimum of five teams this fall.” Tupelo’s ownership is “nearing anagreement with the BancorpSouth Center,” home to a Western Professional Leagueteam from ‘98-’01.  A sixth franchise,in Birmingham, AL, “is close to signing a lease with the Birmingham-JeffersonCivic Center” as well.  The WHA2, whichwas formed when David Waronker removed his four teams from the leagueearlier this year, will announce today that it is “putting an expansion team inPelham (AL)” (KNOXVILLENEWS-SENTINEL, 5/21).


MORNING BRIEFS

The L.A. TIMES reports that while News Corp. is negotiatingexclusively with Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer on the sale of the Dodgers,L.A. real estate mogul Alan Casden and Emmis Communications Chair JeffSmulyan “plan to remain in the process until [MLB] approves the sale” toGlazer.  As previously noted, News Corp.has said that it will not sell the six TV stations included in Smulyan’s bid (L.A.TIMES, 5/21).

The VA Baseball Stadium Authority last night held a publicmeeting in Springfield, VA, and the WASHINGTON POST reports that the mood “wastense but polite” (WASHINGTONPOST, 5/21).

The AP reported that Matthew Barnes of Brooklynyesterday was charged with stalking Mets GM Steve Phillips “after aseries of alleged tirades at Shea Stadium.” A judge ordered Barnes “held without bail until [he] can undergo apsychiatric exam” (AP, 5/20).

The Melbourne AGE reports that the Australian Rugby Unionyesterday announced that it had “already sold 83[%] – 1,018,621 – of its ticketallocation for this year’s World Cup, and that up to 300,000 more tickets couldbecome available in August.”  The eventwill be held from October 10-November 22 (MelbourneAGE, 5/21).

The L.A. DAILY NEWS reports that sporting goods retailerSports Chalet is “broadening its footprint in [CA], with the chain’s first twostores slated to open” this fall in Northern CA.  A third store is planned for Redlands, CA (L.A.DAILY NEWS, 5/21).

The L.A. TIMES reports that “more than 1,300 people waitedtheir turn to see, touch and be photographed next to” the Stanley Cup yesterdayin Buena Park, CA, the beginning of a promotional tour.  The Mighty Ducks are awaiting the winner ofthe Devils-Senators series (L.A.TIMES, 5/21).

The K.C. STAR reports that aproposal to build a $100M arena in Olathe, MO, yesterday “was delayed for afourth time … after local lawyer John Petersen joined the developmentteam.”  The Olathe City Council “agreedto give [John Q. Hammons Hotels Chair & CEO] John Hammons anothermonth before deciding whether the city should expand the area eligible for taxincentives” for the facility (K.C. STAR,5/21).


THE BACK PAGES

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sportscovers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post
N.Y. Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News


TODAY’S EVENTS

The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that AZ State Univ. willconduct a news conference “to announcecheaper prices for next season’s basketball tickets.”  Price cuts are expected in 58% of the various ticket categoriesat Wells Fargo Arena (ARIZONAREPUBLIC, 5/21).

NHL Rangers F Matthew Barnaby and NHL Panthers F DarcyHordichuk will appear on Nickelodeon’s “Slimetime Live” at 3:00pm ET (THEDAILY).

The Michael Andretti Foundation will donate $10,000 from afund of $100,000 provided by Jim Beam Brands to Butler Univ. officials duringan 11:00am CT ceremony at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  The donation will fund the school’simplementation of The Century Council’s “Alcohol 101 Plus” alcohol educationprogram (THE DAILY).

The Attorney General of MI will conduct hearings todetermine if Toughman contest promoter AdoreAble Productions is providingadequate insurance coverage for its participants (USA TODAY, 5/20).


IN OTHER NEWS….

DAILY VARIETY reports that former Seagram Company CEO EdgarBronfman Jr. is “leading an effort to acquire Vivendi Universal’sentertainment assets in partnership with Cablevision.”  Bronfman’s bid is “backed by Wachovia Bankand a number of private equity investors” (DAILYVARIETY, 5/21).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that former News Corp. co-COOand Sky Global Networks President & CEO Chase Carey – “the mandesignated by [News Corp. Chair Rupert Murdoch] as the future CEO ofDirecTV parent Hughes Electronics” – said that he plans to “expand DirecTV’slocal channel lineup, high definition programming and digital video recorderoffering to keep subscriber numbers growing”(HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 5/21).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Coca-Cola has “hired anoutside auditor and law firm to investigate allegations of marketing andaccounting fraud made in a lawsuit this week” by former Supply ManagementFinance Dir Matthew Whitley. Whitley claims that Coca-Cola “overstated net revenue and gross profitby recording marketing allowances to some customers as expenses rather than asrebates from approximately 1998-2001” (WALL STREETJOURNAL, 5/21).

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES reports that Coca-Cola is “introducingits first [TV] commercials” for its Minute Maid Lemonade brand (DOWJONES NEWSWIRES, 5/21).


FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Men ofMedicine.”

“In 1891 he helped found and became the first chairman ofthe British Institute of Preventive Medicine.”


LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS’ DavidLetterman: “I couldn’t be more excited. Tonight, the ‘Late Show’ is following the big Hitler movie righthere on CBS.  Gee, I wonder if thatoffer from ABC is still good? ... Geraldo Rivera is getting married to ayoung woman named Erica Levy and as is custom, Erica will hold the titleof Mrs. Geraldo Rivera for one year. ... Geraldo has now had five wives, threeof whom were married to Larry King. ... Saddam Hussein’sbrother-in-law has been arrested by coalition forces.  That’s good news.  Theyacted on a tip from Saddam Hussein. ... Saddam’s three ex-wives have fled thecountry (and) his brother-in-law has been arrested.  Boy, we are really making his life a living hell, aren’t we? ... LizaMinelli is throwing a 50th birthday party for her husband. ... MichaelJackson loves to go to those Liza Minelli parties because for a change,he’s not the weirdest one in the room” ("Late Show," CBS, 5/20).

NBC’sJay Leno: “The terror alert was changed today from yellow to orange, soif you go to a Chinese restaurant, stay away from the orange chicken. ...France has accused the U.S. of being rude and abusive to them and they’retaking it personally.  Remember, everytime an American is rude and abusive, they’re taking a job away from aFrenchman. ... The military is now using the music of Metallica and other heavymetal bands to break the will of Saddam Hussein supporters to get them to talk.... That should make the artists feel pretty good.  Put your heart and soul into your last CD.  The Army is using it to torture people. ...In Hillary Clinton’s new book, ‘Living History,’ Hillary details what itwas like meeting Bill Clinton, falling in love with him, getting marriedand living a passionate, wonderful life together as husband and wife.  Then on page two, the trouble starts. ...The NBA conference finals are now taking place.  In the West, it’s the Texas final between Dallas and SanAntonio.  In the East, it’s the placesnobody wants to live final between Detroit and New Jersey.  I’m not being fair.  According to a newspaper poll in New Jersey,75% of New Jersey residents rate their state as a good or excellent place tolive.  The other 25% are reportedmissing” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 5/20).

LATENIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs AriFleischer Doesn’t Care Anymore” ("Late Show," CBS, 5/20).

10) “Will only take questions from ‘Kung Fu’ magazine.”

9) “Qualified each statement with, ‘...but that might be the gin talking.’”

8) “Gives monosyllabic answers to press questions, then goes back to his Gameboy.”

7) “Doesn’t try to hide the fact that he’s accepted a position with al Qaeda.”

6) “Last few briefings have been from the VIP room of a DC-area gentlemen's club.”

5) “Spends entire press conference arguing why ‘Ruben should beat Clay.’”

4) “Discloses Cheney’s location – a KFC in Baltimore.”

3) “Challenges Rumsfeld to a Texas steel cage rasslin’ match.”

2) “Keeps hitting on Helen Thomas.”

1) “Refers to Bush as ‘President Bonehead.’”

CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “President Bush wants to make histax plan more appealing to ethnic groups who oppose it.  So his tax cuts for the rich are now goingto be called Republican Bling Bling. … Big news for the Joe Liebermancampaign today.  I just said his name onTV two seconds ago. … Geraldo Rivera says he’s going to interview a suicidebomber on a mission.  Can I hear anamen? … Everybody got excited when 85-year-old Mike Wallace blew out allthe candles on his cake.   The strangepart: He started a week ago” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 5/20).


TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 10:30pm ET 90-minute edition of “SportsCenter” ledwith Nets-Pistons Game 2, followed by Yankees-Red Sox and aninjury update on Mets C Mike Piazza.


FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“Who was Joseph Lister?”


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

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