| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, June 18, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | ACC Presidents To Discuss Expansion Today; Virginia Will Not Be Decisive Vote |
| • | David Beckham Begins Far East Tour Following Confirmation Of Madrid Transfer |
| • | Buick Today Debuts 30-Second Commercial Touting “Tiger Trap” Promotion |
| • | Spurs To Profit From Tonight’s Championship Parade With Naming Rights Sale |
| • | NHL BOG Unanimously Approves Melnyk’s Purchase Of Senators, Corel Centre |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
TODAY’S ACC EXPANSION CALL EXPECTED TO BE CONTENTIOUS
The ACC yesterday announced that the presidents of theconference’s nine member schools may not formally vote on conference expansionuntil later this month, and the Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER reports that athird conference call in nine days to discuss the issue is being conductedthis morning. The call “is expected to be a contentiousone pitting strong pro-expansion schools like Florida State and Georgia Techagainst Duke, North Carolina, and Virginia” (RaleighNEWS & OBSERVER, 6/18).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Virginia is “underconsiderable political pressure to protect the interests of in-state rivalVirginia Tech,” and as such, school officials “have informed ACC leaders thatthey cannot be the decisive seventh affirmative vote in the league’s attempt toexpand to 12 teams.” The situation “almostcertainly will be resolved one way or another before June 30, when the exitfees for the withdrawing Big East schools double from [$1M to $2M], if theymove for the 2004-05 school year as anticipated” (WASHINGTONPOST, 6/18).
The CHARLOTTEOBSERVER reports that ACC Commissioner John Swofford has “begunlobbying ACC chancellors to consider inviting Miami only” as a “potentialcompromise to expansion holdouts North Carolina, Duke and Virginia” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 6/18).
One ACC source saidyesterday, “I think it’sdead. Until this morning, I thought[expansion] would happen. Now, I thinkit’s dead” (HARTFORDCOURANT, 6/18).
TIMING OF BECKHAM’S TRANSFER ALLOWS REAL TO SEIZE PUBLICITY
The LONDON TIMES reports that David Beckham “was given a rapturous welcome byfans in Japan today after jetting in for a tour of the Far East.” Some of the more than 1,000 fans at Tokyo’sNarita Int’l Airport were “already sporting Real Madrid tops,” as Beckhamconfirmed last night that he will be transferred to the Spanish club. Beckham and his wife, Victoria, “areset to shoot commercials in Japan before heading to Vietnam, Malaysia andThailand” (LONDONTIMES, 6/18).
TheLondon GUARDIAN reports that the timing of Beckham’s transfer gives Real Madrid“the opportunity to seize thepublicity machine that always accompanies Beckham and works overtime when inthe Far East.” While in Japan, Davidand Victoria will “attend promotional events for a beauty product and for aJapanese confectionery company that has an endorsement deal with theplayer.” Real Madrid is scheduled toplay an exhibition match in Tokyo on August 5 (LondonGUARDIAN, 6/18).
BUICK’S “TIGER TRAP” PROMOTION COMMERCIAL TO DEBUT TODAY
Buick today will debut a 30-second commercial filmed duringthe company’s “Tiger Trap” promotion, in which 29 amateur golfers at The LegacyClub north of Orlando were surprised by a visit from Tiger Woods on the150-yard par 3 12th hole. When the golfers reached the hole, Woods explained a closest-to-the-pincontest that had a prize of a ’04 Buick Rainier. Four of the SUVs were awarded. The commercial teases a five-minute film running exclusively on Buick’s Web site. After watching the film, visitors can register for a chance to play in afoursome to compete for one of the SUVs (THE DAILY).
SPURS TO PROFIT WHILE BEING FETED TONIGHT AT THE RIVERWALK
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the Spurs soldnaming rights for tonight’s championship celebration, at the River Walk at6:00pm CT and the Alamodome at 9:00pm CT, to SBC, titling the festival the “SBC2003 Spurs Championship Celebration.” The team will “make money from t-shirts, souvenirs and other merchandisesold at the Alamodome,” as well as revenue from licensing rights sold to TVstations that “want to broadcast the end-to-end coverage” of the celebration. The rights cost TV stations $6,500 each (SANANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6/18).
MORNING BRIEFS
The NHL BOG yesterday unanimously approved the purchase ofthe Senators and Corel Centre by Eugene Melnyk. The BOG also approved the purchase by BellGlobemedia of Steve Stavro’s interest in Maple Leaf Sports &Entertainment. Finally, the BOGunanimously re-elected Flames Vice Chair Harley Hotchkiss to a fifthconsecutive two-year term as its Chair (THE DAILY).
The AP reports that MLB staff yesterday presented a plan fora proposed World Cup to Commissioner Bud Selig’s “MLB in the 21stCentury” task force. The proposal was“very broad, and there are many details to be determined,” but it did statethat the World Cup could start before the ’05 season (AP, 6/18).
The Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL reports that in addition toNextel, “NASCAR will have backing from a new oil company with Mobile expectedto take the place of departing Tosco” (DaytonaBeach NEWS-JOURNAL, 6/18).
The L.A. TIMES reports that USOC officials said that U.S.athletes “ought to take home at least 100 medals” from the ’04 Olympic Games inAthens as USOC management turmoil and budget woes “should not detract from themedal count.” USOC Senior Managing Dir JimScherr: “We think we can go higher [than 100] with good performances” (L.A. TIMES,6/18).
USA TODAY reports that Fox broadcaster Chris Myershas signed a two-year extension with the net to continue hosting NASCAR raceson Fox and FX (USATODAY, 6/18).
Int’l SpeedHockey League Limited Partners yesterdayannounced the formation of the Int’l SpeedHockey League, a new professionalin-line hockey league. The league willlaunch in 12 U.S. markets in ’04 (THE DAILY).
The World TeamTennis Pro League today debuts the WTT FantasyLeague on its Web site, allowingfans to manage their own team of league players (THE DAILY).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that 2,500 tickets were sold for last night’s Miller Lite Texas Title Belt Series card at 1,700-seat Sundance Square, as Oscar De La Hoya was in attendance to promote the card (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/18).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL reports that after the top ofthe sixth inning of last night’s Cardinals-Brewers game at Miller Park, BrewersPresident & CEO Ulice Payne, Jr. “kept a promise to the ‘BucketheadBrigade’ followers of TV announcers Bill Schroeder and Daron Suttonand went down Bernie Brewer’s slide” (MILWAUKEEJOURNAL-SENTINEL, 6/18).
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 |
TODAY’S EVENTS
ESPN will conduct a 2:00pm ET conference call to discuss thenet’s first-ever coverage of Wimbledon. ESPN Exec VP/Programming & Production Mark Shapiro andanalysts Patrick McEnroe and Pam Shriver will participate (THEDAILY).
NBC will host a 4:00pm ET media conference call to previewthe net’s coverage of Sunday’s ArenaBowl XVII. AFL on NBC Coordinating Producer Jim Bell and broadcaster TomHammond will participate (THE DAILY).
AFL Commissioner David Baker will conduct his annual“State of the AFL” conference call at 3:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
The Virginia Baseball Club will hold a 12:30pm ET luncheonat the DoubleTree Hotel Crystal City in Arlington to update members of themedia on efforts to bring the Expos to VA (THE DAILY).
The Orioles will hold their fifth annual DC Summer FanFestfrom 11:00am-2:00pm ET at Farragut Square, across the street from the OriolesOfficial Team Store. Manager MikeHargrove will attend along with several players and coaches. The event will feature games, free food, fanforums and autograph sessions (THE DAILY).
The Phillies will unveil a Negro Leagues Memorial Statue atVeterans Stadium at 4:00pm ET. PhilliesSS Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Mayor John Street and the fiveliving members of the Negro Leagues Philadelphia Stars are scheduled toattend. The statue will be displayed atVeterans Stadium for 30 days before it will be placed in a permanent locationon the southwest corner of Belmont and Parkside Avenues in Fairmount Park, thesite of the former home field of the Stars (THE DAILY).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Calvin Klein parent Phillips-VanHeusen as early as today will announce the producer of its new Klein sportswearfor women, which is “set to appear next year in major department stores.” The company predicts annual sales “willeventually reach $1[B]” (N.Y. TIMES, 6/18).
Author Ray Robinson, who contributed a piece on LouGehrig to “100 Years, the New York Yankees Official Retrospective,” willhost a celebration of Gehrig, who was born 100 years ago on June 19, 1903, atthe Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station, beginning at 1:00pm ET (THE DAILY).
Broncos LB Ian Gold will host a junior training campfor 30 Special Olympic Athletes at the Dove Valley Training Facility inEnglewood, CO, from 10:00am-1:00pm MT (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Universal McCann Senior VP &Forecasting Dir Robert Coen “revised downward his prediction forAmerican ad spending this year.” Hisnew forecast for ’03 is “for a gain of 4.6[%] from the $236.9[B] that is hisfinal figure for ad spending last year.” Previously, Coen predicted a 5% increase (N.Y. TIMES,6/18).
DAILY VARIETY reports that HBO has “sealed a deal with ‘TheSopranos’ creator David Chase to produce a sixth season of the hit mobdrama.” Production will begin in “early2005 on a truncated, 10-episode season.” The fifth season will debut in March ’04 (DAILYVARIETY, 6/18).
The N.Y. POST reports that Viacom yesterday in NY AppellateCourt claimed TNN has lost $16M by “not being allowed to change its name toSpike TV” (N.Y. POST, 6/18).
The SEATTLE TIMES reports that Starbucks has named formerU.S. Sen. Bill Bradley and former PepsiCo Senior VP Olden Lee toits BOD (SEATTLETIMES, 6/18).
The Nashville TENNESSEAN reports that former HealthSouth CEORichard Scrushy yesterday filed a lawsuit in DE accusing the company BODof “wrongly excluding him from board meetings and not providing him withfinancial information about the company.” HealthSouth spokesperson Andy Brimmer said that the BOD excludedScrushy “to avoid a potential conflict of interest,” and that the board wouldbe “irresponsible” to have meetings with Scrushy given the recent governmentprobes (NashvilleTENNESSEAN, 6/18).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Disney Films.”
“Disney theme park attractions based on this 1960 film flewthe flag seen here.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “Last night, what a horrible audience we had, and I hate to talkabout people when they’re not here but boy, oh boy, what a rough crowd we hadlast night. It turned out it was asleeper cell. ... Are you happy that summer is finally here? Today was the first day I broke a sweatsince last Easter, and it’s amazing now, all of the New York public pools areopen and that’s exciting news. They addthe water. Everybody gets excited aboutit. Then they add the chlorine. Then they add the penicillin. ... There is anurse shortage in New York. That’s thebad news. Now, the good news is thereis no shortage of hookers willing to dress up like nurses for you. ...Archaeologists discovered a couple of human skulls and they believe these humanskulls are 160,000 years old. I believethey found them in Ethiopia. Archaeologistsare calling this a major discovery. CBSis calling this our target audience. ... Hillary Clinton was on ourprogram last night and they got her going just everywhere. She was on our show last night and then thisweekend she’s got to go back to Barnes & Noble where she’ll be signingcopies of the new Harry Potter book” ("Late Show," CBS, 6/17).
NBC’sJay Leno: “According to the Las Vegas Review newspaper, they’rereporting Joey Buttafuoco and O.J. Simpson have agreed to aPay-Per-View fight. The cheater versusthe wife beater. How busy is the cutman going to be in that ring? This isgoing to be the first fight in history where Don King looks like thegood guy. In fact, O.J. said today he’dlove to fight Joey Buttafuoco, but he can’t find a pair of gloves that fit. ...Crime rates dropped last year though there were increases in murder, rape andburglary. What else is there!? What, is littering down!?” ("TonightShow," NBC, 6/17).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Going Through PresidentBush’s Mind At This Moment” ("Late Show," CBS, 6/17).
| 10) “Damn you, al Qaeda!” |
| 9) “I’m sure Thomas Jefferson fell off his Segway every now and then.” |
| 8) “It looked so easy on ‘The Jetsons.’” |
| 7) “I misunderestimated my center of gravity.” |
| 6) “Thank God no one got a picture of this.” |
| 5) “Only four days ‘til Hulk! Only four days ‘til Hulk! Only four days ‘til Hulk!” |
| 4) “Damn, this would give Cheney, like, three heart attacks.” |
| 3) “Congratulations, Segway – you just joined the axis of evil.” |
| 2) “To distract everyone, bomb the hell out of Syria.” |
| 1) “Ahhhhhh!” |
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “The American Motor Associationhas issued a new quiz to tell if you’re too old to drive a car. Question one: Do you have to squint to see thenun on your windshield? … A German vet says that zoos will soon have to givetheir animals contraceptives. You knowI can barely open a condom, and I have thumbs. … Today a doctor confirmed thatan 80-year-old Pakistan woman is pregnant. Doctor confirmed that, and then he threw up” (“The Late Late Show,”CBS, 6/17).
TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Mets-Marlins,followed by Cubs-Reds and Braves-Phillies.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is the ‘Swiss Family Robinson?’”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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