| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, June 20, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | MLB Relocation Committee To Meet Today With DC And Northern VA Groups |
| • | Former AL Football Coach Mike Price To File $20M Suit Against Time Inc. Today |
| • | Virginia Tech Expected To Inform ACC Today Of Desire To Discuss Expansion |
| • | NJSEA To Pitch Idea Of Breeders’ Cup At Meadowlands Or Monmouth Today |
| • | Lisa Guerrero Expected To Be Named Melissa Stark’s “MNF” Replacement |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MLB RELOCATION COMMITTEE TO OFFER FEEDBACK ON BIDS TODAY
The WASHINGTON TIMES reported that the DC baseball lobbytoday “will receive some long-awaited feedback” from the MLB RelocationCommittee, which will also meet with the Virginia Baseball StadiumAuthority. The meeting will “center onthe District’s still-developing financing efforts” as Mayor Anthony Williams’$338.7M ballpark bill “is set for significant revisions before any legislativevote is taken.” The MLB delegation isexpected to include Exec VP/Administration John McHale, CFO JonathanMariner and General Counsel Tom Ostertag (WASHINGTONTIMES, 6/17).
MIKE PRICE SEEKING $20M IN DAMAGES FROM TIME FOR SIARTICLE
The BIRMINGHAM NEWS reports that fired Alabama footballcoach Mike Price “plans to filea $20[M] lawsuit against Time, Inc. this morning, charging he was libeled andslandered in a May 12 Sports Illustrated magazine article.” Price’s attorney, Stephen Heninger,last night said that the suit “would be filed in Jefferson County CircuitCourt” at 8:30am CT. The suit, which“asks for $10[M] in compensatory damages and $10[M] in punitive damages, alsonames Sports Illustrated writer Don Yaeger. The lawsuit charges that Yaeger defamed Price in the article” (BIRMINGHAMNEWS, 6/20).
VIRGINIA TECH LATEST PLAYER IN ACC EXPANSION DISCUSSIONS
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Virginia Tech, which wasapproached Wednesday by the ACC as an expansion candidate, is expected toindicate today that it is “prepared to enter formal discussions if the ACCdesires.” As a condition of movingforward, Virginia Tech “almost certainly would have to remove itself from alawsuit filed by five Big East schools against the ACC, Miami and BostonCollege.” The ACC would then “hold avote on whether to explore formal negotiations with Virginia Tech,” which wouldlikely come during a conference call this weekend. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger is “believed tohave spent much of [yesterday] canvassing the school’s Board of Visitors aboutwhat to do next” (WASHINGTONPOST, 6/20).
NJSEA EXECS TO PITCH BREEDERS’ CUP AT ONE OF TWO TRACKS
The Thoroughbred Int’l Exposition & Conference beginstoday at the Lexington Center in Lexington, KY, and the DAILY RACING FORMreported that a contingent of NJSEA execs today will “make a formal presentation to host the Breeders’ Cup,”though the first available slot “will probably not come open until 2007.” NJSEA Chair Carl Goldberg andPresident George Zoffinger will “offer the Breeders’ Cup the option ofMonmouth or The Meadowlands,” both NJSEA-managed tracks. The presentation will include testimonialsfrom Bill Bradley and NJ Gov. Jim McGreevey. The possible sale or lease of the two tracks“will undoubtedly be raised by the Breeders’ Cup officials” (DAILY RACING FORM, 6/19). View the conference schedule.
REPS FROM 30 NHL CLUBS TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL RULECHANGES
With the NHL Draft beginning tomorrow in Nashville, theOTTAWA SUN reports that representatives from all 30 NHL clubs will meet thismorning to discuss the “removal of the center red line, cutting down on thesize of goalie equipment and making players serve the full two minutes for aminor penalty.” While making the sizeof the nets bigger will also be discussed, Senators GM John Muckler lastnight said that he does not “believe the idea will get serious consideration” (OTTAWA SUN, 6/20).
BIRMINGHAM CLUB TO BECOME FIFTH ACHL MEMBER TODAY
The KNOXVILLE NEWS reported that Birmingham, AL, will becomethe ACHL’s fifth member city today, joining the Knoxville Ice Bears, Cape FearFireAntz, Winston-Salem Parrots and Huntsville Channel Cats. Birmingham team Owner Jeff Brubakerand city officials will make an official announcement at Birmingham-JeffersonCivic Center. The addition of Knoxvillewill impact Tupelo, MS, as Tupelo Owner Monty Fletcher“publicly is waiting Birmingham’s arrival to join, although privately agreeingto become an ACHL expansion team two weeks ago” (KNOXVILLENEWS, 6/19).
MORNING BRIEFS
The N.Y. POST reports that barring a “last minute hiccup,”ABC will officially announce former FSN broadcaster Lisa Guerrero as thenew “MNF” sideline reporter on Monday, replacing Melissa Stark (N.Y. POST, 6/20).
The BOSTON GLOBEreports that the Independent Commission of the USOC yesterday recommendedthat the USOC “reduce its bloated and inefficient board from 124 membersto nine (five of them independent), abolish its executive panel, put day-to-daycontrol in the hands of the [CEO], and narrow the committee’s mission toemphasizing consistent success at the Olympics,” among other recommendations (BOSTONGLOBE, 6/20).
The Padres yesterday announced that in conjunction withMasterCard, fans will be able to purchase half-priced grandstand and view leveltickets at Qualcomm Stadium for the remainder of the ’03 season. The $10 tickets will now cost $5 in theMasterCard Grand Slam Seating Section for all series, excluding theseason-ending and final Qualcomm Stadium series against the Rockies (THEDAILY).
The SEATTLEPOST-INTELLIGENCER reports that Cutter & Buck yesterday reported an18% decrease in sales for FY ‘03. The company reported aloss of $12M for the year ended April 30, compared with a loss of $10.4Mfor the previous fiscal year. Sales dropped to $131.7M, down from$161.1M the previous fiscal year (SEATTLEPOST-INTELLIGENCER, 6/20).
Sports Marketing Surveys USA’s recent Specialty Store RetailAudit shows that Prince Sports attained the No. 1 ranking in both footwearunits and dollars at Pro/Specialty tennis retail during Q1 ’03, marking thefirst time Prince footwear has attained the top position (THE DAILY).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER reports that a crowd of 7,068 attended last night’s WUSA All-Star Game at 6,914-seat SAS Stadium in Cary, NC (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/20).
- The L.A. TIMES reports that a crowd of 16,944 attended last night’s FIFA Federations Cup U.S.-Turkey match at 35,600-seat Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in St. Etienne, France. Turkey won the match, 2-1 (L.A. TIMES, 6/20).
- The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that an “estimated 300 fans lined the walls of the Falcons indoor training facility … just to watch another day of voluntary passing camp” (ATLANTA CONSITITUTION, 6/20).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sportscovers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
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| N.Y. Daily News | N.Y. Daily News |
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| Philadelphia Daily News | Philadelphia Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
A private memorial service in honor of Sonics Founder SamSchulman will be held in L.A. Memorials can be sent to Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham,MA 02454, and Women Helping Women Services, 543 North Fairfax Avenue, L.A., CA90036 (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/14).
A store dedicated to Funny Cide merchandise will be openedtoday in Saratoga Springs, NY (Baltimore SUN, 6/15).
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the MorningBuzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might havefallen through the cracks. This week,the front-running team on CBS’ “Amazing Race” has to change a set of tireson a race car and complete a lap around a track with a professional driver,but changing the tires proves to be quite a difficult task (THEDAILY).
INOTHER NEWS….
The L.A. TIMES reports that the Senate Commerce Committeeyesterday “called for a substantial tightening of media ownership rules thatwere eased only weeks ago” by the FCC. The “wide sweep of proposed legislation sparked a storm of protest fromindustry representatives – including some who had backed a partial rollback –and may diminish chances for passage by Congress” (L.A.TIMES, 6/20).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Turner Entertainment Group“has completed its upfront ad sales,” and TNT and TBS combined for a 20%increase in volume and “low double-digit increases in cost-per-thousand sales”(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 6/20).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Viacom yesterday lost its appealto rename TNN as Spike TV. A secondappeal will not be heard “at least until September.” Filmmaker Spike Lee last week won an injunction againstthe name change, arguing that Spike TV was an “infringement on his name andreputation because viewers would associate the channel with him” (N.Y. TIMES,6/20).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Fruit.”
“From the Greek for ‘finger,’ the Arabs claim it has as manyculinary and pharmaceutical uses as days in a year.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “During my lunch hour, I wentup through Central Park, and I saw kind of a summertime scene, and that made mefeel good. I saw all of the squirrelslining up to get their monkeypox shots. ... Dr. Phil is writing a bookon how to lose weight. You want to loseweight? I’ll tell you how to loseweight. Get off your fat ass and quitwatching Dr. Phil every afternoon. ... Subway crime in New York is down15%. In fact, it’s been weeks sinceI’ve had to say, ‘For God sakes man, let the women go!’ ... Martha Stewartshowed up for court with a matching set of color-coordinated shysters. ... Overin London, 8,000 copies of the new Harry Potter book have been stolen. Winona? ... Wrigley has developed aViagra chewing gum. I believe they’recalling it Clinteen” ("Late Show," CBS, 6/19).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “The Bush White House is nowproposing a new study which claims religion in prison can keep prisoners fromreturning to a life of crime, and the good news is, if you are looking forreligion in prison, these days a priest is no more than a cell or two away. ...According to the New Yost Post, Rudy Giuliani agreed to lunch in thesame room with Bill Clinton the other day for this charity event, butunder three conditions. They wouldn’tarrive at the same time, they would not share a table and they would leaveseparately. It’s the same deal Bill haswith Hillary. ... Martha Stewart was back in court today. The judge set her trial date for January 12,2004. Thank God they’re not draggingtheir feet on this thing. ... A federal judge has ruled the city of New Orleanscannot ban sidewalk book sales because it violates the First Amendment. Here’s what I don’t understand. Why did New Orleans decide to ban booksales? Have you ever been to NewOrleans? People are drinking on the sidewalk. They’re taking their tops off. They’re urinating on the sidewalk. We just don’t want anybody reading on thesidewalk” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 6/19).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Perks Of Being AMember Of The Blue Angels,” read by 10 Blue Angels pilots via satellite ("LateShow," CBS, 6/19).
| 10) “While those Army guys are marching through the mud, I’m flying around eating peanuts.” |
| 9) “I get a 10% discount off any Blockbuster movie that has an airplane in it.” |
| 8) “I get to make extra money using my airplane to deliver dry cleaning on the weekends.” |
| 7) “Make a perfect landing, Uncle Sam buys you a Slurpee.” |
| 6) “I get to say things like, ‘Bravo foxtrot alpha measured ceiling is 4,000 broken,’ even if I have no idea what that means.” |
| 5) “Ejection seat makes hilarious ‘boing’ sound effect.” |
| 4) “Once, I saw a cloud formation that looked like Richard Dreyfuss.” |
| 3) “You get really familiar with this sound” (The pilot made a loud noise like wind rushing by at high speed). |
| 2) “After three years, I have an option to buy my plane.” |
| 1) “To hell with the Mile High Club, I’m a member of the Mach Two Club.” |
CBS’ CraigKilborn: “I actually saw the new ‘American Idol’ movie, ‘From Justin ToKelly.’ Here’s my review: From theatersto video. … Nick Nolte plays the Hulk’s father in the new movie,‘Hulk.’ In this movie, the Hulk useshis super strength to comb his dad’s hair. … People magazine’s new issue ratesthe 25 sexiest Hollywood bachelors. Oras I call it, maybe two straight guys. … An upcoming concert at Radio CityMusic Hall, Frank Sinatra digitally recreated on stage, and the highlight:Frank digitally puts out a cigarette on a hooker’s forehead” (“The Late LateShow,” CBS, 6/19).
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Cubs-Reds,followed by D'Backs-Astros and Cardinals-Brewers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is a date?”
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