| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, July 2, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | IOC To Make 2010 Olympics Host City Decision Today At 11:30am ET |
| • | David Beckham Officially Introduced To New Club Real Madrid Today |
| • | NFL Rookie Symposium Concludes Today In West Palm Beach |
| • | LeBron James Could Sign Contract With Cavaliers As Early As Today |
| • | MLB Officials Abruptly Cancel Meeting With DC Council Member Yesterday |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
VANCOUVER APPEARS TO BE THE FAVORITE TO HOST ’10OLYMPICS
The IOC today will announce its selection to host the 2010Olympics at approximately 11:30am ET, following final presentations by thegroups from Vancouver, Salzburg and Pyeongchang. While each city needs to secure 57 of the 113 votes to secure afirst-ballot victory, the VANCOUVER SUN reports that most Olympic experts “saytwo ballots will be needed to decide the winner” (VANCOUVERSUN, 7/2).
IOC President Jacques Rogge told IOC members lastnight: “The choice will be a difficult one, as all three candidates have thepotential to stage excellent Games” (L.A.TIMES, 7/2).
As part of Vancouver’s presentation, Wayne Gretzkysaid, “Entrust us with your Games and wewill make you proud. As a country, wewill say thank you in the best way possible – by organizing the greatest gameswe can” (VANCOUVERSUN, 7/2).
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that although Vancouverbid organizers “have been working hard to avoid a fatal dose of overconfidence,many observers now consider the city the favorite in a hard-fought race” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 7/2).
The BOSTON GLOBE notes that Pyeonchang is “the clearoutsider” (BOSTONGLOBE, 7/2). However, theTORONTO STAR reports that the Koreans “were gaining ground” as IOC members saidthat TOP sponsor Samsung “was pressuring voters by suggesting they could becomesponsors of various national Olympic committees around the world or could offerother help.” One IOC member said of theSamsung suggestion: “It’s not illegal. But it’s borderline.” When askedif the Samsung offers were enough for Pyeongchang to win, the same IOC memberreplied, “I don’t think so. It would bea scandal if it did” (TORONTOSTAR, 7/2).
While some observers believe that a Vancouver selectionwould diminish N.Y.’s chances of hosting the ’12 Olympics because the IOC mighthesitate to select cities from the same continent back-to-back, NYC2012 FounderDaniel Doctoroff said, “There’sreally no continental rotation. Thereis a lot of history that suggests they go back to the same continent” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 7/2).
BECKHAM INTRODUCED IN FRONT OF 600 JOURNALISTS TODAY
David Beckham was introduced today as the newest member of Real Madrid, and the L.A. TIMES reports that the introduction was to come before "more than 600 journalists from 25 countries," as well as a "presentationthat will be televised live in Spain and throughout Asia.” The interest in Beckham’s arrival “drew awarning” from Real Madrid Communications Dir Joaquin Maroto, who saidthat the club “intended to protect Beckham from unwanted media attention.” Maroto: “If anyone steps out of line, we’llwipe them from our list forever.” Beckham is not scheduled to answer questions and will be presented theclub’s white jersey by Honorary President and former Real Madrid player Alfredodi Stefano (L.A.TIMES, 7/2).
NFL ROOKIE SYMPOSIUM CONCLUDES TODAY IN WEST PALM BEACH
The NFL Rookie Symposium concludes today in West Palm Beach,and the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL reported that a panel discussion entitled,“Success in the NFL and Life after Football,” is among the mandatorysessions. Guest speakers for thesymposium, which began Sunday, included Cardinals RB Emmitt Smith, ColtsQB Peyton Manning, Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley and formerDolphins LB John Offerdahl (Ft.Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 6/30).
LEBRON’S USE IN CAVS PROMOTIONS AT ISSUE IN CONTRACT TALKS
The AKRON BEACON JOURNAL reports that LeBron James“might sign his contract with the Cavaliers as early as today,” as James’agent, Aaron Goodwin, and Cavaliers GM Jim Paxson spent yesterdayin negotiations. James is expected to sign athree-year contract that guarantees him nearly $13M with a team option for afourth year that would raise the value to nearly $19M. According to Goodwin, the main issue of thetalks has been “how James will be used in promotions and other non-salaryissues concerning his general employment,” including participation in theteam’s summer-league games (AKRONBEACON JOURNAL, 7/2).
MORNING BRIEFS
The WASHINGTON POST reports that a group of MLB officials“abruptly canceled an appointment yesterday with” DC Council member JackEvans. The meeting was not“immediately rescheduled.” MLB SeniorVP/PR Richard Levin: “We’ll have it again some other time. It’s not that big of a deal” (WASHINGTONPOST, 7/2).
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that the ACC will not “splitinto divisions when it expands to 11 teams in 2004, but it will add two play-ingames for the men’s basketball tournament.” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said that the league “would bedivided into two divisions for football only if the NCAA allows a conferencechampionship game to be staged or a 12th team is added” (WASHINGTONTIMES, 7/2).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the ACC will “petition a changein NCAA bylaws to allow for a conference championship game in football with 11teams.” Current rules require 12 teams(N.Y.TIMES, 7/2).
CBS MARKETWATCH reported that adidas-Salomon shares fell1.6% to $92 “amid a UBS cut of its price target from [$98 to $92] pershare.” UBS noted that while thecompany’s “full-year guidance is unchanged for 5[%] sales improvement, and10-15[%] EPS growth, the regional mix has shifted more to Europe and Asia thanthe U.S. (CBS MARKETWATCH, 7/1).
The MIAMI HERALD reports that a news conference will beconducted today to announce that Miami Arena will host the Jorge Barrios-AcelinoFreitas 130-pound WBA and WBO title fight August 9 (MIAMI HERALD,7/2).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that the crowd of 30,694 at last night’s Twins-White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field included “a record 14,573 walk-ups” that may have come to the game “thinking they would see the debut of new White Sox [2B] Roberto Alomar.” However, Alomar is not expected to arrive until tonight (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/2).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
USA TODAY reports that the “basic take of city officials inAthens regarding prostitution and the 2004 Summer Olympics” is “if you must doit, at least do it legally – and safely.” Brothels, which are legal in Greece, “must be licensed by thegovernment, and steps are being taken to increase registration.” Brothels are also legal in Sydney and “werea boon for the trade” during the ’00 Olympics (USA TODAY, 7/2).
Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony was scheduled to throw outthe ceremonial first pitch at last night’s Yankees-Orioles game at CamdenYards, but the WASHINGTON TIMES reports that Anthony “didn’t arrive in time” (WASHINGTONTIMES, 7/2).
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
Brewers Exec VP/Business Operations Rick Schlesinger,actor Bernie Mac,Dir Charles Stone, Exec Producer TimBourne and Producer Maggie Wilde will participate in a 1:30pm CTpress conference at Miller Park to discuss “Mr. 3000.” The film, which will be shot for six weeksin Miller Park, will use crowd promotion nights on July 18 & 19 for variousscenes (THE DAILY).
NBC Sports will conduct a media conference call at 2:00pm ETto preview the net’s third season of NASCAR coverage. NASCAR on NBC/TNT producer Sam Flood, play-by-playannouncer Allen Bestwick, lead pit reporter Bill Weber andanalysts Benny Parsons and Wally Dallenbach are scheduled toparticipate. Coverage on NBC & TNTwill begin with this weekend’s Busch and Winston Cup races from Daytona Int’lSpeedway (THE DAILY).
ESPN2 will air “Seabiscuit – The Making of the Movie,Presented by Equibase” at 4:00pm ET. The behind-the-scenes look, which was produced by NTRA Productions, willfeature interviews with the film’s Dir & screenwriter Gary Ross, aswell as actors Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper, Jeff Bridges, ElizabethBanks and Gary Stevens. ESPNClassic will broadcast 12 subsequent airings between July 6 and August 29 (BLOODHORSE.com,6/19).
Herschel Walker will be inducted today into theNational High School HOF in Chicago (USA TODAY, 7/2).
A four-day camp to try out for a basketball team that willcompete in the L.A. Summer Pro League at the Pyramid on the campus of LongBeach State Univ. begins today (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/1).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The L.A. TIMES reports that the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)yesterday “rejected plans to form a 150,000-member super union” with theAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). The vote ended “one of the most contentiouscampaigns in Hollywood labor relations as performers spurned arguments that asingle large union was crucial to counter the growing power of such mediaconglomerates” as Viacom, AOL Time Warner, News Corp. and Walt Disney. The SAG vote fell two percentage points shyas 60% of the membership was needed for approval. While 58% of SAG members approved the merger, 76% of AFTRAmembers approved (L.A.TIMES, 7/2).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “The Movies.”
“Parts of this 1985 movie were filmed right here in Karen, asuburb of Nairobi.”
TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Braves-Marlins,followed by the White Sox trading for Mets 2B Roberto Alomar and RangersOF Carl Everett, and Twins-White Sox.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What was ‘Out of Africa?’”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
TheMorning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Mondaythrough Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for ane-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
