| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, July 9, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Defense To Begin Presenting Case Today In Raiders’ $1.1B Fraud Lawsuit |
| • | Conference USA Presidents To Conduct Realignment Conference Call Today |
| • | Vince Carter To Unveil Court Outside Toronto Today As Part Of Foundation Work |
| • | Gary Stevens To Participate In “Seabiscuit” Press Junket, Starting Today |
| • | Eagle County (CO) Sheriff Expects Charges To Be Filed Against Kobe Bryant |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
DEFENSE IN RAIDERS’ LAWSUIT TO BEGIN PRESENTING CASETODAY
The AP reports thatthe defense in the Raiders’ $1.1B lawsuit against the Oakland-Alameda CountyColiseum Board and others will begin presenting its case today by callingformer Raiders QB Daryle Lamonica to testify. Raiders Owner Al Davis yesterday concluded “four harsh days ofcross-examination” in a trial that “has already stretched to threemonths.” The trial is expected to take another month (AP,7/9).
C-USA PRESIDENTS TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE REALIGNMENT TODAY
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the presidents of the 16Conference USA (C-USA) member institutions will hold a conference call today to“discuss a plan and timetable for future realignment. The call comes as universities prepare for a trickle-down impact”of ACC expansion. With the Big Eastseeking to add two colleges after the defections of Miami and Virginia Tech,C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky “knows his colleges are now inplay.” Big East Commissioner MikeTranghese: “I’m in the process of trying to talk to our presidents andADs. They want us to lay out everyconceivable scenario. They’re going towant a chance to react to it all” (N.Y.TIMES, 7/9).
NEW COURT CALLED “BIGGEST UNDERTAKING” OF VC’S FOUNDATION
Raptors F Vince Carter, accompanied by Toronto Mayor MelLastman and Embassy of Hope Foundation Chair Ralph Lean, will unveila pro-sized basketball court at Dixon Park in Etobicoke as part of Carter’sEmbassy of Hope Foundation initiative at 2:00pm ET. The TORONTO STAR reports that the court, which was “constructedat a cost of more than $130,000,” is the “biggest undertaking thus far” in thegreater Toronto area by the foundation (TORONTOSTAR, 7/9).
JOCKEY GARY STEVENS MAKING THE MOST OF “SEABISCUIT”ROLE
The THOROUGHBRED TIMES reported that jockey Gary Stevenstoday begins a three-day press junket to promote the film “Seabiscuit,” inwhich he plays legendary jockey George Woolf. Stevens will make appearances on “Entertainment Tonight” and“Extra,” before appearing in the August issue of Vanity Fair. Stevens signed with the International Creative Management talentagency “about a month ago and hired a theatrical attorney, a publicist, and amanager.” The film is set for releaseJuly 25 (THOROUGHBREDTIMES, 7/8).
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED TO LAUNCH 50th ANNIVERSARY WEB SITE
As part of Sports Illustrated’s 50th Anniversary,SI.com today will launch a specialsection of the Web site that will provide information on both theanniversary itself as well as customized information on each of the 50 statesand its sports scene. The section willbe accessible from the SI.com homepage. As of presstime, the section was not active (THE DAILY).
MORNING BRIEFS
The L.A. TIMES reports that Eagle County (CO) Sheriff JosephHoy “would not agree if the local district attorney’s office chose not tofile a felony sexual assault charge against” Lakers G Kobe Bryant. Hoy: “We would not have done what we didunless we thought charges should be filed. Based on what I know of the evidence, I would expect [the districtattorney] to file charges.” A decisionto file or decline charges is expected Friday or Monday (L.A.TIMES, 7/9).
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that two Bryant fans, JeffReichman and David Feingold, have launched the Web site www.freekobe.com in response to Bryant’sarrest. The merchandise sold on the Website features a “Free Kobe” logo and slogans such as “Because we’re running outof heroes” (ROCKYMOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/9).
BLOOMBERG NEWS reports that Fox Sports President Ed Gorenwants MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s office to add Yankees P RogerClemens to the American League All-Star team, saying that Clemens should beadded to the roster “under what would become annual choices by thecommissioner’s office” (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 7/8).
The AP reported that the draw to set the field for the '03 Women's World Cup will be held July 17 at The Home Depot Center. Additionally, "for the first time, FIFA will unveil world rankings for women's teams on the previous day" (AP, 7/8).
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that CART driver PaulTracy will be “wearing shorts this weekend when he’s not in the car” at theMolson Indy in Toronto, after CART President & CEO Chris Pook“scolded Tracy for showing up at a news conference at the Rock & Roll Hallof Fame in Cleveland last week wearing shorts and with a few days of stubble onhis chin” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 7/9).
MLB.com reported that a young boy was injured during thethird inning of last night’s Devil Rays-A’s game “after a fan threw a largefirecracker – commonly known as a ‘cherry bomb’ – from the third deck atNetwork Associates Coliseum.” A’s PRDir Jim Young said that a suspect was taken into custody. The game was stopped “for a few momentsafter the loud explosion” (MLB.com,7/8).
The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that Pete Rose attendedlast night’s Twins-Rangers game at The Ballpark in Arlington as a guest ofKraft Foods alongside former MLBers Brooks Robinson, Steve Carlton,George Foster, Dave Parker and Ozzie Smith. Rangers VP/Media Relations John Blake:“We were not aware he was coming until he showed up. They were not here as our guests” (FT. WORTHSTAR-TELEGRAM, 7/9).
The L.A. TIMES reports that free agent G Gary Payton“unofficially became a Laker Tuesday, committing for next season and perhapsbeyond,” and free agent F Karl Malone “could join him as early astoday.” Payton’s agent, AaronGoodwin, said that Payton “gave up about $35[M]” – offered by the TrailBlazers in a sign-and-trade scenario – “to join the Lakers, in part because hewas so impressed by Malone’s willingness to accept less money to enable theLakers to pursue Payton” (L.A.TIMES, 7/9).
BLOODHORSE.com reported that a Secretariat license plate, featuring the postage stamp image of thehorse, “may be issued this year in [VA] if 350 orders are received.” Secretariat was foaled at Meadow Farm inSpottswood, VA. The plates cost $25 annually or $35 annually for personalized plates that will allow for upto six characters (BLOODHORSE.com, 7/8).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that DarrylStrawberry’s attorney, Darryl Rouson, “fielded telephone callsyesterday from callers asking if Strawberry had died, a rumor that apparentlybegan in the afternoon on the Internet.” Rouson: “Everything is fine” (N.Y.TIMES, 7/9).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that the crowd of 15,123 in attendance at last night’s Pepsi Pro Summer League Cavaliers-Magic game at the TD Waterhouse Centre “buzzed a little for [Cavaliers G LeBron] James’ first NBA exhibition, got giddy at times and then left intrigued, if not blown away” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/9).
- The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that a crowd of approximately 12,000 attended an exhibition basketball game featuring Mavericks F Eduardo Najera and Magic Johnson on opposing teams at Teodoro Mariscal Baseball Stadium in Mazatlan, Mexico (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/9).
- The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that a crowd of 21,047 attended last night’s soccer exhibition doubleheader at Reliant Stadium, featuring Mexican club team Santos Laguna-MLS Wizards and Guatemala-El Salvador (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/9).
- The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that a crowd of 7,552 attended last night’s Double-A Southern League All-Star Game at the 11,000-seat Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 7/9).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The MILWAUKEEJOURNAL SENTINEL notes that NASCAR Winston Cup drivers Kurt Busch andDale Jarrett participated yesterday with the Brewers atbatting practice. Brewers manager Ned Yost, “a hugeNASCAR fan, invited the drivers.” Busch “drew hoots from his crewwhen he shattered a bat borrowed” from P Brooks Kieschnick (MILWAUKEE JOURNALSENTINEL, 7/9).
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
ISC will conduct a conference call to announce its Q2 ’03earnings at 9:00am ET. The conferencecall will be Webcast (ISC).
Fox Sports will conduct a media conference call to previewcoverage of the MLB All-Star Game at 3:00pm ET. Fox Sports President & Exec Producer Ed Goren will join thebroadcast team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (Fox Sports).
IN OTHER NEWS….
MULTICHANNEL NEWS reports that the FCC “is seeking moremarket data from News Corp. and Hughes Electronics Corp. in connection with the$6.6[B] merger that would give Rupert Murdoch operating control ofDirecTV.” The FCC sent a 10-pagequestionnaire that asked “highly specific questions about how each companyoperates in the market today and how they expect to operate together if themerger were approved.” Their responsesare due by August 6 (MULTICHANNELNEWS, 7/9).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that cable rates “increased 8.2%, with the average bill risingfrom $37.06 to $40.11” during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2002. Inflation over the same period rose just1.5%. U.S. Sen. John McCain(R-AZ), who chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, said, “Cable rates increasedan unbelievable five times faster than inflation. The cable industry has risen to new heights in their apparentwillingness and ability to gouge the American consumer” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 7/9).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Pop Music.”
“Take two letters off a Beatles song title and you get thistitle of Paul McCartney’s 2002 live CD of his American tour.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
NBC’sJay Leno: “The running of the bulls is taking place this week. They said on the news today that the firstday was marred by a nude protest of naked women. A bunch of nude women showed up. Is that really marring it? Abunch of drunken, naked guys waiting for bulls to run down the street, nakedchicks show up, ‘Aw, this sucks. We’regoing home.’ ... Experts say it’s very unlikely the Bush administrationwill commit a large number of troops to Liberia. They say the country is way too small to distract the Americanpublic from the economy. ... Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean’spresidential campaign is handing out tongue depressors to volunteers with hisname on them. Wasn’t that Clinton’strick? ... During the off-season, Shaquille O'Neal trained to become adeputy with the Orange County Sheriff department. Shaq is going to be a cop and today he made his first arrest, KobeBryant. As you know, Kobe Bryant isbeing accused of sexual assault in Colorado. But you know, they haven’t filed charges against him. This is not right. Either arrest the guy or don’t. But hey, it’s Colorado. They’restill working on the JonBenet Ramsey case. How long is this going to take? Actually, I guess yesterday Kobe flew back to Colorado with hiswife. I think it’s safe to say nochance of joining the ‘Mile High Club’ on that flight. ... I don’t believe hedid it. This is one area where Kobe isway behind the league average” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 7/8).
TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Yankees-Indians,followed by the Pepsi Pro Summer League’s Cavaliers-Magic game and freeagent G Gary Payton announcing he will sign with the Lakers.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is ‘Back in the U.S.?’”
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