| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, July 11, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Education Department To Issue Letter Today Reinforcing Title IX Legislation |
| • | Donald Fehr To Meet Today With Jacques Rogge To Discuss USOC Reform |
| • | John Hancock All-Star FanFest Opens To The Public This Morning In Chicago |
| • | Lions To Announce Today Flagship Radio Station Switch From AM To FM |
| • | AEG President Tim Leiweke In Chicago Today To Discuss Stadium For Fire |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT WEAKEN TITLE IX COMPLIANCE
USA TODAY reports that the Education Department today willissue a three-page letter on Title IX that “clarifies and reinforces existingpolicy.” A senior Bush administrationofficial said, “We are not going to change the standards for complying withTitle IX. The three-pronged test willremain intact, and each prong … will remain a separate and valid way ofcomplying.” The letter comes after a yearlongreview of the legislation (USA TODAY, 7/11).
FEHR TO ADDRESS IOC’S CONCERNS ON USOC REFORM WITHROGGE
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Independent Commissionof the USOC co-Chair Donald Fehr plans to meet today with the IOC to “totalk about the IOC’s concernsthat some of the reforms proposed for the [USOC] do not meet the OlympicCharter.” Fehr probably will discuss“the reform plans directly with IOC President JacquesRogge.” USOC InternalReform Task Force co-Chair Frank Marshall:“It’s my understandingthat they just want to make sure sports people are making the decisions on thenational Olympic committees.” Meanwhile, U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Ted Stevens(R-AK) could introduce reform legislation as soon as today (ROCKYMOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/11).
The CO Springs GAZETTE reports that a delegation of Iraqiarchery athletes is due to arrive in the U.S. today, “part of a month-long stayto compete and train for possible spots” in the ’04 Olympics. The trip is “part of a larger project tohelp rebuild the country’s Olympic sports program” (CO Springs GAZETTE, 7/11).
JOHN HANCOCK ALL-STAR FANFEST EXPECTED TO ATTRACT80,000
The ’03 John Hancock All-Star FanFest opens to the publictoday at 9:00am CT at McCormick Place in Chicago, and the CHICAGO SUN-TIMESreports that it will “feature 300,000square feet of interactive exhibits, free autograph sessions, life-size videobatting and pitching cages, memorabilia, and major league clinics andseminars.” More than 80,000 people areexpected to attend FanFest, which runs daily through Tuesday (CHICAGOSUN-TIMES, 7/11).
LIONS TO SWITCH TO DIFFERENT INFINITY STATION FORBROADCASTS
The DETROIT NEWS reports that the Lions today are expectedto announce that WKRK-FM is replacing WXYT-AM as the flagship station forbroadcasts of all games. Both stationsare part of Infinity Broadcasting. TheLions “have two years remaining on a five-year contract.” Lions COO Tom Lewand said that theswitch “is amicable and has significant promotional value for the franchise andWKRK.” Lewand added that the move “wasinitiated by WXYT” (DETROIT NEWS,7/11).
LEIWEKE TO MEET WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS ON FIRE STADIUM
The IL DAILY HERALD reported that AEG President TimLeiweke will be in Chicago today “to get a firsthand look at the proposalsfor a stadium site for a permanent soccer-specific home” for the MLS Fire. Leiweke will meet with Fire GM Peter Wiltand “representatives of the five communities that made the most appealingoffers for a cooperative financial effort.” The five communities are Bridgeview, Hoffman Estates, Elgin, HanoverPark and the city of Chicago. The Fireare hoping to build a facility for $75M (ILDAILY HERALD, 7/10).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
Which league exec includesSir Elton John among her close circle of friends, and was anAustralian Open title away from a career Grand Slam in doubles play?
MORNING BRIEFS
Fox Sports President Ed Goren, when asked what wouldhappen if the All-Star Game ends in a tie, said, “Let Bob Costas decide whogets home-field advantage. We’lldefer.” Bob Costas recentlycalled MLB’s decision to grant the league that wins the All-Star Gamehome-field advantage in the World Series, “one of the dumbest ideas inyears” (L.A.DAILY NEWS, 7/11).
Goren, on the All-Star Game’s financial impact for Fox:“We’ll have more than a $20[M] night. Madison Avenue bought into the excitement of the new format. We’re looking for a 10% increase in ratingsif the game remains competitive” (USATODAY, 7/11).
The AVP yesterday announced that McDonald’s, Gillette,Wrigley’s and Nature Valley have signed on as sponsors for the ’03 season. Each sponsor has been tabbed the officialsponsor in its respective category (AVP).
Eagle County (CO) District Attorney Mark Hurlbert saidthat a decision on “formally charging [Kobe] Bryant would not beannounced until early next week” (DENVERPOST, 7/11).
The L.A. TIMES reports that free agent F Karl Malone,“who once sounded unsure if he would appear on the same basketball court as MagicJohnson, soon will wear his jersey, having decided to play for the Lakersas No. 32, a number retired 11 years ago” (L.A.TIMES, 7/11).
The Clippers will hold a 1:00pm PT news conference, and theL.A. TIMES reports that the team will introduce Mike Dunleavy as the newhead coach (L.A.TIMES, 7/11).
AOL announced the availability of MLB Player Alerts,allowing subscribers to receive real-time, in-game alerts for all MLB playersonline, via email or via a wireless phone. MLB.com will provide the statistics (AOL).
The Rockies yesterday announced the hiring of consultingfirm Lerch, Bates & Associates to aid in the review and inspection of theJuly 2 escalator malfunction at Coors Field. The investigation is scheduled to resume today, but a timeline has notbeen established to release findings of the inspection (Rockies).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- Minor League Baseball yesterday announced that attendance for the month of June was 7,581,227, bringing the total attendance figure for ’03 to 20,092,646 for 176 teams in 15 leagues. That figure, which marks a 179,952 increase in attendance from ’02, was achieved in 101 fewer games (Minor League Baseball).
- The Westchester JOURNAL NEWS reports that despite “ticket prices that range from $35-60 and an overcast afternoon,” a crowd of 1,774 attended last night’s World TeamTennis NY Buzz-NY Sportimes match at recently opened 2,000-seat Sportime Stadium in Amaroneck, NY (Westchester JOURNAL NEWS, 7/11).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The WASHINGTON POST reports the Randall Simon SausageAffair “was a meaty one for 24-hour sports Web sites and TV networks. A tape of the incident was replayedcontinuously on espn.com and msnbc.com. NBC’s ‘Today Show’ featured the knockdown and ESPNews reports called it‘Sausagegate.’” Brewers ExecVP/Business Operations Rick Schlesinger said that two scheduled races“between the Brewers’ Racing Sausages and the Pirates’ team of racing pirogiswere still on” for August 15 at PNC Park and August 22 at Miller Park. Pirates Media Relations Dir Jim Trdinichquipped, “Right now, it’s no holds barred” (WASHINGTONPOST, 7/11).
The Baltimore SUNreports that today “marks the five-year anniversary of the Inner HarborESPN Zone.” About 2.5 million people, “a consistent half-million ayear,” have visited the Baltimore restaurant, which says it has served242,007 pounds of chicken wings since its opening (BaltimoreSUN, 7/11).
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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| N.Y. Post | Philadelphia Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The “Toyota Presents Sports Illustrated 50thAnniversary Tour” will kick off from the 19th Annual NewportRegatta, with NBC’s “Today” weather reporter Willard Scott broadcastinglive. Scott will interview SI 50thAnniversary Ambassador of Sports David Robinson and SI SeniorContributing Writer Frank Deford (Sports Illustrated).
Official Tour de France energy bar and energy gel supplierPowerBar and the Outdoor Life Network begin a series of interactive regionalviewing parties in eight cities at sports-themed restaurants. Today’s parties are in Austin, Boston,Philadelphia, San Diego and S.F. Denver, Detroit and Phoenix will host their first viewing parties atlater dates (PowerBar).
Representatives of the Oregon Stadium Campaign will host anoon PT meeting at Hellgate Jetboat Excursions in Grants Pass, OR, to briefarea business and community leaders on the tourism benefits that an MLB teamwould bring to OR communities (Oregon Sports).
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,VH1’s “Celebrity Weddings” offers insight into the musical selection followingthe nuptials of Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards (THE DAILY).
INOTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. POST reports that Comcast President & CEO BrianRoberts is “getting ready to make a big push into the media contentbusiness,” and he may “join bidding for the cable networks owned by VivendiUniversal, but sources say his ambitions appear to be far greater. He is looking at all options – and somebelieve he may go after Disney or MGM” (N.Y. POST, 7/11).
NBC Cable Networks yesterday announced some of theprogramming it “intends to feature on Bravo HD+, its first network dedicated tohigh-definition programming.” The net,which is slated for a July 31 launch, will include a combination of “newlyacquired content and shows that originally aired on Bravo and NBC, includingthe first HD telecast of ‘The West Wing’” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 7/11).
Following PepsiCo’s Q2 ’03 earnings report yesterday thatdetailed a 15% earnings increase, REUTERS reports that Gatorade, “which PepsiCoacquired when it bought Quaker Oats in August 2001, also contributed toearnings growth as sales of non-carbonated beverages rose 8[%] in the quarter”(REUTERS,7/11).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Animals.”
“Odobenus, the genus name of this animal, comes from theGreek for ‘one who walks with his teeth.’”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
NBC’sJay Leno: “It was so hot today, Dusty Baker gave his whiteplayers the day off. Baker, who isAfrican-American, is under fire for saying that blacks and Hispanics playbaseball better in the heat than the white guys do. This was his quote: ‘You don’t find too many brothers in coldplaces like New Hampshire or Maine.’ Orany of those other cold places like Chicago and what’s that tropical island wewent to last year? Detroit! There are no brothers in Detroit. ...Pirates first baseman Randall Simon was arrested for misdemeanor batteryfor hitting the Milwaukee Brewers mascot dressed as a sausage with a baseballbat. It turns out, inside was a 20-year-old girl. Let that be a lesson to you. See, you never know what’s inside a hot dog. ... Dusty Baker said theproblem in Milwaukee was the Italian sausages don’t run as fast in the heat.... Bill Frist is trying to geta constitutional amendment passed banning gay marriage. Do we really need this? I looked at the papers today. Sharon Stone and her husband aregetting a divorce. Andrew Cuomoand Kerry Kennedy are getting a divorce. Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley just got adivorce. Forget banning gaymarriages. We should ban celebritymarriages. ... LeBron James made his pro debut the other night in asummer league basketball game. Lookedpretty good too; 14 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists. In fact, he played so well, today he was sued by a woman inColorado for sexual assault. … I’m not going to believe Kobe assaulted thatgirl until he hires Johnnie Cochrane” ("Tonight Show," NBC,7/10).
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with free agent F KarlMalone committing to the Lakers, followed by rumors that Nets G JasonKidd stated he will leave the team as a free agent if the team doesn’t firehead coach Byron Scott, and Yankees-Indians.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is a walrus?”
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