Morning Buzz, July 22, 2003

BCS MEMBERS EXTEND OLIVE BRANCH WITH SEPTEMBER 8 SUMMIT

Tulane Univ. President Scott Cowen will conduct aconference call today with non-BCS members regarding a potential Div. Ifootball playoff, and the L.A. TIMES reports that the BCS PresidentialOversight Committee yesterday announced that it will hold a September 8 summitin Chicago to meet with reps from non-BCS conferences.  Univ. of Nebraska Chancellor HarveyPerlman called the summit “more olive branch than pre-emptive strike.”  Perlman: “Those of us in the conferencesthat manage the BCS recognize that improvements in the system can be made. … Weare open to listening to their suggestions and what their concerns are” (L.A.TIMES, 7/22).

LACK OF SPONSOR ALL THAT STANDS IN WAY OF SARS GOLF MATCH

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that a deal could befinalized as soon as today for a proposed August 25 exhibition golf matchfeaturing Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam against Canadians MikeWeir and Lorie Kane.  TheMagna Golf Club, owned by Frank Stronach, “has agreed to be the host andit’s believed the CBC and … ESPN have reached deals to broadcast the four-hourexhibition.”  While the government has“agreed to pay roughly half of the event’s [C$5M] budget,” the event it stillin search of a “corporate sponsor to underwrite the remaining [C$2.5M].”  Once a sponsor is found, the four IMG-reppedgolfers are expected to formally sign on to the exhibition (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 7/22).

CHARGERS TRAINING CAMP SURE TO FUEL NFL-TO-L.A.SPECULATION

The Chargers today begin training camp at The Home DepotCenter in Carson, CA, and the L.A. DAILY NEWS noted that the team’s presence“is sure to fuel speculation over when, where – or whether – a professionalfootball team will play in the area” (L.A.DAILY NEWS, 7/20).  CA StateUniv.-Dominguez Hills Media Relations Dir Thomas Knox: “The Chargershave been a benefit to (San Diego), but now they can be a benefit to anothercity – Carson.  If you look at it, thereis a strong likelihood that the next NFL team that plays in this area is notgoing to be playing in Los Angeles.  Itwill be based in the city of Carson.” The Home Depot Center’s property adjoins the property of CSU-DominguezHills (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/21).

MLB UMPIRES LOBBYING FOR REMOVAL OF QUESTEC SYSTEMS

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that MLB umpires today willcontinue to lay out their case against QuesTec’s Umpire Information System(UIS) at the World Umpires Association’s N.Y. office, following yesterday’s “eighthours of testimony about inaccuracies and mistakes in a grievance hearingbefore an arbitrator.”  The umpires’union “presented a lineupof veteran umpires to argue that the UIS does not work.”  MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations SandyAlderson was present at the meeting, along with General Counsel/LaborRelations Frank Coonelly and Associate Counsel Jennifer Gefsky.  MLB’s argument is that the UIS “wasthoroughly tested and is the most accurate way of judging an umpire’sperformance” (N.Y. DAILYNEWS, 7/22).

MORNING BRIEFS

The AP reported thatfollowing last week’s acquisition of P Armando Benitez fromthe Mets, the Yankees’ payroll is $180.3M for “their 40-manroster, including benefits.  The updatedfigure compiled by the commissioner’s office translates to a projected tax” of$10.8M that will be due January 31.  No other team is abovethe $117M threshold established by MLB’s new CBA (AP,7/21).  View all team payrolls.

The L.A. TIMES reports that Eagle County DA Mark Hurlberttoday is expected to formally respond to requests by various media companies to“have several documents on the investigation and arrest” of Kobe Bryantunsealed.  Bryant’s attorneys sided withHurlbert, as they objected to the media companies’ applications in a 23-pagebrief yesterday.  A hearing on whetherto make the court file public will be set after Hurlbert responds to therequests (L.A.TIMES, 7/22).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that a bail and extraditionhearing is scheduled for this morning for former Baylor Univ. men’s basketballplayer Carlton Dotson, who yesterday was charged with the murder of histeammate and former roommate Patrick Dennehy “after confessing to FBIagents” in DC (WASHINGTONPOST, 7/22).

The BOSTON HERALD reports that adidas’ bid for Top-Flite’sassets yesterday, which topped Callaway’s earlier bid, “could attract ‘hordes’of other bidders.”  Gilford Securitiesanalyst Casey Alexander: “Iwouldn’t be surprised if we heard from Nike before this is all over with.  We’ll see if (Titleist-maker) Acushnet and(its parent) Fortune Brands find a way into this, though they would have to doconsiderable work to solve some antitrust issues” (BOSTONHERALD, 7/22).

The N.Y. POST reports that Mets VP/Media Relations JayHorwitz yesterday “issued a blanket ‘no comment’ on the recent bombshells”former co-Owner Nelson Doubleday dropped on the Mets.  Mets P & captain John Franco, atwhom Doubleday took a shot: “It’s surprising. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Doubleday.  I don’t know why he would say it, but everybody is entitled totheir opinions” (N.Y.POST, 7/22).

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that the independentCentral Baseball League has named Ft. Worth the host city for the league’s ’04All-Star Game.  The event’s festivities“work in a similar format to [MLB’s] midseason break,” as there is a home runderby and a game that pits the West Division against the East (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,7/22).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that the NCAA has approved theFlorida A&M Univ. (FAMU) football program’s move from Div. I-AA to I-A forthe ’04 season.  FAMU will “beginreconstruction of Bragg Memorial Stadium after this season, an effort thatcould double capacity to 50,000” (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 7/22).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The K.C. STAR reports that with Anna Kournikova not in action last night, there were “about two-thirds fewer people sitting in the grandstands” for the World TeamTennis Springfield Lasers-K.C. Explorers match at the Plaza Tennis Center than Friday’s St. Louis Aces-Explorers match.  The in-progress match was moved to Overland Park Racquet Club due to rain (K.C. STAR, 7/22).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER reports that British OpenChampion Ben Curtis was greeted by television cameras when he landed atCleveland Hopkins Int’l Airport yesterday. One exchange between two travelers went as follows:

Person #1: “Who’s on this plane?”
Person #2: “That Curtis guy.  The golfer.”
Person #1: “CurtisStrange?”
Person #2: “No, the other one.”

The PLAIN DEALER adds, “Oh well, everybody’s not a golf fan”(ClevelandPLAIN DEALER, 7/22).

Curtis appeared this morning on NBC’s “Today,” and said ofpotential endorsement opportunities, “I haven’t had a chance really to get mycell phone out.  I know there areprobably 100 messages on there. … I’m sure in the next couple of days there aregoing to be a lot of opportunities out there for me” (“Today,” NBC, 7/22).

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
Philadelphia Daily News	Philadelphia Daily News

TODAY’S EVENTS

The Cable & Telecommunications Association for MarketingSummit concludes today at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center inSeattle, where RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser will deliver a keynote speechat 9:00am PT (CTAM).  View a scheduleof the event.

INOTHER NEWS….

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that SBC Communicationsand EchoStar Communications yesterday announced a partnership that “bundlesEchoStar’s Dish Network service with telecommunications products in SBC’s13-state territory.”  Consumers will beable to “sign up for local, long-distance and wireless telephone service alongwith high-speed Internet and satellite TV with one company.”  Although terms of the deal were notdisclosed, SBC will invest $500M in EchoStar “in the form of debt that isconvertible into equity.”  SBC plans tobegin offering the bundles early next year (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,7/22).

An Insight Express study conducted online was releasedyesterday by CBS at the semi-annual Television Critics Association Press Tourin L.A., and DAILY VARIETY reports the study “ripped apart a decades-old myththat it’s the 18-49 demo that counts most.” According to the study, “it’s actually the 25-54 demo that occupies themost hallowed ground on Madison Avenue.” Execs at other nets said that CBS’ pitch “was predictable, and that it’shardly the first time [CBS] touted the virtues of grabbing olderaudiences.”  In conducting the study,Insight Express surveyed “more than 1,000 top media buyers and ad execs inregards to broadcast and cable” (DAILYVARIETY, 7/22).

The Baltimore SUN reports that Radio One and Comcastyesterday announced that four investment firms – N.Y.-based ConstellationVentures, TX-based Pacesetter Capital Group, MD-based Syndicated Communicationsand CA-based Opportunity Capital Partners – have agreed to “back their jointventure to create a cable channel directed at African-American viewers” (BaltimoreSUN, 7/22).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy” was part of “Kids Week,”which will air all week.  The “FinalJeopardy!” category was “State Capitals.”

“One of the two state capitals whose names end with theletter ‘u.’”

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES: 

CBS’ DavidLetterman: “Do you have any idea what the latest problem is in NewYork?  Noise pollution, and so I do whatI can.  For example, earlier today inthe subway, I whispered ‘help.’ ... The city is so noisy right now.  The only place you can get any kind of peaceand quiet at all is Shea Stadium. ... They celebrated over the weekend, here inNew York, the 150^th birthday of Central Park.  Isn’t that amazing?  150^th birthday of Central Park,or as Donald Trump calls it, 850 wasted acres. ... Yesterday, 200,000people were in the park celebrating and it was a huge success. ... Only ten ofthem are missing. ... McDonald’s has opened a place in Baghdad.  The kitchen there is the closest thing we’vecome to finding a bio-terror lab. ... Over the weekend, Bush hostedItalian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, or as George Bush calls him, Carlos.... Happy birthday to Janet Reno. Janet Reno is 65-years-old today. You folks, of course, remember her as the original Hulk” ("LateShow," CBS, 7/21).

NBC’sJay Leno: “It was so hot today, I actually saw a mirage.  It was a Gray Davis supporter.  It was so hot today, Angelina Jolieraided Ted Williams’ tomb just to cool off. ... The number one movie inthe country is ‘Bad Boys II,’ starring Kobe Bryant. ... Kobe hasadmitted to committing adultery. Nothing against Kobe here, but you ever notice men always admit theirmistake after they’re caught? ... Kobe said in a statement on Friday this isbetween me, my wife and my God.  That’swhen you know you’re a big star, when you have your own God. ...Congratulations to Ben Curtis. He comes out of nowhere to win the British Open.  To give you an idea how unknown this guywas, he was not even a household name in his own house.  But it’s nice to see a sports story with nolawyers in it. ... The Seahawks have signed Taco Wallace to a multi-yearcontract.  What kind of name isTaco?  Are we so obsessed with food inthis country we’re naming our children after it? ... Delta Airlines announcedit made a profit last quarter after the government gave them $251[M].  Duh! ... Even arena football could make aprofit if you gave them $251[M]” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 7/21).

MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Carlton Dotsonbeing arrested for the murder of Baylor Univ. basketball player PatrickDennehy, followed by the Tour de France and A's-Royals.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What are Honolulu and Juneau?”

If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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