| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, August 5, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | San Diego City Council Today To Hold Final Chargers Meeting Until September |
| • | NYRA Officials To Meet Today With Federal Prosecutors To Avoid Indictment |
| • | Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Board To Present Closing Arguments Today |
| • | Yankees’ Logo To Be On Winston Cup Car After Deal With Richard Petty |
| • | NBC, FSN Agree To Invest Combined $5M Over Three Years In AVP |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
SAN DIEGO CITY COUNCIL TO TALK CHARGERS TODAY BEFORE RECESS
The ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER reports that the San Diego CityCouncil is scheduled to meet this morning, following a closed session lastnight, to discuss the Chargers’ proposals for a new stadium. Due to a scheduled recess, today is the lastmeeting of the City Council until September – “after the second 90-daynegotiating period with the Chargers expires. If an agreement is not reached and the negotiating period is notextended, the Chargers would have 18 months to negotiate with anothercity.” The city has the right to matchany offer. Chargers Special Counsel MarkFabiani: “We want to be in San Diego. If we can’t make significant progress, it will be disappointing” (ORANGECOUNTY REGISTER, 8/5).
NYRA HOPES TO AVOID INDICTMENT FOR INTENT TO COMMIT TAX FRAUD
The N.Y. TIMES reported that NYRA officials will meet todaywith federal prosecutors “in an effort to head off a possible criminalindictment that could put the racing association out of business” (N.Y.TIMES, 8/4). The Albany TIMESUNION reported that the NYRA is “offering to pay a fine in a civil settlementthat would ‘achieve the federal government’s goal of deterrence, punishment andrehabilitation.’” The NYRA claims thata criminal indictment would “cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars inrevenue and destroy the economy of Saratoga Springs.” Nonetheless, federal prosecutors “have been planning to indictNYRA on charges it took part in a criminal conspiracy to commit tax fraud” (AlbanyTIMES UNION, 8/3).
COLISEUM BOARD TO PRESENT CLOSING ARGUMENTS IN RAIDERS’ SUIT
Following the Raiders’ closing arguments yesterday in their$1.1B fraud lawsuit against the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Board, the S.F.CHRONICLE reports that the defense today will “wrap up their case,” maintainingthat the lawsuit “is groundless and that [Raiders Owner Al Davis] knew,or should have known, the status of ticket sales before he signed the deal” tomove the team to Oakland. The Raidersargued that Coliseum Board officials “kept the real numbers to themselves inorder to close their long-sought deal to lure the Raiders back to Oakland” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 8/5).
RICHARD PETTY RACING CAR TO BE OUTSIDE YANKEE STADIUM TODAY
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Richard Petty Racing and theYankees have completed a deal under which NASCAR Winston Cup driver ChristianFittipaldi will “drive a white Dodge with blue pinstripes and the Yankees’logo” during the Sirius at the Glen this weekend in Watkins Glen, NY. The car will be “on display today outsideYankee Stadium, and [Richard Petty] will throw out the first pitch”before the Mariners-Yankees game Friday. Petty: “I’m just a good old Southern boy, but when you’re talking aboutthe Yankees, those are people you want to associate with.” The deal came about because of Petty’sfriendship with YES Chair & CEO Leo Hindery (N.Y.TIMES, 8/5).
GUERRERO OFFERS “SMOOTH INTERVIEWS” DURING FIRST “MNF” GAME
With last night’s HOF Game kicking off ABC’s “MNF” schedule,USA TODAY notes that the net did not “waste time throwing new sideline reporterLisa Guerrero before” the cameras, calling on her for the openingwords. Guerrero offered “smoothinterviews” with new HOFer James Lofton and Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt. Guerrero also “asked questions of CBS’ MarcusAllen about whether he and Raiders Owner Al Davis had finally shakenhands” (USATODAY, 8/5).
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION notes the Guerrero “opted not todress like an exhibitionist for her first exhibition game. In a loose-fitting white jacket andunrevealing blue top, she could have been headed to a job interview on WallStreet rather than in the red-light district” (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 8/5). Guerrero’sboyfriend, Orioles P Scott Erickson, “held her microphone” betweenreports (AP,8/4).
MORNING BRIEFS
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that Falcons Owner ArthurBlank yesterday said that he would not settle a sexual discriminationlawsuit brought by former VP/Human Resources Carol Faubert. Blank: “You don’t settle when it comes to principle” (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 8/5).
The L.A. TIMES reports that NBC and FSN “have agreed toinvest in the AVP and will receive minority stakes in the beach volleyball touras it continues to crawl out of the fiscal hole it fell into more than fiveyears ago.” For their combinedinvestment of about $5M over the next three years, NBC and FSN will “televiseAVP events without paying rights fees and will receive seats on the AVP’s [BOD]as minority shareholders” (L.A.TIMES, 8/5).
Nutella parentFerrero yesterday released a statement on not renewing its endorsement contractwith Kobe Bryant: “Marketing plans established earlier thisyear did not contemplate a contract renewal. In keeping with thisdecision, and considering the recent developments, Kobe’s image on Nutellalabels and promotional material is being phased out” (Mult.). Asof presstime, Nutella’s Bryant bobblehead promotion was still available on thecompany’s Web site (THEDAILY).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the Giants and the NJSEA havereached a financial stalemate over renovations of Giants Stadium. Giants co-Owner Robert Tisch: “I’mafraid it’s doomed, unless they want to sit up all night, which I’ll do and geta deal done.” Tisch said that he“expected to file a lawsuit against the sports authority” before September 9,the date candidates are required to submit preliminary answers to the NFL’s bidspecifications to host the Super Bowl in ‘08 (N.Y.TIMES, 8/5).
The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that Lincoln National, asubsidiary of Lincoln Financial Group, will “lay off [800-1,000] employees thisyear in a corporate realignment and cost-cutting move.” Although Lincoln is paying the Eagles $140Mover 20 years for the naming rights to Lincoln Financial Field, which openedSunday, a Lincoln spokesperson said that the naming-rights deal is a “marketingnecessity that had no bearing on the job cuts” (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 8/5).
USA TODAY reports that UCLA will name the basketball floorat Pauley Pavilion “John and Nell Wooden Court,” after former men’s basketballcoach John Wooden and his late wife, Nell (USATODAY, 8/5).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The K.C. STAR reports that the crowd of approximately 22,000 attending last night’s Chiefs-Packers HOF Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, OH, scattered amid a “fierce lightning storm.” The game was delayed for 21 minutes, and then postponed with the Chiefs leading 9-0 in the third quarter (K.C. STAR, 8/5).
- The TORONTO STAR reports that a crowd of 8,193 attended last night’s Blue Jays-Devil Rays game at Tropicana Field, the “smallest crowd in Devil Rays history.” The Devil Rays won 10-1 (TORONTO STAR, 8/5).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The BOSTON HERALD reports that NBC Sports & OlympicsChair Dick Ebersol paid $50,000 during a Martha’s Vineyard CommunityServices fundraiser yesterday for Carly Simon to reveal the subject of“You’re So Vain.” For his payment,Ebersol “gets lunch at Casa Carly with nine pals. She’s serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, vodka on the rocksand her deep, dark musical secret” (BOSTONHERALD, 8/5).
This morning onNBC’s “Today,” co-host Katie Couric talked to the fundraiser’sorganizers, who revealed Ebersol as the winning bidder. Couric, upon seeing Ebersol: “Oh myGod! Dick Ebersol, you’re nuts! Maybe the song is about him, that’s why hebid on it.” Ebersol, on why he bid:“Well, A: It’s a great cause; and B: I wanted to make sure that Carly didn’t haveto tell a total stranger” (“Today,” NBC, 8/5).
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. Post | N.Y. Post |
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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
CBS Sports will host its annual NFL announcer-analystseminar in N.Y. (BOSTON HERALD, 8/5). The net will host an informal roundtable discussion of the ’03 NFLseason at 12:45pm ET, featuring CBS Sports President Sean McManus, ExecProducer Tony Petitti, CBS President/Sales JoAnn Ross, as well asmost of the net’s NFL talent.
The ’03 PGA Fall Expo begins at noon PT at the San DiegoConvention Center, and will feature more than 300 golf-related exhibitors and41 professional development seminars in the 60,000-square-foot facility. The Expo concludes Thursday. Search the Expo exhibitorlist.
Speedway Motorsports will discuss its Q2 ’03 earnings duringan 11:00am ET conference call.
BJ Films will conduct an open casting call from 10:00am-4:00pmET at Renaissance Park Golf Course in Charlotte for “Stroke of Genius,” anindependent film about the life of golfer Bobby Jones. The film will be shot in Atlanta andScotland.
INOTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmonsis “making another foray into the clothing business,” this time with acollection of men’s and women’s sportswear called Def Jam University (DJU),which “will be accompanied by a wider than usual marketing campaign.” DJU, a division of Phat Farm, will be the“first line [Simmons] has steered specifically toward department stores” (N.Y. TIMES,8/5).
The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reports that McDonald’s marketing ExecVP Tom Ryan is leaving the company and “it is expected that Ryan willjump to an undisclosed post at up-and-coming sandwich retailer QuiznosSubs.” Ryan was the architect ofMcDonald’s expanded “New Tastes” menu and “its fledgling diner concept” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE, 8/5).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “ThePresidency.”
“He was the first man to become U.S. President as a resultof the 25th Amendment.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “Happy birthday to Martha Stewart, and I’m going to tellyou how old Martha Stewart is because she looks fantastic. Today, Martha Stewart is 62-years-old. Martha celebrated quietly with a few closelawyers. ... Mike Tyson now has filed for bankruptcy. But think about it. You know the economy is in trouble when ashrewd financial planner like Mike Tyson goes broke. ... McDonald’s will now beopen 24 hours a day. At 3:00am, there’snothing like the smell of french fries and disinfectant. ... President Bushis now on his 35-day vacation. How manyof you folks get a 35-day vacation? Itgives him a chance to unwind and, of course, the question is, ‘Well, when doeshe wind?’” ("Late Show," CBS, 8/4).
NBC’sJay Leno: “Today, economists said some good news for the economy. President Bush went on a month-longvacation. ... Who else in America can take an entire month of work off? Okay, except for the Dodgers. ... SaddamHussein’s two daughters were on the news over the weekend. Did you see them: Tiffany and Amber? ...Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has hired a gay activist as hisspecial advisor on all major personnel decisions in the Department ofDefense. Isn’t that amazing? Kind of ‘Queer Eye For the Pentagon Guy.’... In an effort to increase diversity, an all-black Baptist Church inLouisiana is now paying white people $5 an hour to come to the black church,and if it works out there, the NBA may try it. ... Mike Tyson is broke,bankrupt. His entire $300[M] fortune isgone. In fact, they said on the news,he is so broke he can’t even afford to get the other side of his face tattooednow. To soften the blow, hisaccountants didn’t actually say, ‘Mike, you’re bankrupt.’ I believe the phrase they used was, ‘It’sHammertime’” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 8/4).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Real Reasons ColinPowell Is Stepping Down” ("Late Show," CBS, 8/4).
| 10) “Tough to get anything done when boss is on vacation six months a year.” |
| 9) “Whenever it’s Rumsfeld’s turn to pay the pizza guy, he always seems to have left his wallet at NORAD.” |
| 8) “Fed up after being overlooked on Secretary’s Day three years in a row.” |
| 7) “Got a better offer from the North Korean government.” |
| 6) “Angered because Bush would not let him hire State Department dancers.” |
| 5) “According to long-term weather forecasts, 2005 will be a great year for golf.” |
| 4) “Doesn’t want to miss a second of CBS smash hit ‘Cupid.’” |
| 3) “Wants to open his own State Department.” |
| 2) “Just attended a seminar about how anyone can get rich buying real estate with no money down.” |
| 1) “New Ben Affleck/Jennifer Lopez movie made him lose the will to do anything.” |
Lastnight’s edition of CBS’ “Late Show” aired a report from stage manager BiffHenderson, called “Biff on the Brockton Rox,” who appeared in uniform withthe independent Northeast League Brockton Rox, getting one at-bat as the team’sDH. Rox manager Ed Nottle, whilespeaking with Henderson, was smoking a cigarette in his office and saying,“This is serious business professional baseball. I expect 1000% from you.” Henderson: “I’m going to give you the best I have. Can I bum one of your cigarettes? I’m going to like being a ballplayer.” Henderson told Rox P Fontella Jones,“You know, we have our own minor league team in New York. They’re called the Mets” ("LateShow," CBS, 8/4).
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with the Packers-ChiefsHOF Game, followed by Royals-White Sox and Nutella announcing that it isphasing out endorsements featuring Kobe Bryant.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who is Gerald Ford?”
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