Morning Buzz, August 6, 2003

JURORS TO BEGIN DELIBERATIONS TODAY IN RAIDERS’ FRAUD CASE

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that following four months of testimony, “jurors are set to begin decidingtoday whether the Raiders were fraudulently lured back to Oakland by falsepromises of a sold-out 1995 season, and, if so, whether to award the teamnearly $1[B] in damages.”  As part oftheir closing arguments yesterday, Oakland Alameda County Coliseum Boardattorneys said that Raiders officials, including Owner Al Davis, “hadknown before they signed the deal that season ticket sales were falling shortof public pronouncements.”  Attorney JamesBrosnahan: “Did we con Al Davis? Can that be done by anyone in this world?  And if we did, how come he got all the money?” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 8/6).

SAN DIEGO MAYOR TO SEEK ANOTHER EXTENSION FROM CHARGERS

The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that San Diego Mayor DickMurphy today at 9:30am PT is expected to announce that he “has asked theChargers to extend negotiations with the city until May 1.”  Chargers Special Counsel Mark Fabiani:“We have in the past extended the trigger deadline and extended the negotiationperiod.  We want to give this processevery chance to succeed and we would seriously consider any such request” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 8/6).

IRL EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE FIRST WI RACE WILL BE NEXT JULY 25

The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL reports that the IRL today isexpected to announce “that its first [WI] race will be held next July 25” atthe Milwaukee Mile during a 12:30pm CT news conference at State Fair Park inWest Allis.  With the addition of theIRL, Milwaukee “could host both major American-based open-wheel, single-seatseries,” as CART has raced at the Mile since ’80.  Milwaukee Mile GM Mark Perrone: “(The announcement)doesn’t diminish our commitment to CART, whatsoever, and we feel just asstrongly about CART.  This is aboutprogramming at the Milwaukee Mile and bringing the best possible events that wecan to our motorsports fans” (MILWAUKEE JOURNALSENTINEL, 8/6).

JAN STEPHENSON TO PLAY CHAMPIONS TOUR EVENT THIS FALL

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that LPGA Tour player JanStephenson “will announce todaythat she will play against the male seniors on the Champions Tour later thisfall.”  Stephenson, “who for weeks hasbeen sending out feelers and mulling the possibility of playing on a sponsor’sexemption, also will reveal where she will play.”  The PGA Tour declined comment until receiving official word thatStephenson has received an exemption (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 8/6).

CFL SEEKING TO GET ON U.S. TV FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE ‘97

The TORONTO STAR reports that Montreal Alouettes President SkipPrince, “who oversees the CFL’s marketing & TV committee, is scheduledto meet today with officials” of The Football Network, and in coming weeks alsoexpects to talk with the NFL Network, Fox Sports Net and the WB network.  Within five years, the league “hopes togenerate [US$2M] a season from U.S. TV, compared with the [US$6.4M] it nowearns from record deals with CBC and TSN” (TORONTOSTAR, 8/6).

MORNING BRIEFS

NBACommissioner David Stern, on Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban’sstatement that Kobe Bryant’s legal troubles will benefit the league: “Any suggestion that there will be someeconomic or promotional benefit to the NBA arising from the charge pendingagainst Kobe Bryant is both misinformed and unseemly.  That idea does not reflect the views of the NBA, NBA ownersgenerally, or others associated with our sport” (NBA).

Cuban responded last night, saying in part, “I’mnot saying this is a good thing and it’s abhorrent to think that I’m trying totake advantage of a tragedy.  That’s notthe case.  I’m just looking at the factsand facing the reality. ... People follow notoriety and more people who mightotherwise not have watched the games with Kobe are going to come and watch. ...That will build ratings and the unfortunate reality is that will have apositive financial impact on the NBA” (“Wolf Blitzer Reports,” CNN, 8/5).

TheN.Y. POST’s Page Six reports that Jon Bon Jovi is buying a 50% stake inan expansion AFL team to be located in Philadelphia (N.Y. POST, 8/6).

USATODAY reports that Ohio State RB Maurice Clarett is “expected to meetagain with NCAA officials, possibly this week, as the school works to clarifyhis eligibility by the start of the football season” (USATODAY, 8/6).  NFL Commissioner PaulTagliabue,on Clarett’s options: “If he becomes ineligible forcollege ball, he’ll still have to wait. He could play in Canada.  But hecan’t play in the NFL at 19 or 20” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 8/6).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that PETA hasasked Annika Sorenstam to resign as a spokesperson for KFC, citing therestaurant chain’s “alleged inhumane treatment of chickens.”  PETA sent a letter toSorenstam’s manager July 22, and yesterday “increased the heat” by releasingthe letter to the media (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 8/6).

ThePHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that officials from several Big East memberschools met yesterday to discuss the conference’s basketball only vs.football/basketball issue, as well as the conference’s future and “beganpreliminary sketches for its direction.” Villanova AD Vince Nicastro: “This was just an exchange ofideas.  Nothing happened in terms of adecision” (PHILADELPHIADAILY NEWS, 8/6).

USA TODAY notes that the average nine-inningMLB game through July 31 lasted 2:46, six minutes shorter than in ‘02.  While run production is down, the “biggestreason for faster games is that players, managers and umpires are cutting outthe dead time.”  The following detailsthe average nine-inning game time of each team (USATODAY, 8/6):

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that a sellout crowd of 41,501, the “23^rd consecutive sellout and 30^th of the season at Pac Bell Park,” attended last night’s Pirates-Giants game (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 8/6).

• The BOSTON GLOBE reports that a sellout crowd of 34,678 attended last night’s Angels-Red Sox game at Fenway Park, the “31^st Fenway sellout this season, and 21^st in a row” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/6).

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

TODAY’S EVENTS

The Bucks today will host a news conference, and theMILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL reports that the team will name Terry Porterhead coach.  Porter served as anassistant coach for the Kings in ’02-03 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL,8/6).

The Ravens will install the first exterior signage featuringthe logo of stadium naming-rights partner M&T Bank at 3:00pm ET.  The signage will incorporate logos from bothorganizations to build upon their co-marketing effort (Ravens).

The 11^th Annual RBI (Reviving Baseball in InnerCities) World Series begins in Houston. Twenty-four teams in three divisions from the U.S., Puerto Rico and theDominican Republic will compete in the weeklong event, which concludes nextWednesday with games at Minute Maid Park, home of next year’s MLB All-StarGame.  MLB and the Boys & GirlsClubs of America sponsor the RBI program (MLB).

Electronic Arts willunveil plans to “open a state-of-the-art production studio” in Playa Vista, inorder to “strengthen its ties with traditional Hollywood” (L.A. TIMES, 8/6).

IN OTHER NEWS….

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that KirchMedia creditorsapproved Saban Capital Group Chair & CEO Haim Saban’s bid to acquireGerman broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG for $596.2M, “rejecting alast-minute rival offer.” ProSiebenSat.1 is Germany’s second-largest broadcaster, and wasconsidered the “most valuable asset in the now-defunct Kirch Group empire,which collapsed last year under a mountain of debt” (WALLSTREET JOURNAL, 8/6).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that viewership forbroadcasters’ evening newscasts “slipped 5% last month July compared with ayear ago as NBC News widened its lead over ABC News in total audience even asABC cut into NBC’s dominance of the key adult 25-54 demo” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 8/6).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “In The News.”

“So far some of its major components are Zarya, Unity,Zvezda and Canadarm2.”

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “Last night I had a horriblenight.  I am just not comfortablesitting through those ‘American Pie’ movies with my mom.  It’s awful. ... It’s so hot here.   It’s just withering.  It’s punishing.  I’ll give you an example of how hot, muggy and humid it is.  Earlier today down at Madam Tussaud’s WaxMuseum, they packed party ice around Jennifer Lopez’s ass. ... I went tosee her new movie last night.  I leftearly, and by the time I got home, it was already on cable. ... Mike Tysonis now filing for bankruptcy.  He’sapparently close to being absolutely broke. Let me give you some financial advice, Mike.  You have got to develop a grill. ... President Bush hasstarted his 35-day vacation.  How manyof you folks every year get a 35-day vacation? ... He’s down there in Crawford,Texas, and on the first day of his vacation, he went fishing.  He didn’t find any fish, but he believesthey are there and that his intelligence is accurate. ... Before he left on hisvacation, he went for his annual physical and check-up, and they saideverything is perfect.  They said he’sin great shape considering all of the pressure and stress of his job.  They said he’s fantastic.  They said he’s got the body of a 40-yearold.  Oh no, wait a minute, that’s AshtonKutcher.  He has the body of 40-yearold” ("Late Show," CBS, 8/5).

NBC’sJay Leno: “President Bush is on his 29-day vacation, which is three dayslonger than last year.  Well, can youblame him?  Have you ever been toCrawford, Texas?  You can’t squeeze itall into 26 days. ... Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean ison the cover of both Time and Newsweek, and Presidential candidate JohnEdwards is on the side of a milk carton. How many have heard of Howard Dean? How many of those think he’s the guy who sells the pork sausage? ...McDonald’s says they are now testing a new way to cook the hamburgersautomatically using robots. ... I just hope it doesn’t give McDonald’s foodthat processed taste. ... Mike Tyson’s life is entering a new chapter: Chapter11. ... Mike Tyson has filed for bankruptcy. That’s a good combination: crazy and broke. ... Kobe Bryant andhis wife attended Saturday’s ‘Teen Choice Awards’ here in Los Angeles.  Is that a good idea?  Wasn’t it Kobe’s choice of a teen that gothim into trouble in the first place? ... Kobe has lost his endorsement dealwith Nutella chocolate.  But the goodnews: Kobe’s wife is now the new spokesperson for Payday” ("TonightShow," NBC, 8/5).

LATENIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Mike Tyson FinancialMistakes” ("Late Show," CBS, 8/5).

TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Kobe Bryanthaving to appear in court on Wednesday, followed by Mavericks Owner MarkCuban’s comments that Bryant’s arrest will benefit the NBA and an interviewwith Magic Senior VP Pat Williams and former 76ers President PatCroce discussing the remarks.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is the International Space Station?”

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

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