| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Booz Allen Hamilton To Take Over Title Sponsorship Of PGA Tour Event In DC |
| • | CFL Could Take Financial Control Of Hamilton Tiger-Cats As Soon As Today |
| • | Aussie National Basketball League, Fox Sports Today To Announce Extension |
| • | PWBA Cancels ’03 Fall Schedule, Pursuing Investors For ’04 Season |
| • | Reebok’s Terry Tate Joins The CA Gubernatorial Recall Election Field |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON ASSUMES TITLE OF PGA TOUR EVENT IN DC
The WASHINGTON POST reports that VA-based management andconsulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton has signed a three-year deal to title the PGATour event in DC, which will now be called the Booz Allen Open. Originally known as the Kemper Open, thetournament was renamed the FBR Capital Open in June when VA-based Friedman,Billings, Ramsey Group “stepped into the title sponsorship breach about sixweeks before the start of this year’s event” on a one-year basis. FBR officials said “during and immediatelyafter the event that it had every intention of re-upping for another threeyears, but negotiations between the company and Kemper Sports Management ofChicago did not produce such an agreement” (WASHINGTONPOST, 8/12).
CFL PREPARING TO TAKE CONTROL OF SECOND TEAM IN TWO WEEKS
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the CFL as soon astoday could take over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as the franchise, operated byToronto businessmen George Grant and David Macdonald, “is out ofmoney.” The move comes just two weeksafter the CFL took control of the Toronto Argonauts. CFL sources say that the league “has as many as 10 buyersinterested in the franchise” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 8/12).
AUSSIE HOOPS LEAGUE, FOX SPORTS TO ANNOUNCE EXTENSION TODAY
The Melbourne AGE reports the Australian National BasketballLeague and Fox Sports today will announce that their three-year contract, aboutto enter its second year, “has been extended by a further three years andrevalued upwards by about 50[%] to a high six-figure sum a season.” The new contract, which runs through the’07-08 season, calls for games to be shown live on Wednesdays and Saturdaysthis season, “with some Monday matches likely as a trial for the following season.” The deal is “seen as an early credit” torecently appointed Commissioner Rick Burton (MelbourneAGE, 8/12).
MORNING BRIEFS
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettmanreleased a statement yesterday following the death of Herb Brooks thatread in part: “The strength of hockey in the United States is atestament to Herb Brooks and the historic Olympic triumph in 1980. However there was so much more to him thanthat glorious moment at Lake Placid. Herb was a tireless supporter of USA Hockey players and programs, arelentless advocate of the speed and beauty of our game” (NHL).
The ProfessionalWomen’s Bowling Association announced that the ‘03 fall schedule will becancelled due to a lack of operating funds. The four-tournament swing wasto begin in the middle of next month and complete a 13-event season. PWBAFounder & Chair John Sommer will continue to pursue new investorsand explore options for the ‘04 season (PWBA).
 |
| Click Image For Larger View |
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Lester Speight, the actorwho plays Reebok’s Terry Tate character, has filed to appear on the CAGubernatorial recall election ballot. The filing of nomination documents, “overseen by the Reebok agency, theArnell Group in New York, was made under the name Lester Terry Tate Speight ona nonpartisan party line.” Terry’sslogan: “Save Our State – Vote Terry Tate” (N.Y. TIMES,8/12).
European Competition Commission spokesperson TilmanLueder said that the commission “would be asking England’s Premier Leaguebosses for further evidence that the bidding process had been ‘open andcompetitive,’” after the league opted to sell all live rights to BSkyB. Lueder: “We are interested in both thefairness of the process and the fairness of the end result” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 8/12).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that Giants Owner WellingtonMara has not decided if he will talk to TE Jeremy Shockey directlyabout his recent comments in two magazines. Since Shockey was drafted, teamofficials have had “several discussions with his marketing agent, RobertBailey,about who should control the player’s off-the-fieldactivities” (N.Y. DAILYNEWS, 8/12).
Nike’s BOD declared a cash dividend of $0.14 per share onits outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock payable October1, to shareholders of record at the close of business September 15 (Nike).
NEWSDAY reports that MGM officials yesterday met withfederal prosecutors and IRS agents, as prosecutors are “deciding whether tocharge the [NYRA] and several of its management level employees on tax fraudcharges.” The meeting was “to checkwith MGM and other businesses about the economic consequences to the state incase of a NYRA indictment” (NEWSDAY,8/12).
The Pro Football HOFBoard of Trustees yesterday approved several modifications to the Hall’sby-laws, including a reduction in the minimum (from four tothree) and maximum number (from seven to six) of candidates electedannually (Pro Football HOF).
The Nashville TENNESSEAN reports that Davidson CountyChancery Court “issued a restraining order and temporary injunction,” keepingWGFX-AM sportscaster George Plaster “off the air for 15 days.” Gaylord Entertainment, which filed suitagainst Plaster, “contends that Plaster is covered under an employment contractthat would restrict him from working in the market until March 31, 2005” (NashvilleTENNESSEAN, 8/12).
The USHL announced that the purchase of the Des MoinesBuccaneers and lease of the Metro Ice Sports Arena were finalized yesterday byBuccaneers Hockey, LLC, which includes MN-based Central Ventures (USHL).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The L.A. TIMES reports that a crowd of 20,288 attended last night’s Dodgers-Marlins game at Pro Player Stadium, where Marlins P Dontrelle Willis dropped his record to 11-3 as the Dodgers defeated the Marlins 9-3 (L.A. TIMES, 8/12). Prior to last night’s game, the Marlins were averaging 14,800 through six Monday home games this season (THE DAILY).
- NEWSDAY reports that a “season-high” crowd of 40,406 attended last night’s Yankees-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium, won 12-9 by the Royals (NEWSDAY, 8/12).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ROLLCALL reported that Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) mangled the name of Cubs RF SammySosa at last week’s AFL-CIO candidates’ forum in Chicago. In a “suck-upto the locals, Graham noted that President Bush messed up as owner ofthe Texas Rangers by trading away ‘Sammy Scioscia,’ as in the manager of theAnaheim Angels, Mike Scioscia” (ROLL CALL, 8/11).
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
The Phillies will host a Topping Out Ceremony, anironworkers’ custom that celebrates the near-completion of a building’s steelframework, at the Citizens Bank Park construction site at 11:45am ET. Phillies General Partner & President DavidMontgomery and Ironworkers Local Union 401 VP Ed Sweeney will speakat the event. Phillies Chair BillGiles, GM Ed Wade, manager Larry Bowa and several Philliesplayers are expected to attend.
A bronze statue of Baseball HOFer Warren Spahn willbe unveiled at 1:15pm ET in Monument Grove at Turner Field in Atlanta.
Dream Events will host a 1:00pm CT news conference atSoldier Field to announce details of an ‘85 Super Bowl Champions reuniongame. Former Bears QB Jim McMahon,WR Dennis McKinnon and DB Dave Duerson are expected toattend. The reunion team is scheduledto face a team including former Dolphins QB Dan Marino.
National Lacrosse League Commissioner Jim Jenningswill announce the location, date and details of the ’03-04 All-Star Game duringa 3:00pm ET conference call. The leaguedid not host an All-Star Game last season (NLL).
Texas Motor Speedway officials will officially announcetheir ’04 race weekends: the April 3 NASCAR Busch Series O’Reilly 300 and theApril 4 NASCAR Nextel Cup SamSung/RadioShack 500, as well as two IRL/NASCARCraftsman Truck Series weekends, June 11-12 and October 16-17 (DALLASMORNING NEWS, 8/12).
Two Coors Field escalators will be “loaded with 20,000pounds each … to test their brakes and other equipment,” as the city of Denveris still trying to determine the cause of a July 2 escalator accident thatinjured 35 people (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 8/9).
The Scarborough Sales, Research & Marketing Conferencebegins at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica. Viewthe agenda.
INOTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that CNBC has inked a deal withDeutsch Inc. Chair & CEO Donny Deutsch to “appear as a commentatorand guest host on current programs as well as the host of a series of sixhourlong specials on topics like marketing, entertainment, sports and popularculture.” He and the net will “continueto work on developing a series for him that would appear more frequently” (N.Y. TIMES,8/12).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Nextel President & CEO TimDonahue received a three-year contract extension. His current $1M salary “includes a substantial pay raise fromlast year’s $697,115 salary, and his compensation also includes a grant of 1million shares that will vest in three years, as well as a bonus of $1.5[M]that will be paid if he meets certain financial targets.” In ’02, Donahue received a $1.5M bonus and 2million stock options (WASHINGTONPOST, 8/12).
DAILY VARIETY reports that Discovery Networks has “hammeredout a sponsorship deal” with The Home Depot, granting exclusivity in the homeimprovement category for The Learning Channel’s “Trading Spaces.” The Home Depot also has category exclusivitywith TLC’s “While You Were Out.” TheHome Depot will be “responsible for the makeover budgets, which is $1,500 on‘While You Were Out’ and $1,000 for each team on ‘Trading Spaces’” (DAILYVARIETY, 8/12). The Home Depotreplaces Lowe’s on “Trading Spaces” (THE DAILY).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “HistoricAmericans.”
“Elizabeth Shoumatoff was sketching his portrait whenhe fell unconscious April 12, 1945; he died two hours later.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
NBC’sJay Leno: “Thank you for coming out on another hot day. I was sweating like Mike Tyson tryingto balance his checkbook. ... The other night on my way home, I stopped at theMcDonald’s, and I order a Big Mac, fries and a Coke, and the woman on thespeaker says for $0.39 more, I can run for governor. ... It looks like it’sgoing to be Arnold Schwarzenegger or Gray Davis. You got a robot from the future or the robotwith no future. ... One hundred ninety-four candidates running. It may get even higher. In fact, the only two now we can officiallyrule out are Uday and Qusay. ... Actually, 194 and a half if youcount Gary Coleman. Florida islaughing at us. ... Hustler publisher Larry Flynt and adult film star MaryCarey are also running. You knowwhat bothers me about the two of them running? This could split the all-important porn vote. ... I want to take just amoment to say hello to all our troops in Liberia: Lenny, Bob, Larry, Dave, Sam,Cindy and Wendy. ... Next week, the Philadelphia Phillies will be having theirGay Community Day at the ballpark in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. How fast are those sausage mascots going tobe running at that game? ... Dennis Rodman found not guilty of sexualassault. Today, Kobe Bryantcalled Rodman, ‘Hey, who’s your lawyer?’” ("Tonight Show," NBC,8/11).
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with the death offormer U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks in a one-car accident,followed by Astros-Cubs and Cardinals-Pirates.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who was Franklin Delano Roosevelt?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
TheMorning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Mondaythrough Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for ane-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
