Morning Buzz, September 15, 2003

BRIAN FRANCE ELEVATED TO CHAIR & CEO, REPLACES FATHER BILL

NASCAR will conduct a teleconference today to announce theroles of its executive team after the racing series announced Saturday that BrianFrance has been named Chair & CEO, succeeding his father Bill FranceJr in the position. The elderFrance will remain with NASCAR as co-Vice Chair. The HARTFORD COURANT noted that NASCAR President Mike Helton has controlled day-to-day operationssince November ’00. NASCAR VP/CorporateCommunications Jim Hunter: “Mike is going to continue as the presidentof NASCAR. I think they’ll get intothat in more detail [today]” (HARTFORDCOURANT, 9/14).

NHL WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN CBA NEGOTIATIONS SOMETIME IN FALL

Today marks the beginning of the one-year countdown to theexpiration of the NHL’s CBA with the NHLPA, and the Toronto GLOBE & MAILreported that “after months of verbal sparring between the two sides, somethingtangible might actually be happening soon.” NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said that the league “would liketo begin the formal negotiating process for a new CBA sometime in thefall.” NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow:“There’s really no specific event that will or won’t occur in the near futurethat will change things.” Daly: “It’snot as if we’re behind schedule.” TheCBA expires September 15, 2004 (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 9/13).

NFL TO MEET WITH CLARETT’S ATTORNEYS WITHIN NEXT TEN DAYS

The WASHINGTON POST reports that NFL Commissioner PaulTagliabue said that Alan Milstein, the attorney for OH State Univ.RB Maurice Clarett, has “asked the league to consider him eligible fornext year’s draft.” Tagliabue: “Themeeting will be in the next 10 days, attorneys to attorneys.” Current NFL rules prohibit a player fromentering the draft until three years after his high school classgraduates. The rule “has never beenchallenged in court” (WASHINGTONPOST, 9/15).

KEENELAND SEES GAINS AS SEPTEMBER YEARLING SALE CONTINUES

Keeneland’s September yearling sale continues today at10:00am ET, and the Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL reported that during the firstweek’s select sessions, gross sales rose nearly 31% to $131.3M compared to lastyear. The average purchase price jumped45% to $387,168 and the median price increased 35% to $230,000. During Tuesday’s session, 17 horses sold for$1M or more – “more than twice as many as in the comparable session a year ago.” Thoroughbred consultant Ric Waldman attributedthe strong sales figures to several factors, including “confidence in theeconomy and probably more comfort in the world situation as there’s been in awhile” (LouisvilleCOURIER-JOURNAL, 9/14).

MORNING BRIEFS

The AP noted that Kobe Bryant’s attorneys Fridayasked Eagle County Judge Frederick Gannett to close the October 9preliminary hearing to the public and press “because publicity from the sensationalcase could jeopardize his right to a fair trial” (AP,9/13).

In DC,Michael Wilbon writes of no-shows during Sunday’s Redskins-Falcons game: “With[Mike Vick] on the sideline the triflin’ folks here in Atlanta – about10,000 by this estimation – opted to eat their tickets. … You want the worstsports town in America: Here it is” (WASHINGTONPOST, 9/15).

In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell writes of Internet speculationthat former Pacers coach Isiah Thomas will become the first coach or GMfor the Bobcats: “Personally, I doubt it. … Thomas doesn’t have a great track record in this regardsince retiring as a player. Inparticular, he infuriated many long-time employees of the [CBA] when he boughtthat minor league and ran it into bankruptcy” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 9/14).

The L.A. TIMES reports that Angels TV analyst Rex Hudler“has reached an agreement with Missouri prosecutors on a resolution of hismarijuana charges,” and the Angels could announce “as soon as today whetherthey will reinstate him” (L.A.TIMES, 9/15).

The SEATTLE TIMES reported that Emerald Downs “canceled liveracing following the first race [Friday] after the jockeys refused to ridebecause they said the track was drying unevenly.” Fans in attendance “received a free admission pass to EmeraldDowns and ‘rain checks’ on programs purchased [Friday]” (SEATTLETIMES, 9/13).

Saturday’s edition of Fox’ “Mad TV” featured cast-member FrankCaliendo portraying ABC’s Al Michaels and John Maddenintroducing the show’s ninth season (“Mad TV,” Fox, 9/13).

The L.A. TIMES reports that the family of Venus and SerenaWilliams issued the following statement following the shooting death ofhalf-sister Yetunde Price: “We are extremely shocked, saddened anddevastated by the shooting death of our beloved Yetunde. She was our nucleus and our rock. She was personal assistant, confidant andadvisor to her sisters, and her death leaves a void that can never be filled” (L.A.TIMES, 9/15).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The L.A. TIMES reported that a sellout crowd of 16,268 attended Saturday’s Shane Mosley-Oscar De La Hoya super welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, where Mosley won via unanimous decision. The venue “sold out early, added more seats and sold out again.” The fight was also aired on 2,000 closed-circuit sites around the country (L.A. TIMES, 9/14).

• The DETROIT NEWS reports that the crowd of 17,846 attending last night’s WNBA Finals Sparks-Shock game at The Palace at Auburn Hills was “standing, stomping, screaming and banging thunder sticks. The noise from the second-largest WNBA playoff crowd ever was deafening” (DETROIT NEWS, 9/15).

• The Cleveland PLAIN DEALER reports that the Gravity Games drew approximately 163,000 over the five-day event at North Coast Harbor, with “an estimated 35,500” for yesterday’s final events. The Gravity Games drew about 153,000 last year in Cleveland (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 9/15).

• The DETROIT FREE PRESS reported that an “NCAA-record crowd of 111,726” attended Saturday’s Notre Dame-Michigan football game at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, a 38-0 win for the Wolverines (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/14).

• The MIAMI HERALD reports that a crowd of 40,414 attended Saturday’s Braves-Marlins game at Pro Player Stadium, the “biggest crowd in two years.” The Marlins distributed bobbleheads of former Marlins 2B Craig Counsell. Dontrelle Willis also pitched Saturday night(MIAMI HERALD, 9/14).

• The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reported that a crowd of 33,480 attended Saturday’s Phillies-Pirates game at PNC Park, where the Pirates hosted Fireworks Night (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/14).

• The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reports that a crowd of approximately 500,000 attended Sunday’s T-Mobile Int’l cycling race in San Francisco, where Lance Armstrong “dropped out midway through” the race (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/15).

WEEKEND RAP…

The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “partingshots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:

• Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan, on Braves fans: “What if they finally won (the World Series) and nobody in Atlanta found out until Christmas? They’re obviously into self-pity since the Braves have won the division every year since 1991 and everybody thinks they should have gotten more out of it.”

• N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, on Giants TE Jeremy Shockey saying he was misquoted on his remarks about Cowboys coach Bill Parcells being a “homo”: “Guys like Shockey want the magazine covers and want the stroke and will bowl over a crowd of people like defensive backs if they see a microphone anywhere in the area. But the very first time panhandling for attention this way gets them into trouble, it turns out the media is out to get them.”

• Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard, on OH St. Univ. RB Maurice Clarett: “This has been a ridiculously over-inflated story since it began. What he stands accused of is a parking ticket on a lawless landscape littered with too many Dave Blisses, Mike Prices and Jim Harricks. We can keep believing in the illusion of amateurism though, because the cold alternative would be to acknowledge that the BCS and March Madness are merely the big business of minor league sports.”

• ESPN’s John Saunders, on the Univ. of MS’s mascot, Colonel Rebel: “Colonel Rebel has been officially retired. Ole Miss administrators say it’s time to leave the 19^th century and enter the 21^st” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 9/14).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• ESPN’s Chris Fowler, on the Notre Dame-Michigan football rivalry: “The good news is they’re going to meet every year until at least 2011 and just like every single game between these teams in the modern era, not a single unsold ticket. That is remarkable” ("College Gameday," ESPN, 9/13).

• Levitra endorser Mike Ditka, on his image as a tough guy and admitting he suffers from ED: “In the beginning it was tough but, I didn’t create the problem, I just have the problem.  So if I can cure the problem let me tell other men how to cure the problem and that’s what I’m trying to do.” ESPN’s Mark Schwartz said Ditka “will make more money this year leading men to their doctors than he earned his entire Playing career”  ("OTL," ESPN, 9/14).

• NASCAR VP/Corporate Communications Jim Hunter, on footage of fights between NASCAR drivers being used in commercials: “We don’t control what goes in commercials” ("OTL," ESPN, 9/14).

• Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal: “I’ve been kind of laying low from the movies, but I’m doing a movie at the end of the summer … with Ben Stiller” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 9/12).

• Actor David Spade, after riding around Darlington Raceway in a Winston Cup car, on his movie “Joe Dirt”: “‘Joe Dirt’ is quite a hit in NASCAR. They don’t know there’s a David Spade. They do know there’s a ‘Joe Dirt.’ They think he’s real, and they want him to run for mayor” ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 9/12).

THE BACK PAGES

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sportscovers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:

Philadelphia Daily News	Philadelphia Daily News
N.Y. Post Magazine	N.Y. Post

N.Y. Daily News

TODAY’S EVENTS

The Astros will host a 9:00am CT ribbon-cutting ceremony tounveil an Astros-themed waiting room and playroom at University of Texas M.D.Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Astros Owner Drayton McLane and President of Business Operations PamGardner will participate.

The Coyotes today will announce a founding partner forGlendale Arena at a 1:00pm MT news conference. Coyotes Chair Steve Ellman and Managing Partner Wayne Gretzkywill attend.

Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association officials and GrizzliesPresident of Business Operations Andy Dolich will unveil the logo of aMIFA property, while renaming it the “Grizzlies’ Den” during an 11:00am CTpress conference. The Grizzlies made adonation to MIFA of approximately $500,000 in February (BIZJOURNALS.com,9/11).

The Strategic Research Institute today begins its 9^thAnnual Sports Marketing & Sponsorship Forum at the Metropolitan Hotel inN.Y. MAI Sports Chair and former USOCExec Dir Dick Schultz will chair the forum (SRI).

THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…

With the debut of Lincoln Financial Field and the renovatedLambeau Filed last week, this week’s cover story offers first-person accountsof the structure, design and experience of the new facilities.

For these stories and more, see this week's issue of SportsBusiness Journal

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are thisweek’s confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THEDAILY).

INOTHER NEWS….

This week’s cover of TIME offers “Johnny Cash … 1932-2003.” Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines “YourChild’s Health And Safety” (THE DAILY).

N.Y. CMO Joseph Perello, on the city’s next majorsponsorship possibility: “We’re very interested in speaking with someone with aretail presence. We’ve received anenormous number of calls, basically from everyone, and we’re now in theinteresting position of making decisions partially on brands” (NEWSDAY,9/15).

The Portland OREGONIAN reported that the Vancouver-basedNautilus Group will “cut its work force by an unspecified amount.” The company expects the reductions to“produce $4[M] in annual pretax savings,” equaling approximately 8% of thefirm’s labor costs. D.A. Davidson &Co. analyst James Bellessa, a Nautilus shareholder, said that he expects“the company to cut [60-65] employees” (PortlandOREGONIAN, 9/13).

THE DAILY QUESTION

This morning’s “The Daily Question” category is “TheWorld Series.”

Do any of the current MLB divisions have more combined WorldSeries championships than the Yankees?

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “What a beautiful day in NewYork. ... It was so nice, on my lunch hour, I went up to Central Park and tooka nap on my yoga mat. ... This week in New York is Fashion Week. Everybody is involved in the fashionindustry this week in New York. Forexample, this morning as I’m coming to work, my cab driver was wearing anArmani turban. No, I’m sorry. That was his name. ... The world has gonecrazy. Here’s what I’m talking about. I wake up this morning, there’s a knock onthe door and my mom arrives at my house in a cargo container. ... Fall is inthe air. Earlier today, ArnoldSchwarzenegger was hit with a pumpkin. ... There’s a new video from Osamabin Laden and the thing that I find disturbing about this is that you cantell Osama is getting more and more video savvy. ... In the newest video,there’s a brief cameo by Johnny Depp” ("Late Show," CBS,9/12).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “It was so hot today, Gray Daviswas giving illegal immigrants free air conditioners. ... I was sweating like AriannaHuffington at H&R Block. ... Governor Gray Davis announced that thisSunday he and former President Bill Clinton will campaign together inSouth Central Los Angeles. As you know,Clinton is against the recall. In fact,for eight years when he was president, whenever they asked him a question, he’dgo, ‘I can’t recall.’ ... Clinton’s cookbook comes out today. He got recipes from all these celebritiesand of course, since it’s Clinton, every recipe features breasts and thighs.... Dr. Phil has written a book on diet tips. It’s for people who want to look just as slim and trim as Dr.Phil. I think his next book is a bookof hair care tips” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 9/12).

SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:30pm ET 90-minute edition of “SportsCenter” ledwith Browns-Ravens, highlighted by Jamal Lewis’ NFL record 295rushing yards, followed by Panthers-Bucs and 49ers-Rams. The first non-NFL report, at 18:09 into thebroadcast, was Braves-Marlins.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that the box office estimate “for this weekend’s top dozen filmsis $73.5[M], up a mild 2% from the comparable frame a year earlier” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 9/15).

THE DAILY ANSWER

No – The Yankees’ 26 World Series banners is morethan any other division’s teams combined, though the NL Central is close with21 (Cardinals – 9, Pirates – 5, Reds – 5, Cubs – 2, Astros – 0, Brewers – 0).

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

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