| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Kroenke Sports, MLS Rapids To Conduct Joint News Conference Today |
| • | AFL To Host Conference Call Today To Announce Philly Expansion Franchise |
| • | ABC Today To Officially Announce Al Michaels As NBA Play-By-Play Announcer |
| • | David Stern Says That Kobe Bryant “Absolutely” Should Play Despite Case |
| • | Big East Devises Expansion Plan That Includes Four Conference USA Schools |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
KROENKE SPORTS TO ANNOUNCE ACQUISITION OF MLS RAPIDS TODAY
The DENVER POST reports that Kroenke Sports Enterprises and the MLS Rapids will conduct a joint news conference today, according to Kroenke Sports Exec VP David Ehrlich, who “previously confirmed [Stan Kroenke] was negotiating to buy the Rapids and build a soccer-specific stadium.” MLS confirmed that Commissioner Don Garber will also attend today’s news conference. The Rapids are currently owned by AEG. Kroenke’s Denver sports holdings include the Avalanche, Nuggets, Pepsi Center, NLL Mammoth, one-third of the AFL Crush and a stake in the CART Grand Prix of Denver. Kroenke is also a minority owner of the Rams (DENVER POST, 9/23).
AFL EXPANSION FRANCHISE IN PHILLY TO BE CALLED THE SOUL
AFL Commissioner David Baker today will host a 1:00pm ET conference call to officially announce the league’s 18th team, an expansion franchise in Philadelphia. Co-Owners Ron Jaworski and Jon Bon Jovi will also participate, and the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that the team will be called the Soul. Following a day of media appearances, Jon Bon Jovi will host a 4:00pm ET pep rally on the Wachovia Spectrum steps. PA Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor John Street, Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and Sambora’s wife Heather Locklear are expected to attend (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/23).
Among the many media appearances scheduled for today, Jon Bon Jovi is appearing via satellite on NBC, a partner in the AFL, this morning during the weather segments on “Today.” Al Roker, who is in Philadelphia, is talking to Bon Jovi about the team and reporting the weather in front of AFL and Soul signage. Bon Jovi, to Matt Lauer: “Come and see the Soul, Matt. OK?” Lauer: “Absolutely. If the tickets are free, I’ll be there.” Bon Jovi, laughing, replied, “Thanks. I might put you in the game” ("Today," NBC, 9/23).
AL MICHAELS NAMED NBA PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN ON “MNF” LAST NIGHT
During halftime of last night’s Raiders-Broncos game, Al Michaels was introduced as ABC’s new lead NBA play-by-play announcer. John Madden: “Congratulations to you as being ABC Sports’ new voice of the NBA.” Michaels: “I just want you to know on Christmas night when we begin, and you’re having the turkey and the chicken and the duck, I’ll be doing the Lakers and the Rockets at [8:30pm ET, 5:30pm PT.] There’s your first promo. I’m really looking forward to it” (“MNF,” ABC, 9/22). ABC will host a 1:00pm ET conference call today to make the official announcement (ABC).
EA SPORTS BACKS GOLF GAME WITH AD CAMPAIGN PUSHING $5M
EA Sports’ “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2004” hits stores today, and SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reported that the company’s ad campaign “features commercial spots on ESPN, MTV and Fox’ NFL telecasts in addition to print ads in Rolling Stone, Spin, Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine.” Industry sources said that the value of campaign “could approach $5[M].” Suggested retail price is $49.95 for game consoles and $39.95 for PCs (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/22 issue).
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO BE HELD TODAY
Charlotte City Council primary elections will be held today, and the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER asked, “Will voters say no to the City Council members who said yes?” After Charlotte voters rejected an ‘01 referendum on an uptown arena, the Charlotte City Council approved a $265M arena plan one year later. Two council members who voted in favor of the arena plan – Pat Mumford and Lynn Wheeler – are on the primary ballot (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/21).
MORNING BRIEFS
NBA Commissioner David Stern, on whether or not Kobe Bryant should play before his sexual-assault case is settled: “Absolutely. We don’t have a Patriot Act in the NBA. That means you’re innocent until proven guilty” (L.A. TIMES, 9/23).
The DENVER POST reports that attorneys for the media yesterday “strenuously objected” to an attempt by Bryant’s defense team to close the October 9 preliminary hearing. Attorney Christopher Beall “argued that preliminary hearings have a ‘long and unbroken’ tradition of being public, and must be open to ensure fairness” (DENVER POST, 9/23).
The AP reports that NFL Senior VP/Special Events Jim Steeg was one of “about 80 NFL officials in Houston [yesterday] to work out logistics” for Super Bowl XXXVIII. Houston Mayor Lee Brown told Steeg, “Houston is going to put on a good show. You’ll want to come back” (AP, 9/23).
Following a one-hour meeting between representatives for Maurice Clarett and NFL officials last night, the N.Y. TIMES reports that the NFL officials “fully expect Clarett to mount a legal challenge” to the league’s early entry rules, and “they expect it soon, perhaps this week” (N.Y. TIMES, 9/23).
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that the Big East has put together an expansion package that will “call for a 16-team league in basketball (in two eight-team divisions) and an eight- or nine-team league in football.” The four additional schools – DePaul, Marquette, Cincinnati and Louisville – would come from Conference USA, and join the Big East for the ‘05 season (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/23).
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that IMS President & CEO Tony George will not “confirm that next year’s [F1 U.S. Grand Prix] will be his last under the initial contract,” but said that he is “working to ensure the future of the event.” George: I’ve always said that I hope that’s the case, but obviously any long-term deal has to be on a mutually agreed-upon basis” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/23).
Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom releases his first novel today, “The Five People You Meet In Heaven.” In N.Y., Sherryl Connelly writes, “It is slim, inspirational and explores the value of life in the context of death” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/23).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- USA TODAY reports that the crowd of 17,345 attending last night’s Marlins-Braves game on a “damp, dreary night” in Atlanta was the “smallest in Turner Field history. The actual turnout appeared to be less than 10,000” (USA TODAY, 9/23).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
| | |
| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Sports Sponsorship Symposium, presented by Street & Smith’s The Sports Business Daily and SportsBusiness Journal, begins at the Marriott East Side in N.Y. Roundtable discussion topics include “The Challenge of Competing in High-Profile Categories” and “The Changing Face of Sports Marketing.” Individual case studies include the Coca-Cola/CTSV deal, Nextel’s title sponsorship of NASCAR’s top series and the Bank of America Colonial. View the entire agenda.
A committee formed by Philadelphia-based lawyer John Langel will meet in N.Y. to explore ways to continue the WUSA next season (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/21).
The DETROIT FREE PRESS reports that Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany is expected to announce a decision today on the potential Metrodome scheduling conflict between the Twins and the Univ. of MN (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/23).
The first annual Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon Celebrity Golf Classic & Roast, which benefits the DC College Access Program, will be held at the Whiskey Creek Golf Course in Ijamsville, MD, with a shotgun start at 9:00am ET. The BBQ, roast and auction begin at 4:00pm ET.
Dolphins RB Ricky Williams and Pro Football HOFer Jim Brown will host a 3:30pm ET news conference at the James E. Scott Community Association F.L.O.Y.D. House in Miami to announce that Williams’ “Run Ricky Run” foundation will donate a portion of its proceeds to the Amer-I-Can program, which is aimed at ending violence.
Tennessee officials will unveil a fire safety initiative, including a public awareness campaign, which will feature Titans TE Erron Kinney. Additionally, the state will launch an informational Web site (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 9/23).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Fox’ broadcast of the 55th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday “took a significant drop from last year’s ceremony, continuing a trend of declining ratings for TV’s big night.” The telecast averaged 17.7 million viewers, “down 11% from the Emmy average of 19.8 million viewers last year, when the telecast was on NBC and hosted by Conan O’Brien.” The telecast earned a 7.0/18 overnight Nielsen rating among the 18-49 demographic (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/23).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that the FCC approved by a vote of 3-2 Univision Communications’ $3.5B acquisition of Hispanic Broadcasting, “imposing virtually no conditions on the new company” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/23).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Cities.”
“John Singleton Copley’s portrait of Paul Revere hangs in the Museum of Fine Arts in this city.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “Backstage, before I came out here, I was still watching the Emmys. The Emmys were still on. ‘The Sopranos’ just won another Emmy. ... It was a tough night for us. We did not win an Emmy last night and not only that, but the one we won last year, they’re trying to recall. I’m not worried about it because we’re in such a strange category. We were up against a queer makeover and the egging of Arnold Schwarzenegger. ... This just in: The California Supreme Court has postponed Jennifer Lopez’s wedding until March. ... By the way, I’m going to be a father. The child’s first words will of course be, ‘Grandpa.’ ... Arnold Schwarzenegger has a new campaign slogan. It’s ‘Join me.’ I believe it’s a shortened version of the old President Clinton campaign slogan, which was, ‘Join me in room 341’” ("Late Show," CBS, 9/22).
Last night’s edition of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” was introduced by Michael Buffer, and featured 90 of the CA recall election candidates in the audience. NBC’s Jay Leno: “Welcome to California, now a new division of Ringling Brothers, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to NBC’s newest reality show, ‘Last Candidate Standing.’ ... As I look out and I see all these candidates, I can’t help but think how proud I am to be from Massachusetts. ... Only in California do we have more candidates than we do registered voters. ... Candidate and porn star Mary Carey is here. It’s interesting, she showed up earlier at the studio and I thought she brought along her favorite sex toy. It turned out it was just Gary Coleman. ... Last week, the L.A. City Council voted unanimously to ban lap dancing everywhere in L.A. They can forget about us ever getting another Democratic Convention in this town. ... Authorities in England are experimenting with a new method to track convicted pedophiles. They’re putting tracking collars on them that record and track their every move. Putting collars on pedophiles. Hasn’t the church been doing that for years? ... Mike Tyson announced today he is selling his home in Connecticut to rapper 50 Cent. Kind of a lateral move for the neighbors” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 9/22).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Things I Want To Say To All Americans," read on-stage by current Miss America, Ericka Dunlap ("Late Show," CBS, 9/22).
| 10) "I'd like to say something to all the guys who dumped me ... actually, I've never been dumped." |
| 9) "One time I breathed in too much hairspray and thought there was a bear in my house." |
| 8) "Miss Idaho is really Mr. Idaho." |
| 7) "So far this year I have more wins than the Jets." |
| 6) "Even I realize two years from now I'll be working at a boat show." |
| 5) "Turns out the scholarship I won is a $50 gift certificate to Circuit City." |
| 4) "Letterman is not better-looking in person." |
| 3) "Donald Trump – stop calling me." |
| 2) "Backstage, I saw Dr. Phil eat an entire chocolate cake." |
| 1) "Schwarzenegger for governor? Are you people morons?" |
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Item |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Chiefs | Brett Favre; NL Cy Young |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Chiefs | Seahawks; Colts |
| ESPN | Midnight ET “SportsCenter” | Giants-Astros | Braves manager Bobby Cox; Marlins-Braves |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Emmy Awards | MLB playoff races; Bucs DT Warren Sapp |
| FSN | “Pittsburgh Sports Tonight” | Titans-Steelers | Steelers running game; Titans defense |
| FSN | “Midwest Sports Report” | Rams RB Marshall Faulk’s injury | Rams-Seahawks; Packers-Cardinals |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Boston?”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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