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Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, October 28, 2003

The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
9:00am ET

Mohegan Sun Renews, Expands Sponsorship Deal With Celtics For Three Years

NBA Season Opens Tonight With Three Games, Fair Share Of Storylines

Trial Of Former SLOC Execs Welch And Johnson Begins Today In Salt Lake City

Getty Images Today To Become Exclusive Manchester United Photo Distributor

Marlins To Be Saluted Today In South Florida With Minimum Of Three Parades

Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy!


MOHEGAN SUN TO BECOME ONE OF CELTICS’ LARGEST SPONSORS

By Terry Lefton,Editor-at-Large, The Sports Business Daily

The Celtics could announce as early as today that MoheganSun casino has renewed and expanded its sponsorship deal, making it one of theteam’s largest corporate sponsors. Under the three-year deal, Mohegan Sun receives signage on the backs ofthe visitors’ and Celtics’ chairs and on the top of both basketstanchions.  As per league rules, thatsignage will be covered during national network and cable telecasts.  Sources said the pact was in the mid-sixfigures.


NBA SEASON OPENS TONIGHT WITH THREE GAMES; TWO ON TNT

The NBA season opens tonight with three games.  TNT begins its regular-season coverage withSuns-Spurs at 8:00pm ET, followed by Mavericks-Lakers at 10:30pm ET.  CABLE WORLD writes, “Scandals and injuries, hot youths and still-passionate old-timers – theNBA season tip-off this week could give SoapNet a run for its money in themelodrama department.  But whether thefrenzy of media interest surrounding Kobe Bryant’s rape trial or thepossibility of Michael Jordan’s return or the promise of LeBron Jameswill put big ratings up on the board is still up in the air” (CABLE WORLD,10/28).

USA TODAY offers a special NBA Preview in today’sissue.  TNT, ESPN, American Express andBud Light run full-page ads in the section, while the NBA promotes NBA TV andNBA League Pass with half-page ads.  Theback cover touts a $1M sweepstakes tied to ticket sales (THE DAILY).

The NBA yesterday announced that a free preview of NBA TVwill be offered on Time Warner Cable in NY and NJ through November 18, beforemoving to the carrier’s new digital sports programming package (NBA).  The N.Y. TIMES notes that for $3.95 a month,viewers with digital cable “will be able to buy a package containing NBA TV,the Tennis Channel, Fuel (Fox’s new extreme sports network) and Fox SportsAtlantic, Central and Pacific” (N.Y. TIMES, 10/28).


SLOC BRIBERY, VOTE-BUYING TRIAL BEGINS TODAY IN SALT LAKE CITY

The trial of former SLOC President Tom Welch andSenior VP Dave Johnson begins today at the U.S. Courthouse in Salt LakeCity, and the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that on its face, “the case isfairly simple.  Prosecutors allege Welchand Johnson quarterbacked a scheme to buy votes for Salt Lake’s Olympic bid andthen used bogus contracts and falsified financial records to hide the paymentsfrom trustees overseeing the bids.  Buteach of the 15 offenses – one count of conspiracy, five counts of wire fraud,five counts of mail fraud and four violations of the Travel Act – has a uniqueset of legal standards and definitions that the government must substantiatebeyond a reasonable doubt” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE,10/28).


GETTY IMAGES TO BE NAMED EXCLUSIVE MANU PHOTO DISTRIBUTOR

Getty Images today will announce a four-year deal to becomethe exclusive distributor of Manchester United photographs.  Beginning November 3, all content producedby club photographers will be distributed via Getty Images’ live feed serviceand via its Web site.  Terms of thedeals stipulate that independent photographers will now receive access to theclub’s stadium, Old Trafford (Getty Images).


SPORTING NEWS-SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE HITS NEWSSTANDS TODAY

High School Hoops, a national high school basketball previewhits newsstands today.  The firstcollaboration of Sporting News and high school sports publication SchoolSports,the magazine has a rate base of 100,000 and a retail price of $6.99.  Advertisers in the first issue include Nike,Reebok, New Balance, And1, Dada, Champion, Russell, U.S. Marines, Nestle andAcclaim (Sporting News).


MARLINS TO BE SALUTED TODAY THROUGHOUT SOUTH FLORIDA

The Marlins will besaluted across South Florida today for winning the World Series with a minimumof three parades.  The first paradebegins at 11:00am ET in downtown Miami, followed by a 1:30pm parade in LittleHavana.  At 4:30pm, a boat parade willbegin on the New River in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, preceding a party at LasOlas Riverfront at 5:00pm (PALM BEACH POST, 10/27).

The MIAMI HERALD reports that Miami Commissioner TomasRegalado “sees the festivities as an opportunity for the Marlins to begin acampaign for a new stadium.  Localleaders and Marlins executives have held talks on building a stadium near MiamiArena or the Orange Bowl.  But therehave been no agreements on how the stadium would be financed.”  Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas,“who was seated next to Marlins president David Samson at several Seriesgames, said no deals have been reached” (MIAMI HERALD, 10/28).


MORNING BRIEFS

The BOSTON HERALD reports that Bank of America officialsyesterday said that venues with the Fleet name, including the FleetCenter,“will likely be rechristened with names that include some form of ‘Bank ofAmerica.’”  Bank of America CEO KennethLewis: “I look forward to seeing a Bank of America sign at Fenway Park” (BOSTONHERALD, 10/28).

The L.A. TIMES reports that Mexican club team Chivas deGuadalajara Owner Jorge Vergara is “close to finalizing the purchase ofan expansion team in MLS.”  Vergara saidthat Chivas USA probably would play in San Diego.  Vergara: “We are looking for the strongest base of Mexicansupport and possibility of a new stadium. San Diego offers both” (L.A.TIMES, 10/28).

AROUND THE RINGS reported that the Vancouver Olympic WinterGames BOD today is expected to name Jack Poole as its Chair (AROUND THE RINGS, 10/27).

The Mets will host a noon ET news conference to officiallyannounce Jim Duquette as the team’s new GM, “stripping the ‘interim’label from the title he has held since Steve Phillips was fired in June”(N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 10/28).

Maryland Jockey Club President Joseph De Francis, onPimlico expansion plans: “If slots come to Maryland and not Pimlico, I canassure you we won’t be able to do any of this. Nothing.”  De Francis added, “Andwe’ll be lucky to stay open.  Lucky” (BaltimoreSUN, 10/28).

ESPN has reached a multiyear deal for telecast rights to theSpanish Football League throughout Latin American and the Pacific Rim, ensuringthat ESPN will continue to televise the property through the ’05-06season.  ESPN also acquired telecastrights for the Copa del Ray for the ’04-05 and ’05-06 seasons (ESPN).

The WASHINGTON POST reports that U.S. sprinter ChrysteGaines tested positive for modafinil at the U.S. Track & FieldChampionships in July, the “fourth athlete connected to [trainer RemiKorchemny] to test positive for banned drugs this summer” (WASHINGTONPOST, 10/28).

Wireless game provider 2ThumbZ Entertainment has enteredinto a partnership with the Mia Hamm Fan Club to develop action photosand wallpapers of Hamm for cell phones (2ThumbZ Entertainment).

The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that one day after “telling the Vikings they‘humiliated’ the franchise and themselves after their first defeat in 10months, a contrite Red McCombs said Monday he regretted making thecomments.”  McCombs: “My passion gotcarried away in commenting on things that really are not exactly the way Iwould feel or think about the team” (ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/28).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

  • The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that with “just a day’s notice, more than 73,000 football fans filled Sun Devil Stadium” for last night’s Dolphins-Chargers game.  The “often-raucous crowd was generous, with an estimated $200,000 raised for wildfire relief in Southern California.”  Admission to the game was free (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 10/28).
  • The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that for the “50,000 or so fans who returned Monday for the final 439 miles” of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, “it was a disappointing, but seemingly appropriate, end to a race that never seemed to generate the usual level of excitement” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/28).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that this Halloween, it “looksas if there will be dozens, perhaps hundreds, of SteveBartmans roaming Chicago’s streets – wearing headphones, a Cubs capand a sweatshirt for the Renegades traveling youth baseball team.”   Last week, renegadesbaseball.com promoted thesweatshirts ($35, plus $6 for shipping) on its home page, stating: “Pleaseallow 1-2 weeks for delivery. We will do our best to have all orders filled andshipped out in time for Halloween’” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 10/28).


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

Cal Ripken Jr. will ring the opening bell at theAmerican Stock Exchange.

The Football Network will release the first home video inits “Rivalries” series, highlighting Florida-Georgia football and includingnarration by Pat Summerall. Videos featuring Ohio State-Michigan and Alabama-Tennessee will bereleased in the future.


IN OTHER NEWS….

Citing a report in this week’s issue of the New Yorker, theAP reports that The New York Times Co. “approached Dow Jones & Co.,publisher of The Wall Street Journal, about the possibility of acquiring thecompany last year but was turned down.” The story noted that New York Times Chair Arthur Sulzberger Jr.“personally appealed to a Dow Jones director who is also a trustee of theBancroft family, the controlling shareholder of Dow Jones” (AP,10/28).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that ABC Family President AngelaShapiro will “soon exit the embattled Walt Disney Co.-owned cable networkin the wake of a management shake-up.” Shapiro is negotiating the terms of her departure “after Disney decidedto shift oversight of ABC Family to Anne Sweeney,” ABC Cable NetworksGroup President (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 10/28).

BILLBOARD.com reports that David Bowie and his wife, Iman,“have inked a deal with fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger for the rock icon andsupermodel to appear in their first ad campaign together.”  The campaign for the H Hilfiger line willlaunch in spring 2004.  The ads willdebut in American magazines in April (BILLBOARD.com,10/28).


FINAL JEOPARDY!

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

“The Boston Tea Party was planned at the house of SarahBradlee Fulton, a member of this splinter group.”


LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS’ DavidLetterman: “You’re looking at a guy who feels fantastic.  After being fished out of Niagara Falls, Ifeel like a new man. … Here in our studio audience, the entire balcony waspicked up at a raided Wal-Mart.  Now weknow how they can sell everything for such low, low prices. … So mom forgets toset her clock back, so that means her first Bloody Mary of the day is at8:00am.  Here at CBS, we love when youturn back the clocks because it’s the closest we come to a younger audience. …Here’s good news guys, Liza Minnelli is available again.  And more good news guys, so is David Gest.  Apparently, Liza Minnelli and her husband ofa year and a half, David Gest, are getting a divorce.  It’s shocking because if those two can’t make it, what chancedoes any other couple have?” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/27).

NBC’sJay Leno: “Welcome to Los Angeles, as we now call it, Hell’s sistercity.  This is really scary.  The smoke is so thick, you can barely seethe smog.  The only place you can go inL.A. and not smell smoke is a bar. … Congratulations to the world championFlorida Marlins.  Their fans were goingnuts.  People in Florida haven’t beenthis excited since they added applesauce to the Meals on Wheels car.  Of course, the Yankees lost 2-0, and onlygot five hits.  When Liza Minnelli isgetting more hits in than you are, that’s not good.  David Gest has sued his ex-wife Liza Minnelli for beating himup.  Do you believe that?  Liza Minnelli a wife beater?  I don’t think so.  Can’t Liza Minnelli be charged with a hate crime?  Isn’t that gay bashing? … Speaking offighting, Shaq and Kobe are fighting again.  Phil Jackson said he wanted the teamto get back to normal, now they are. Shaq is complaining that Kobe doesn’t pass enough, but there’s one thingKobe’s proven he can do, make a pass.  Ithink it’s just a ploy by Shaq to get a $4 million ring out of Kobe” (“TheTonight Show,” NBC, 10/27).

LATENIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s “Top Ten” was “Top Ten Effects of theGeomagnetic Storm” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/27).

10) “Yankee bats rendered useless.”

9) “Straight men give gay men makeovers.”

8) “For your safety, Taco Bell advises thinking inside the bun until storm is over.”

7) “All cell phones have the same ring – the theme from ‘Rocky.’”

6) “George W. Bush speaks clearly.”

5) “At grocery checkouts, all products scan as those Stella D’Oro butter cookies.”

4) “Technical glitch causes old jokes to appear in Top Ten list.”

3) “Clintern.”

2) “Liza Minnelli kicks the crap out of everything in sight.”

1) “A musclehead will rise to lead California.”


MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

Net

Show

Lead

Next Items

ESPN

“Around The Horn”

Best team in NFC

Lakers; Red Sox

ESPN

“PTI”

Chiefs

NFC East; Warren Sapp

ESPN

Midnight ET “SportsCenter”

Dolphins-Chargers

Red Sox firing Grady Little; High school hazing

FSN

“Detroit Sports Report”

Denny McLain

Michigan-Michigan State; Raiders-Lions


FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“Who were the ‘Daughters of Liberty?’”


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

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