| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, November 4, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Big East Presidents To Meet Today In N.Y., Five C-USA Schools Set To Join |
| • | MN Gov. Tim Pawlenty To Discuss New Stadiums For Twins, Vikings Today |
| • | Miami-Dade County Commission To Vote Today On Marlins Ballpark Issue |
| • | Hockey Canada Set To Bring Wayne Gretzky Back Into The Fold For World Cup |
| • | Hawks Play To Announced Crowd Of 5,683 Last Night Against Hornets |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
BIG EAST TO ANNOUNCE ADDITION OF FIVE C-USA SCHOOLS TODAY
Big East university presidents will meet today in N.Y., andthe PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that Conference USA members Cincinnati, Louisville,DePaul, Marquette and South Florida will accept invitations to join the league,“instantly improving its stature in basketball.” Today’s meeting was originally scheduled for Philadelphia, butwas moved to N.Y. “for maximum media exposure” (PITTSBURGHPOST-GAZETTE, 11/4).
The HARTFORD COURANT reports that the possibility of addinganother team to the football conference “hasbeen temporarily tabled.” Central Florida,Army and Navy “are under consideration for that spot, a move that would createa balanced schedule” (HARTFORDCOURANT, 11/4).
MN GOV. TO DISCUSS NEW STADIUMS FOR TWINS, VIKINGS TODAY
The ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that MN Gov. TimPawlenty today at 2:00pm CT is “scheduled to talk, in broad general terms, about hisadministration’s effort to help” the Twins and Vikings build new stadiums toreplace the Metrodome. Pawlenty isexpected to announce “the appointment of a ‘screening group’ of citizens andlegislators to evaluate competing bids by St. Paul and Minneapolis to be chosenas the host city for a new Twins ballpark. The group also would consider an attempt by some Anoka County officialsto woo the Vikings” (ST. PAULPIONEER PRESS, 11/4).
The ST. PAUL PIONEERPRESS also reports that preliminary discussions “are quietly taking place withpotential partners for Twins ballpark naming rights” (ST. PAULPIONEER PRESS, 11/4).
FIRST STEP TOWARDS MARLINS BALLPARK TO BE VOTED ON TODAY
The PALM BEACH POST reports that the first step in a plan topay for a new Marlins ballpark “has enough sponsors to win a vote in theMiami-Dade County Commission today, though gaps remain in the plan.” But Miami Beach has not ruled out a legalchallenge as “some $50[M] of the $73[M] Miami-Dade is prepared to pledge to thestadium comes from a hotel-bed tax that Miami Beach wants to use to upgrade itsconvention center” (PALMBEACH POST, 11/4).
The MIAMI HERALD reports that FL Rep. Stacy Ritter submitted a proposal to theHouse’s bill-drafting staff last week that seeks to give the Marlins a $2M“annual sales tax-rebate to pay for the ballpark’s construction. The tax-break program is in effect at sevenarenas and stadiums, including Pro Player Stadium” (MIAMIHERALD, 11/4).
HOCKEY CANADA EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE GRETZKY’S RETURN TODAY
The CP reports that Hockey Canada has scheduled a newsconference today to announce that Wayne Gretzky “is back to run TeamCanada” as Exec Dir for the World Cup of Hockey, which will be played August30-September 14, 2004. The two-weekevent, run by the NHL and NHLPA, “returns after an eight-year absence, the U.S.having won the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996” (CP,11/4).
INDIANAPOLIS MAYORAL CHALLENGER OPPOSES SPENDING ON COLTS
Indianapolis Mayor BartPeterson faces a re-election challenge today from Greg Jordan “withpolls showing him leading Jordan by about 30 percentage points.” Jordanhas “bashed the mayor for spending increases that contributed to property taxhikes, and he opposes the mayor’s willingness to spend more money to keep theColts” (INDIANAPOLISSTAR, 11/2).
MORNING BRIEFS
USA TODAY notes that a report provided to NCAA membersoffers a “prediction that in five to 10 years ‘conference affiliations and BCSaffiliations may shift’ and ‘conferences … will increasingly break away fromthe NCAA.’” The report is the productof a June meeting of “almost three dozen athletic administrators” (USATODAY, 11/4).
Stephanie Pate, secretary for former SLOC President TomWelch, testified yesterday in the SLOC bribery trial, saying Welch “wasvery charismatic and persuasive.” Pateadded that she was “coaxed into helping the daughters of two [IOC] members setup apartments as part of Utah’s campaign to win the 2002 Winter Games” (N.Y.TIMES, 11/4).
IAAF President Lamine Diack said that authorities“probably would know the results of a review of drug tests taken at lastsummer’s world championships in Paris in weeks, perhaps days.” More than 400 samples are being retested (L.A.TIMES, 11/4).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that NY Gov. George Patakiyesterday signed a bill outlawing the sale of ephedra (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 11/4).
The N.Y. TIMES notes that there were 35,286 starters in theING NYC Marathon Sunday. Of thatfigure, 34,662 finished the race, including more than 11,000 females, all eventrecords. A total of 20 runners werehospitalized, “none for serious injuries or illnesses” (N.Y.TIMES, 11/4).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that the Hawks “played before an intimate gathering announced as 5,683” last night against the Hornets. While that figure would be a Hawks record low for Philips Arena, the writer wonders if the “real turnstile count actually hit 1,000” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/4).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Falcons CB Ray Buchanan’s Atlanta-area home wasfeatured on last night’s edition of MTV’s “Cribs.” Buchanan, while showing the contents of his refrigerator, held upa bottle of Perrier, and said, “So Perrier, I’d like to get paid for this freeendorsement I’m giving you right here” ("Cribs," MTV, 11/3).
ESPN’s Tom Jackson, on the Patriots stacking the lineto stop Broncos RB Clinton Portis: “I’m not a defensive coordinator, butI did sleep at a Holiday Inn Express. Ido know that will work” ("Monday Night Countdown," ESPN, 11/3).
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
NFL Network launches tonight at 8:00pm ET with its signatureshow, “NFL Total Access.” Interviewswith NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Bears LB Brian Urlacher andChiefs QB Trent Green highlight the first show (NFL). See today’s issue of The Daily and ClosingBell for more on the net’s launch.
Sotheby’s and Christie’s will hold a joint auction, andamong the items up for bid is a ‘51 sculpture by David Smith, currentlyowned by John McEnroe (TENNISWEEK, 10/31).
IN OTHER NEWS….
An Audit Bureau of Circulations analysis shows that whilecirculation for the nation’s daily newspapers “grew slightly, Sundaycirculation fell by slightly more compared with the period a year ago.” Average daily circulation was 48,997,100 forthe six-month period ended September 30, a 0.2% jump over the same period ayear earlier. On Sunday, the figuresfor 648 newspapers, “yielded an average circulation of 53,854,152, whichrepresented a loss of 0.4[%]” (N.Y.TIMES, 11/4).
The AP reports that Charter Communications “swung to aprofit of $37[M] in [Q3 ‘03], thanks to gains from a debt exchange as it wagesa debt-shedding restructuring in its ‘year of transition.’” The company posted a $166M loss in the yearago period (AP,11/4).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Candy.”
“This person after whom a candy bar may have been named waspart of a family on an 1892 election day souvenir medal.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
PaulShaffer hosted CBS’ “Late Show” in place of David Letterman. Shaffer: “If you’re feeling that there’s somethingwrong with this picture and you’re seeing me, it’s because Dave is at thehospital waiting for his baby to be delivered. Come on! Very, very exciting. It came as a complete shock to me, I’ll tellyou. I didn’t even know he was gettinglaid. ... Dave a father. We think – wethink – this means he’s not gay. ... Dave will finally have an heir. Now at least he won’t have to give all hismoney to his cats. ... The baby will probably be small, bald and wrinkled. Hey, it’ll probably look like me! ... Iunderstand they’re doing natural childbirth, which is great, although Dave isheavily sedated just like he is every night. ... They never thought they’d beable to have a kid. Dave is thrilledand so is Liza” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/3).
NBC’sJay Leno: “A lawyer was shot was outside a courthouse while the hearingfor Robert Blake was going on inside. Police said it was totally unrelated to the Blake incident, although outof force of habit, Blake did run back to the courthouse to get his gun. ... Hekept shooting and missing from three feet away. At first I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, one of the Clippers got loose.’... I had a couple of kids come to my house. They’re so cute. This littleHispanic girl comes to my door wearing a ring on every finger, gold necklace,big diamond tiara. I said, ‘Oh, are yousupposed to be a princess?’ She said,‘No, I’m Kobe Bryant’s wife.’ ... The Lakers played last night. Shaquille O’Neal blocked three shots,two of them Kobe’s” ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/3).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things I Can Say NowThat Dave Is Not Here,” read by Paul Shaffer ("Late Show," CBS,11/3).
| 10) “I’ve developed asthma from all the fake laughing.” |
| 9) “Beneath that hairpiece, Dave is as bald as I am.” |
| 8) “Funny, when my kids were born somebody still made me come in for the show.” |
| 7) “There’s no baby – Dave’s hung over.” |
| 6) “I’m not going to say what, but I put my bare ass on something in Dave’s office.” |
| 5) “Blah blah blah blah blah – it’s my show now and I can waste time whenever I want.” |
| 4) “I can finally admit it – I got Dave fired from NBC.” |
| 3) “It’s (expletive) freezing in here.” |
| 2) “These lame little Top Ten lists got tired around 1996.” |
| 1) “I prefer Leno.” |
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Colts | Univ. of OK football; Kobe Bryant & Tracy McGrady |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Redskins-Cowboys | Raiders coach Bill Callahan; Saints-Buccaneers |
| ESPN | 12:00am ET “SportsCenter” | Spurs-Grizzlies | T’Wolves-Jazz; Phillies-Astros trade |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Buccaneers | Raiders coach Bill Callahan; Redskins |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Red Sox coaching vacancy | Patriots DT Richard Seymour; Patriots-Broncos |
| FSN | “Midwest Sports Report” | Blues’ injuries | Mighty Ducks-Blues; Rams-49ers |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who is Baby Ruth?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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