| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, November 14, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Gillette To Officially Unveil NASCAR Young Guns Marketing Deal Today |
| • | SLOC Bribery Trial Continues Today; Former Finance Dir To Retake The Stand |
| • | CFL Commissioner Tom Wright To Deliver State Of The League Address Today |
| • | Dodgers GM Moves Forward With Signings As McCourt Tries To Complete Deal |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
GILLETTE TO UNVEIL NASCAR YOUNG GUNS MARKETING DEAL TODAY
As first reported in the October 20 issue of sisterpublication SportsBusiness Journal, the BOSTON GLOBE reports that Gillette “isexpected to unveil today a $20[M]-a-year marketing deal with NASCAR and six ofstock car racing’s top young drivers.” Dubbed the Gillette Young Guns, Dale Earnhardt Jr., MattKenseth, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Jimmie Johnson andRyan Newman “will be featured in print and TV ads for Gillette razors,Duracell batteries, and Oral-B toothbrushes. They will wear Gillette patches on their jumpsuits and stamp the name ontheir cars.” Gillette will rely more on“its sweepstakes than its signs to get its name in front of fans” (BOSTONGLOBE, 11/14). Gillette becomesan official NASCAR sponsor in the shaving products, alkaline battery and oralcare categories (THE DAILY).
FORMER SLOC FINANCE DIR IMPROPRIETIES COULD LEAD TO MISTRIAL
The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that former SLOC Finance Dir RodHamson returns to the stand today “after it was divulged in court Wednesday that[he] may have embezzled funds by padding expense reimbursements. The disclosure led to a daylong recess[yesterday] while Hamson met with court-appointed defense attorney StevenKillpack and prosecutors assessed the damage to their case.” The revelation “could trigger an eventualmistrial or, more to the defense’s liking, a dismissal of all charges” againstformer SLOC President Tom Welch and Senior VP Dave Johnson (SALT LAKETRIBUNE, 11/14).
TOM WRIGHT TO DELIVER STATE OF THE CFL ADDRESS TODAY
CFL Commissioner Tom Wright will deliver his State ofthe League address today, and the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL notes that Wright’sfirst season “included two clubs falling into receivership – in midsummer, newowners in place for both of them before year’s end – and a potentiallydevastating lawsuit launched by Wright’s predecessor in the post, MichaelLysko. Not to mention the usualassortment of leaps forward, steps back and various, typical CFL shenanigans” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 11/14).
MORNING BRIEFS
With only 13 NFL teams posting winning records, USA TODAYnotes that only two of this week’s 16 games feature match-ups of winning teams(USATODAY, 11/14).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that an ACC source described the“feelers by [Notre Dame] – made over the past two weeks – as a ‘fishingexpedition’ and said no move regarding Notre Dame is imminent.” Meanwhile, a Big Ten spokesperson said thatthe conference “was not pursuing expansion ‘at this time’” (WASHINGTONPOST, 11/14).
Notre Dame AD Kevin White: “We talk to a lot ofpeople all day and every day, ... but we’re just doing what I think we shouldbe doing as a department and a university, and we’re just trying to get betterright now in the sport of football and in everything else” (USATODAY, 11/14).
The Dodgers re-signed P Tom Martin to a two-year,$3.3M deal yesterday, and the L.A. TIMES notes that the signing is the “firstindication that [Dodgers GM Dan] Evans is moving forward while [FrankMcCourt] tries to complete his purchase of the club from News Corp. Evans said he discussed his plans with CoreyBusch,” who is leading the transition team (L.A.TIMES, 11/14).
MLB.com reported that Yankees Owner George Steinbrennerhas hired former Yankees OF/DH Darryl Strawberry as Player DevelopmentInstructor (MLB.com,11/13).
The AP reported that Raiders RB Tyrone Wheatleyslapped photographer NoahBerger on thewrist outside a federal courthouse yesterday, hours prior to testifyingbefore a grand jury probing BALCO. Wheatley “threatenedand cursed at a group of photographers and TV cameramen outside the building,then raised his right fist” and slapped Berger. It was not clear whether Wheatley would be charged (AP, 11/13).
The N.Y.TIMES reports that the father of Univ. of Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgeraldis “exploring the possibility of his son’s early entry into the [NFL] draft inApril and says he believes his son is physically ready to play at theprofessional level” (N.Y. TIMES,11/14).
The ST.PAUL PIONEER PRESS reports that Univ. of Minnesota officials yesterday saidthat an on-campus football stadium “will not be built without ‘very, verysubstantial’ private contributions.” UMPresident Robert Bruininks: “We will not be able to do this without significant privatesupport. But I don’t think we shouldtie our hands” (ST. PAULPIONEER PRESS, 11/14).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
TNT’s Marv Albert, on the fact that few fans were intheir seats for the tip of last night’s Rockets-Mavericks game: “It is acapacity crowd. They sold every ticketin the house, but it is a late arriving crowd.” TNT’s Steve Kerr: “I thought we were at the Staples Centerthere for a second” (TNT, 11/13).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sportscovers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
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| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News |
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| Philadelphia Daily News | Philadelphia Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The fifth annual Sports Media & Technology conference,presented by Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal and The SportsBusiness Daily, concludes today at the Marriott East Side in N.Y. Panel discussion topics include “The Implications of the NBC/Olympic Deal on theIndustry,” “Building Revenue with Originally Produced Regional Programming” and“Reaching Valuable Advertiser Demographics through Lifestyle, Sports &Entertainment Programming.” View today’s agenda.
“The Newspaper Magazine,” a bi-annual fashion title thatmixes soccer and fashion, launches today in England. Arsenal D Sol Campbell is featured on the cover.
The T’Wolves and Lynx team store, “The Gym,” will host itsofficial grand opening at 3:30pm CT. T’Wolves President Rob Moor and Target Center Exec Dir SteveMattson are scheduled to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a video clip, chart orpiece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, U.S.Open tennis champ Andy Roddick catches flak from one particularaudience member while delivering the monologue on NBC’s “SNL” (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The L.A. TIMES reports that focusing its efforts on a “newrelationship with Vivendi Universal,” NBC is “breaking up with its partner offour years Paxson Communications Corp. NBC demanded repayment of its investment, now worth nearly $550[M],which could force the nation’s smallest broadcast network to sell much of itsholdings” (L.A.TIMES, 11/14).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences yesterdayunveiled the 76th Academy Awards commemorative poster, created by BurtonMorris. As part of the Academy’s“nationwide promotional campaign, 50,000 posters will be distributed” (DAILYVARIETY, 11/14).
The WASHINGTON POST reports that the DC-area Metro officialsare “moving ahead with the first steps to deliver a captive audience of 1.1million daily riders to advertisers: 100 buses and 20 trains wrapped incomputer-generated, vinyl ads from top to bottom and front to back would rollby spring, and four to five subway tunnel ads would launch by summer” (WASHINGTONPOST, 11/14).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Islands.”
“In 1898 the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment did most ofits fighting on this island.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “My name is DavidLetterman. Perhaps you have seen me ina Paris Hilton sex video. ... I am in hot water. Mom just found out I got a girl pregnant.... I took mom to see the new Russell Crowe seafaring movie ‘Master andCommander,’ and halfway through the movie, mom looks over at me and she says,‘David, when do they hit the iceberg?’ ... Movie fans claim that they havealready spotted 22 errors in the new Matrix film. Twenty-two errors. Wellactually, 23 if you count spending $10 for a ticket. ... Rush Limbaughis out of rehab, ladies and gentleman, after being gone for a month. He sobered up and realized he’s a liberalDemocrat. He got addicted toprescription pain medication, and he was getting them from his housekeeper andthat’s amazing to me. I’m lucky if Ican get a Diet Coke from mine” ("Late Show," CBS, 11/13).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “President Bush is going toLondon on Monday, and he’s taking along extra security. You know, in case Prince Charlestries anything funny. Today, PrinceCharles met with the Archbishop, who recommended he be transferred to anotherparish. ... According to the Royal Automobile Club of England, 75% of driverssay they pray while driving. That’s ofcourse when they’re not giving other drivers the finger. ... Rush Limbaughannounced he’s going back to work on Monday. Doctors say his rehab was successful, but it could be weeks before he’s100% self-righteous. ... Call me old-fashioned, but remember when spending aweekend in Paris meant taking the Concord. ... Paris Hilton was 19 when shemade this sex video. Do you realize if Kobehad just stayed at a Hilton instead, he would have no problem?” ("TonightShow," NBC, 11/13)
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs Rush LimbaughMay Not Be Ready To Come Back To Work” ("Late Show," CBS, 11/13).
| 10) “‘Accidentally’ falls down stairs 2, 3 times a day to get the pain pills.” |
| 9) “Named his two new puppies ‘Oxy’ and ‘Contin.’” |
| 8) “Keeps going up to the roof to see if he can fly like that guy from ‘The Matrix.’” |
| 7) “Thoroughly enjoyed last night’s ‘Becker.’” |
| 6) “He’s currently following Phish around the Pacific Northwest.” |
| 5) “Responds to all callers, ‘Here kitty kitty kitty kitty kitty.’” |
| 4) “Could swear he saw sheep being herded down Broadway.” |
| 3) “Yesterday he did a three hour show into the drive-thru speaker at Jack in the Box.” |
| 2) “These days, only 80% blowhard.” |
| 1) “Released amateur sex video making love to himself.” |
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | 10:30pm ET “SportsCenter” | T’Wolves-Bulls | Rockets-Mavericks; Kobe Bryant |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Kobe Bryant | NFL QB controversies; Michelle Wie |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Cowboys-Patriots | Celtics G Paul Pierce; Cavaliers-Celtics |
| FSN | “Rocky Mountain Sports Report” | Avalanche-Coyotes | Kobe Bryant; Chargers-Broncos |
ESPN’s “Around The Horn” and “PTI” were pre-empted by thenet’s coverage of the World Golf Championships World Cup.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Cuba?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
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