| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, November 20, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | New Ownership To Officially Assume Control Of Oklahoma Redhawks Today |
| • | NBA Today Announces “This Week In The NBDL” Weekly Highlight Show |
| • | MLB Rangers To Unveil Logo, Plans For The Ballpark’s Tenth Anniversary Today |
| • | Jay-Z Retains Andrew, Alexander, Wise & Co. To Explore Buying The Nets |
| • | With 2010 Commonwealth Games On Tap, India To Bid For 2016 Olympics |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT SELLS PCL OKLAHOMA REDHAWKS
The DAILY OKLAHOMAN reported that a 2:00pm CT newsconference will take place at SBC Bricktown Ballpark to announce that GaylordEntertainment has sold the Triple-A PCL Oklahoma Redhawks to CHL Oklahoma CityBlazers Owner Bob Funk, state Sen. Scott Pruitt and a fewminority owners. Funk will own 51% ofthe team, while Pruitt will own 25% and be the team’s Managing GeneralPartner. The sale required PCL and MLBapproval. Marlins Owner JeffreyLoria once owned the team (DAILY OKLAHOMAN,11/19).
MOLSON CANADIAN HERITAGE CLASSIC FESTIVITIES BEGIN TODAY
Festivities aroundthe Molson Canadian Heritage Classic – the centerpiece of which is theCanadiens-Oilers game to be played outdoors at CommonwealthStadium Saturday – officially begin today at Edmonton’s City Hall. The Coca-Cola Hockey Experience will open this afternoon, and continue Fridayand Saturday. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is scheduled to attenda chamber of commerce breakfast tomorrow (HERITAGEHOCKEYCLASSIC.COM).
The CP reported thatsnow “fell all day” yesterday in Edmonton “wiping out the first scheduled practiceson the temporary outdoor rink.” But some of the old-timers playingSaturday’s exhibition game prior to the NHL tilt “moved indoors to the SkyreachCentre to work out the kinks” (CP, 11/19).
In the case ofinclement weather Saturday, the Heritage Classic will be played at SkyreachCentre on Sunday. Oilers season-ticket holders would be guaranteed seatsfor the game (HERITAGEHOCKEYCLASSIC.COM).
NBA TV TO AIR WEEKLY HIGHLIGHT SHOW CENTERED ON NBDL
The NBA today announced that “This Week in the NBDL,” aweekly studio show centered on the NBA’s minor league, will premiere Monday,December 1, at 6:00pm ET on NBA TV, immediately following the NBDL Game of theWeek. Rick Kamla will host theshow, which offers a roundup of interviews and highlights. NBA TV will televise 21 regular-season andthree playoff games (NBA).
MLB RANGERS TO UNVEIL LOGO TODAY FOR THE BALLPARK ANNIVERSARY
The MLB Rangers will conduct a 1:30pm CT news conferencetoday to unveil a tenth anniversary logo for The Ballpark in Arlington, as wellas announce several events that will occur next season to commemorate theanniversary. Rangers COO Jeff Cogen,VP/Marketing & Entertainment Chuck Morgan and former Rangers WillClark and Rusty Greer will participate in the announcement (Rangers).
WHITE SOX TO UNVEIL U.S. CELLULAR FIELD RENOVATIONS TODAY
The White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority,along with representatives from HKS, will unveil drawings of renovations toU.S. Cellular Field and escort U.S. Cellular execs and media members on a tourof the ballpark at 2:00pm CT. Renovations are to be completed for the beginning of the ’04 season (WhiteSox).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH...
Which league exec oversaw westward expansion prior to this season andbelieves his league's ownership model increases franchise value? To findout, see today’s “Sports Industrialists” section for “THE DAILY GoesOne-On-One With…”
MORNING BRIEFS
The N.Y. POST’s “Page Six” reports that Jay-Z “has retained investment banking firm Andrew,Alexander, Wise & Co. to explore buying” the Nets (N.Y. POST, 11/20).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that a meeting of the YankeeNets BODyesterday was postponed “because a long-awaited agreement to split up” YankeeNetswas not completed in time. The BOD wasto review bids for the Nets (N.Y.TIMES, 11/20).
Following New Delhi, India, being selected as host for the2010 Commonwealth Games, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadisaid, “The 2016 Olympics will be the next logical step for India” (REUTERS,11/19).
USA TODAY reports that baseball agent Scott Boras“believes free agents not in the upper 40% of what they do will have thetoughest time getting deals this offseason.” With financial restraints “many teams believe they can get the sameproductivity from younger players who cost far less” (USATODAY, 11/20).
The Presidents Cup begins today on the Links Course atFancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate in George, South Africa, and theDETROIT NEWS reports that the event “is a sellout, with crowds of more than20,000 expected all four days.” FormerSouth African President Nelson Mandela “was to speak during openingceremonies” (DETROIT NEWS,11/20).
USA TODAY reports that Florida Atlantic Univ. will “declarenext year its intention to move to Division I-A. The Owls started a I-AA football program just three years ago” (USATODAY, 11/20).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that a crowd of 19,800 attended last night’s 76ers-Raptors game at Air Canada Centre, the Raptors’ first sellout of the season (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 11/20).
- The WASHINGTON POST reports that a “near-sellout crowd of 19,705” attended last night’s Cavaliers-Wizards game at MCI Center (WASHINGTON POST, 11/20).
- The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that a crowd of 10,008 attended last night’s Sabres-Devils game at Continental Airlines Arena, the Devils’ “smallest of the season” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/20).
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
The N.Y. chapter of the National Sports Marketing Networkwill host an industry roundtable discussion, “The Digital Collision: The Impactof New Technology on Sports Television,” from 8:00-10:30am ET at Reebok SportsClub in N.Y. Edelman Exec VP & GM PeterLand will moderate a panel that includes CSTV co-Founder & Exec VP ChrisBevilacqua, CN8 Sports VP Jon Gurevitch, New Voice Media President StuartJacob, The Football Network VP/Sales & Marketing Ray Katz,IMG/TWI Interactive VP/Production, Ventures & Services Bob Shallowand Clear Channel Entertainment Television President Joe Townley.
The Grizzlies will host an 11:00am ET topping out ceremonyat FedEx Forum, where the final steel beam will be put in place on the roof ofthe new building (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/17).
The American Basketball Association opens its season todaywith Long Beach Jam-Gallos De Pelea. Gallos De Pelea, located in Juarez, Mexico, is one of two Mexicanfranchises in the league (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 11/16).
The Miller Park Stadium District board will hold a publichearing at 2:00pm CT at Miller Park (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/19).
IN OTHER NEWS….
USA TODAY reports that the FCC has proposed a condition beplaced on News Corp.’s takeover of DirecTV that would “force Fox to enterbinding arbitration if it can’t agree with a cable system on pricing or onwhich channels should be carried on the system” (USATODAY, 11/20).
The L.A. TIMES reports that News Corp. Chair & CEO RupertMurdoch’s “top choice” to run DirecTV is Fox Television Stations GroupChair & CEO Mitchell Stern. Under this scenario, “Murdoch’s oldest son, Lachlan, whom Sternhas been grooming for the last several years, would take a more active role inday-to-day operations at Fox.” Sternwould replace DirecTV President Roxanne Austin (L.A.TIMES, 11/20).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Voyagers.”
“In 1497 the four ships under his command included theBerrio and the Sao Rafael.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “We’re very excited. We’re very proud here at CBS because earlier tonight, right here on theCBS television network, you know what it was? The Victoria’s Secret fashion show, ladies and gentlemen. For one night only, the tiffany network goessoft porn. ... Beautiful young women, scantily clad, sexy outfits walking upand down the runway in their underwear. I’m telling you, this is very risqué for the CBS Lipitor audience. ...Man, did my day get off to a bad start. Oh, Nelly. Oh, God. Don’t you hate it when the mobile forensicslab pulls up into your driveway? ... Yesterday, federal agents raided MichaelJackson’s Neverland Ranch out there in Santa Barbara. I’m telling you, this doesn’t lookgood. People are going to start sayingthis guy is peculiar. ... They had 60 federal investigators going over the lovelyNeverland Ranch property for 12 hours and they couldn’t find anything. Although, they did turn up O.J.’sknife” ("Late Show," CBS, 11/19).
NBC’sJay Leno: “The Jackson Five is getting back together! Okay, it’s just for the police lineup. ...Yesterday here in California, police raided Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranchin a criminal investigation. Theydidn’t say exactly what they were looking for. There’s a switch! Somebody iskeeping Michael dangling. ... Authorities are trying to get Michael tosurrender. Hey, why don’t they trycandy? Works for Michael. ... Atmidnight on Monday, almost all of the electricity in Baghdad went out. The whole city blacked-out, so it soundslike Gray Davis has started his new job. ... ‘Sgt. Pepper’ by theBeatles was named by Rolling Stone as the greatest album of all-time. Worst album? Worst album was Fran Drescher sings the songs of YokoOno” ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/19).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten George W. BushComplaints About England” ("Late Show," CBS, 11/19).
| 10) “Clocks are five hours fast.” |
| 9) “Everybody’s speaking some crazy foreign language.” |
| 8) “Harry Potter won’t return calls.” |
| 7) “So touchy about minor things ... like going to war under false pretenses.” |
| 6) “They don’t know where Saddam is either.” |
| 5) “Queen Elizabeth not half as funny as King of Queens.” |
| 4) “Disappointed to learn ‘Big Ben’ is just a giant clock.” |
| 3) “Pack of gum costs two pounds – who carries two pounds of money?!” |
| 2) “I have been here for 36 hours and Prince Charles hasn’t made a single move on me.” |
| 1) “Driving on the left reminds me of my drinking days.” |
Last night’s edition of CBS’ “Late Show” featured 14-yearold soccer phenom Freddy Adu, who was asked by David Letterman,“When other professional soccer teams offer you money, how much money are wetalking about?” Adu: “That’s kind of mybusiness.” Letterman: “I’ll tell youhow much I make, if you tell me how much you make” ("Late Show,"CBS, 11/19).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Buccaneers WR Keyshawn Johnson | Lakers; Hornets G Baron Davis |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Falcons QB Michael Vick | Keyshawn Johnson; Browns RB William Green |
| ESPN | 11:30pm ET “SportsCenter” | Lakers-Knicks | Hornets-Celtics; Cavaliers-Wizards |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Coaches having control | Freddy Adu; Buccaneers DL Booger McFarland |
| FSN | “Southern Sports Report” | Michael Vick | Falcons QB Doug Johnson; Titans-Falcons |
| MSG | “SportsDesk” | Lakers-Knicks | Sabres-Devils; Islanders-Panthers |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who was Vasco de Gama?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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