| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, November 24, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Sellout Crowd Attends MLS Cup 2003; League Distributes Annual Awards In L.A. |
| • | ESPN Today To Announce 25 Years Of College Hoops Season-Long Celebration |
| • | Grizzlies To Announce FedExForum Food Service Deal With Levy Restaurants |
| • | News Corp. Close To Signing New Carriage Deal With Cox For FSN Regionals |
| • | World Anti-Doping Agency Gives Governments Extra Six Months To Pay Dues |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/Weekend Rap/Weekend Box Office |
ENTERTAINING, OFFENSIVE CHAMPIONSHIP CAPS ’03 MLS SEASON
The Earthquakes captured MLS Cup 2003 yesterday with a 4-2victory over the Fire before a sellout crowd of 27,000 at The Home DepotCenter, and the WASHINGTON POST reports that MLS “got everything it could dreamof in its [ABC]-televised showcase event. MLS got Cup records for total goals and for the shortest time betweengoals and the first multi-goal scorer in championship history [LandonDonovan]. … It got two teams that decided to not slip into defensivepostures, a strategy that has marred championship soccer games not just in MLS,but all around the world” (WASHINGTONPOST, 11/24).
In San Jose, Ann Killion writes, “To keep selling itself, the league needs excitement, and inthe past three weeks the Earthquakes have provided it” (SANJOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/24).
Freddy Adu, the 14-year-old soccer phenom who signedwith MLS last week and will play for DC United beginning next season, wasinterviewed during halftime of ABC’s MLS Cup coverage. Adu, on decidingto play in the U.S. despite being offered more lucrative contracts in Europe:“Soccer here is getting so much better that I don’t need to force myself to goto Europe anymore. MLS has become oneof the most established [leagues] in the world, even though it’s only eightyears old” (ABC, 11/23).
The lone mention of MLS Cup 2003 during the 11:30pm ET ofESPN’s “SportsCenter” was a 32-second report at 55:04 into the 90-minuteedition (THE DAILY).
The eighth annual MLS Gala Awards Ceremony was held Saturdaynight at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Select winners include (MLS):
| Award | Recipient |
| Commissioner’s Award | MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis |
| Exec of the Year | Galaxy VP & GM Doug Hamilton |
| Marketing Exec of the Year | Galaxy Senior Dir of Marketing & Communications Whit Haskel |
| Operations Exec of the Year | Fire Dir of Operations David Feeley |
| Public Relations Team Award | Rapids |
| Team Ticketing Sales Award | MetroStars |
ESPN TO COMMEMORATE 25 YEARS OF COLLEGE HOOPS THIS SEASON
ESPN today will announce a season-long celebration tocommemorate 25 years of college basketball on the net. Plans include a January 31 “Turn Back TheClock” game featuring Indiana-Michigan State, for which both teams and ESPNcommentators will wear retro gear; flashback segments during every men’s andwomen’s telecast on ESPN and ESPN2; a list of the top 25 college basketballmoments in ESPN history; and the unveiling of several all-conference team’sfrom the past quarter-century during the week of January 19 (ESPN).
GRIZZLIES, LEVY RESTAURANTS TO ANNOUNCE FEDEXFORUM DEAL TODAY
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that the Grizzlies today willannounce that they have “signed a multiyear, all-inclusive food servicecontract with Levy Restaurants” at FedExForum. The deal marks Levy’s 13th NBA account. Grizzlies VP/Operations Mike Golubsaid that FedExForum will “have four restaurants, three of them exclusive topremium seat patrons. The city’s BealeStreet entertainment district will be a theme throughout the arena” (SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL, 11/24 issue).
NEWS CORP. CLOSE TO INKING DEAL WITH COX FOR FSN REGIONALS
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that News Corp. is “close to signing a new carriagedeal with Cox Communications for the Fox Sports Net regional channels.” Their current deal “would have expired atyear’s end; terms of the new deal, which could be reached as early as thisweek, were not available.” There is “noindication of how high a rate hike Cox agreed to, but Fox is believed to haverequested a 35% increase” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 11/24).
BOMB SCARE DELAYS SATURDAY’S 120th HARVARD-YALE MEETING
The HARTFORD COURANT reported that traffic heading to theYale Bowl for the annual Harvard-Yale football game was “backed up block afterendless block. … Turns out a few of the smart guys had decided to play a littleprank before the 120th meeting between Harvard and Yale. Shortlybefore 8 a.m. a suspicious package was found attached to the scoreboard. Given the tense state of world affairs andbeing the 40th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’sassassination, nobody could be too careful. Streets were closed. Policedescended on the package for a close inspection. … Yep, a simple banner riggedto unfurl at some point during the game” (HARTFORDCOURANT, 11/23).
The N.Y. TIMESreports that the crowd of 53,136 was “Yale’s largest crowd in 14 years” (N.Y.TIMES, 11/23).
MORNING BRIEFS
MLB.com reported that MLB has signed a “working agreement with the ChinaBaseball Association to promote the game in advance of the 2008 Summer Olympicsin Beijing” (MLB.com,11/23).
The APreported that the World Anti-Doping Agency “gave governments an additional six months to pay their 2004dues and threatened to impose penalties on those who miss the deadline.” Countries now have until June 30 to paytheir dues. WADA has “received $13[M],or 65[%], of its 2003 budget with just one month remaining before countrieswere scheduled to make their 2004 contributions” (AP, 11/21).
The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that federal investigators“seized suspected anabolic steroids” in a September 5 raid on the home of GregAnderson, Giants LF Barry Bonds’ personal trainer. Investigators also “found information theysuspect detailed the use of performance-enhancing drugs by some athletes” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 11/23).
The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reported that of the 360 samplesanalyzed from the Track & Field World Championships, “one athlete testedpositive for the steroid THG.” Theathlete is “one of the five who previously tested positive” (SAN JOSEMERCURY NEWS, 11/22).
The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reported that former WUSAPhiladelphia Charge D Heather Mitts today will begin her sportsreporter gig for WCAU-NBC. She will be “seen on NBC 10’s lifestyle andentertainment morning show ‘10!’ Butshe will also contribute stories to weekend shows, with an eye towardanchoring” (PHILADELPHIADAILY NEWS, 11/22).
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says thatthe Blackhawks “have until Wednesday to make a case for not paying the $2[M]remaining on the contract of fired GM Mike Smith” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 11/23).
KNIGHTRIDDER reported that PenskeRacing and Jasper Motorsports could announce as early as today that they are“splitting ownership of Jasper’s No. 77 Fords and bringing the team under thePenske and Dodge umbrella next season.” The deal “rests largely on the team’s ability to secure a sponsor” (KNIGHTRIDDER, 11/22).
The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reportsthat indications are that Pete Rose’s reinstatement “will not beresolved by [MLB’s] winter meetings” December 12-14 in New Orleans. Reinstatement, which “as recently asthis past summer appeared all but certain, now appears headed for next year” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER,11/23).
The DENVER POST reported that the Globe magazine “hittingnewsstands this [past] weekend features side-by-side photos of [Kobe] Bryantand the 19-year-old accuser with the headline: ‘Kobe Accuser Had Sex WithKey Witness’ and a subhead of ‘Bombshell will blow trial apart.’” The magazine “ran a prom photo of the womanon its cover three weeks ago” (DENVERPOST, 11/22).
ATTENDANCEWATCH:
- The EDMONTON SUN reported that a crowd of 57,167 “filed through the turnstiles in bone-chilling temperatures” for Saturday’s Canadiens-Oilers Molson Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium (EDMONTON SUN, 11/23). For more on the game, see today’s issue of The Daily.
- The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that a crowd of 70,719 attended yesterday’s Patriots-Texans game at Reliant Stadium, the “largest non-Super Bowl crowd to watch a professional football game in Houston” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/24).
- The Nashville TENNESSEAN reported that the announced crowd of 100,496 at Saturday’s Vanderbilt-Tennessee football game was the “smallest at Neyland Stadium since the 1995 Vanderbilt game drew 92,274. There were gaping holes of empty seats in the upper deck, and the attendance was closer to 90,000 than it was 100,000” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/23).
- The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reported that the Hawks “had their second sellout crowd of the season” for Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers at Philips Arena, featuring LeBron James (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 11/23).
- The WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL reports that a crowd of 4,057 attended Friday night’s Jimmy V Women’s Basketball Classic at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. The event drew 13,174 last year at the 20,000-seat arena (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 11/24).
- The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reported that the crowd for the November 15 Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera WBC Featherweight Championship bout at the Alamodome “was announced at 10,127, but official records in Austin reveal ticket sales of 8,853 and a live gate of $756,305.” Oscar De La Hoya promoted the event (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/23).
- The L.A. DAILY NEWS reports that approximately 18,000 people attended the LG Action Sports Championships at Fairplex Park this weekend in Pomona, CA, including 8,000 for yesterday’s final day (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/24).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Predator fans havebegun tossing catfish onto the ice at the Gaylord Entertainment Center tocelebrate goals. Jessica Hanley,who has to remove the fish, commented: “They are so gross. They’re huge, they’re heavy, they stink andthey leave this slimy trail on the ice” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 11/23).
WEEKEND RAP…
The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “partingshots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:
- N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica: “There’s a lot of discussion around the NFL about the controversial ESPN series, ‘Playmakers,’ and some of its negative portrayals of the league and its players. I’m sure both ESPN and Paul Tagliabue will be able to work this out without counseling before the next television negotiation, which is never about art or truth or beauty, but always about the money. Until then, Tagliabue should be worried about something much more important to the NFL. How his current product doesn’t have nearly enough playmakers on the field. That’s much worse for business than some television show.”
- Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard: “Before the season, Cincinnati Bengals ‘anarchist’ Chad Johnson set aside $50,000 for fines he knew he would incur, and he’s going to blow his budget anyway. The NFL somehow makes our government’s $600-for-a-toilet seat spending seem sane by charging Johnson $5,000 for socks too long, $5,000 for a shirt too un-tucked, $5,000 for his shoes too orange. Consider it all a tax-deductible investment in Johnson’s favorite and most lucrative business – himself.”
- Detroit Free-Press columnist Mitch Albom, on the Ohio prisoner that bargained for the ability to watch Ohio State-Michigan: “Women might find it strange that men think football when facing incarceration, while men only wonder why he didn’t ask for high def. Just the same, it didn’t work out so well for Jeff. For one thing, his name and face were all over the media, so his forgery career is probably history. And of course, his beloved team lost in Ann Arbor, proving life exists on two levels. There was no joy for Buckeye fans in the Big House, or in The Big House.”
- ESPN’s John Saunders, “Now, I’m not about to hold any pity parties for coaches, they’re very well paid to basically play a game. But what happened in Orlando this week to Doc Rivers was just wrong. … Now I wish new head coach Johnny Davis the best, but whenever the assistant replaces the head coach, I think of Jim Valvano’s take on that – ‘Are you saying the assistant had the answers all along, he just wasn’t telling anyone?’” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 11/23).
Heard elsewhere over the weekend:
- Dolphins DE Jason Taylor on his Neutrogena endorsement: “I like to think of myself as a guy’s guy, but when I need to, I can get cleaned up and put a suit on” (“The Early Show,” CBS, 11/23).
- Albom, on MLB: “Baseball should be ashamed of themselves for calling this a drug program” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 11/23).
- Lupica: “Keyshawn Johnson is a relatively young man. He has a chance to have as many ugly divorces as J.Lo. … He thinks this is a good thing, because he’s in play again, even though he’s not playing football. He’s going on TV today. He thinks he is somehow growing the business of Keyshawn Johnson” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 11/23).
- Michael Irvin, on the Bucs de-activating Keyshawn Johnson: “What Keyshawn shared with me is that he got one lie after another from Jon Gruden” (“Sunday NFL Countdown,” ESPN, 11/23).
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 | Philadelphia Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Thrashers will unveil a third jersey atthe club’s practice facility in Duluth, GA, to debut Thanksgiving night againstthe Maple Leafs at Philips Arena. Theteam will wear the jersey at an additional 14 weekend games designated as “TrueBlue” games.
Spurs Chair & CEO Peter Holt will presentArchbishop Patrick Flores with a 2003 NBA Championship ring at a 2:30pmCT news conference in San Antonio.
THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…
This week’s coverstory asks, “Are College Bowl Sponsorships Worth It?”
| Also in this week’sissue: |
| • | NBC defies Gravity and plans to start its own action sports tour. |
| • | NHL says Wild cannot use franchise as only collateral on loan. |
| • | Total construction cost on new and renovated facilities again tops $1B this year. |
| • | Gund Arena sells club level naming rights. |
| • | Polaroid becomes one of the Rockets' largest sponsors. |
| • | One-on-One with skateboard legend and director Stacy Peralta. |
For these storiesand more, see this week’s issue of SportsBusiness Journal.
IN OTHER NEWS….
This week’s cover of TIME examines President Bush, underthe header, “Love Him! Hate Him!” Meanwhile, NEWSWEEKoffers “Hail To The Rings,” a look at the “Lord of the Rings” finale (THE DAILY).
REUTERS reported that the California Supreme Court Friday“rejected a bid by billionaire Philip Anschutz to avoid being sued forallegedly aiding and abetting securities fraud” at Qwest. Additionally, the court refusedto stop the lawsuit, brought against Qwest, Anschutz and company President JosephNacchio by the California State Teachers Retirement System, while Anschutzappeals the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court” (REUTERS,11/21).
The N.Y. TIMES reported that Cialis, EliLilly Icos’ impotence drug, was approved Friday by the FDA, “adding a newcompetitor in a $1.74[B] annual market,” joining Viagra and Levitra (N.Y. TIMES,11/22).
The BOSTON GLOBE notes that cell phone number portabilitybegins today and “millions of wireless consumers across the country areexpected to switch carriers” (BOSTONGLOBE, 11/24).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Time MagazineCovers.”
“The two years the following covers hit the stands.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “Guess what. It’s casual Friday. Michael Jackson was wearing an orangejumpsuit. Another show business item,actor Johnny Depp was named sexiest man alive by People Magazine. In a related story, Michael Jackson has beennamed sexiest man alive by Creepy People Magazine. This Michael Jackson thing is going to be interesting towatch. Another big, high profile casecoming out of Southern California. Theprosecutor says he has an airtight case. ... I think we all know what that thatmeans. Not Guilty! ... More good newsfrom California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he is going to cutthe state budget in half. And do youknow how he’s going to do this? With agiant Conan sword. ... President Bush is in the UK right now. He’s staying at Buckingham Palace, and he issurrounded by 200 Secret Service agents. And that’s just to protect him from Prince Charles. If you think about it, President Bush and QueenElizabeth both have a lot in common. They both came into power without being elected” ("LateShow," CBS, 11/21).
NBC’s Jay Leno: "What a crowd, you sound likeSan Quentin when they heard they might be getting Michael Jackson. What a story this has turned out to be. After turning himself in yesterday, MichaelJackson was placed in handcuffs, and I don’t think he helped his case when hesaid, ‘These are neat, do they come in a smaller size?’ ... Attorney MarkGeragos is defending both Michael Jackson and Scott Petersen. Apparently this is how this works. Geragos takes the guys who are too guiltyfor even Johnnie Cochran. ... All this hoopla over Michael Jackson, andnobody noticed that legendary music producer Phil Spector was chargedwith murder. And boy is his publicistpissed off – ‘What do I got to do to get some headlines in this town? My guy murdered somebody!’ ... O.J.Simpson said today, ‘You know I got out of L.A. just in time. This place isn’t safe for murderersanymore.’ ... I was just thinking about Paris Hilton’s dad. How popular is this guy going to be ontake-your-daughter-to-work day? ParisHilton says in the upcoming edition of US Magazine that she is so embarrassedby this video, that she can’t even walk the streets anymore. Walk the streets? After seeing that video, I’m surprised she can even walk” ("TheTonight Show," NBC, 11/21).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Friday’s Top Ten list was “Least Popular Dr. Suess’ Books” ("LateShow," CBS, 11/21).
| 10) “The Pissed-Off Neutered Cat in the Hat.” |
| 9) “The Grinch Who Stole Cable.” |
| 8) “Jeb Bush, George Bush, Dumb Bush, Dumber Bush.” |
| 7) “Green Eggs and Ham Two, the Onset of Heart Disease.” |
| 6) “The Lorax gets Botox.” |
| 5) “A Call to Jihad.” |
| 4) “Prince Charles Gays it Up, Up, Up.” |
| 3) “Mack and Jack on Crack” |
| 2) “Horton Makes a Sex Tape with Hilton.” |
| 1) “Oh, The Places Michael Jackson is going.” |
SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:30pm ET 90-minute edition of“SportsCenter” led with Seahawks-Ravens, followed by Raiders-Chiefsand Bears-Broncos. The first nonNFL-report, at 12:36 into the broadcast, was the Presidents Cup. The first report on MLS Cup 2003 wasat 55:04.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that it was a “disappointing weekend at the box office in NorthAmerica. The estimated total for theweekend’s top 12 films was $128.8[M], down 11% from the comparable frame lastyear” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 11/24).
| Title | Weekend | Cumulative |
| “The Cat in the Hat” | $40.1M | $40.1M |
| “Gothika” | $19.6M | $19.6M |
| “Elf” | $19.1M | $95.1M |
| “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” | $15.2M | $47.3M |
| “Love Actually” | $9.1M | $30.8M |
| “The Matrix Revolutions” | $6.7M | $125.1M |
| “Brother Bear” | $5.5M | $70.4M |
| “Looney Tunes: Back in Action” | $4.1M | $14.8M |
| “Scary Movie 3” | $3.3M | $106.6M |
| “Radio” | $2.6M | $47.1M |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What are 1945 and 2003?”
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