Morning Buzz, December 2, 2003

TWO VIKINGS, EXEC VP TO TESTIFY TODAY IN SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE

The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reports that Vikings QB DaunteCulpepper, RB Moe Williams and Exec VP Mike Kelly “arescheduled to testify today before a Mille Lacs County grand jury that isinvestigating two alleged sexual assaults.” The alleged assaults took place in February at the team’s annual ArcticBlast fundraiser. The two players andKelly are “considered witnesses but not suspects.” At least one player – QB Todd Bouman, who was traded tothe Saints in March – “has been identified as being under investigation” (Minneapolis STARTRIBUNE, 12/2).

IOC TO HOST TWO-DAY SPORT & ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE IN TURIN

The IOC, in cooperation with TOROCand the United Nations Environment Program, today will host the V WorldConference on Sport & Environment in Turin, Italy. The theme of the two-day conference is “Partnershipfor Sustainable Development” (IOC).

Meanwhile, IOC President JacquesRogge yesterday said that the U.S. baseball team’s failure to qualify forthe Athens Olympics and MLB’s “refusal to shut down to allow top stars to playin future games would not help the sport’s cause” to remain an Olympicevent. Rogge: “They did not make theirown life easy by these two [developments]” (AP, 12/2).

BARRY SANDERS TO BE AT FORD FIELD TODAY FOR BOOK PROMOTION

The DETROIT NEWS reported that former Lions RB BarrySanders today will appear at a Ford Field press conference to promote hisnew book, “Now You See Him…,” which includes a DVD. Getting Sanders at the press conference “represents more than afour-year effort on the part of the front office to reconnect” with him. The team is selling the book and otherSanders-related items in the Ford Field store. Lions President Matt Millen will introduce Sanders, whowill make a statement and take some questions (DETROIT NEWS,11/30).

MORNING BRIEFS

The ST. PETERSBURG TIMES reportsthat the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg “has been postponed indefinitely.” The race was scheduled for February 22 asthe season-opener for CART. Schedulingconflicts “created by the proposed sale of the cash-strapped auto racing seriesinterfered with planning for the event” (ST.PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/2).

The N.Y. TIMES reportsthat MLB execs have told promoters who tried to bring the Exposto Monterrey, Mexico, for 22 regular-season games in ‘04 “thatthe team will return to San Juan, [Puerto Rico] for part of the seasoninstead.” But MLB told the Mexicanpromoters that it “was interested in Monterrey as the possible long-termdestination for the Expos” beginning in ‘05 (N.Y.TIMES, 12/2).

The BOSTON HERALD reports thatBruins management is “hoping toconvince Bank of America, which is buying out FleetBoston Financial Corp., torename the FleetCenter the ‘Bank of America Garden’” (BOSTONHERALD, 12/2).

The AP reported that the Supreme Court yesterday rejected anappeal from the Independent Florida Alligator, the Univ. of Florida’s studentnewspaper, which is seeking the Dale Earnhardt autopsy photos. The newspaper “had challenged the constitutionality of a Florida law passed afterEarnhardt’s death, barring public access to autopsy pictures” (AP, 12/1).

The STARKVILLE DAILY NEWS reportsthat Mississippi State yesterday named Packers RB coach Sylvester Croomas the university’s next head football coach. Croom, who succeeds Jackie Sherrill, becomes the firstAfrican-Amercian head football coach in SEC history (STARKVILLEDAILY NEWS, 12/2).

The UHL yesterday announced that Comcast has been namedtitle sponsor of the ’04 All-Star Classic, to be played January 18 at AllenCounty War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana (UHL).

NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter, on meeting with Mavericksplayers after their practice yesterday: “I’m just here to talk about thingsgoing on in the league, and whether or not there will be an extension to the[CBA].” The league has an option toextend the CBA on December 15 (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,12/2).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW reports that a crowd of 9,576 attended last night’s Thrashers-Penguins game at Mellon Arena, the “smallest gathering to see the Penguins play in 12 home games this season” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/2).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb appeared on last night’sedition of ESPN’s “Monday Night Countdown” where he discussed the personalimpact of Rush Limbaugh’s comments. McNabb: “I will probably hire Rush Limbaugh as my marketing agentbecause he’s done wonders for me. Sokeep eating the Campbell’s Soup and please do Lincoln Financial a favor bybanking there.” At the conclusion ofthe interview, McNabb said, “Thanks for having me on the show. I love ESPN!” ("Monday NightCountdown," ESPN, 12/1).

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

Romulus(Michigan) citizens will vote on whether to allow casino gambling and horseracing in the Detroit suburb. Pollsopen at 7:00am ET and those still in line at 8:00pm will be allowed to vote (DETROITNEWS, 11/30).

ThePadres will begin installation of fans’ commemorative personalized bricks atPetco Park at 11:30am PT.

IN OTHER NEWS….

The WaltDisney BOD continues meeting today in N.Y., and the WALL STREET JOURNAL reportsthat Stanley Gold “joined his longtime business associate Roy E.Disney in quitting as company director and raining down criticism” on ChairMichael Eisner (WALLSTREET JOURNAL, 12/2). Read Gold’sletter to the Disney BOD.

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that ABC is partnering with adagency MindShare North America for a program that “calls for MindShare to work closely with network brass andoutside studios in sharing the costs of developing [scripted] series projectsthat could be attractive advertising and integrated marketing opportunities forMindShare clients, which include retailer Sears and consumer products giantUnilever. MindShare will own or co-own the copyrights to any productions, whileABC will retain all distribution rights” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 12/2).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Best PictureOscar Winners.”

“Two of the four Best Picture winners with nationalities inthe title.”

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

NBC’sJay Leno: “On Thanksgiving Day, President Bush shocked 600 U.S.troops stationed in Iraq when he showed up to have dinner with them. And at first, some of the troops were sostunned, they didn’t believe it was really the President, and then Bush wentahead and mispronounced some words. ... The President’s staff told him nobodywould suspect that he would go to Iraq, and Bush said, ‘Well sure, since it’sThanksgiving, everybody would think I went to Turkey.’ ... They said this wasthe biggest Thanksgiving surprise involving a U.S. President since Hillaryjumped out of the turkey and caught Bill with the Hilton sisters.... I made a big mistake on Thanksgiving. I bought my turkey at the $0.99 store. When I unwrapped it, it had paws. ... The Denver Broncos have suspendedone of the their players, Daryl Gardener, for three games this seasonfor conduct detrimental to the team. Apparently, on a recent flight he was in his seat watching a pornomovie. Now what flight was that? Whenever I fly I get stuck watching that‘Under The Tuscan Sun.’ Can you orderthat special? Is that like the koshermeal? You have to order before you geton?” ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/1).

MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What are ‘The English Patient,’ ‘American Beauty,’ ‘AnAmerican In Paris’ and ‘The French Connection?’”

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

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