| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, December 11, 2003
9:00am ET | |
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| • | WUSA Commissioner Tony DiCicco Today To Meet With U.S. Soccer Exec |
| • | NYRA To Avoid Fraud Prosecution Under Settlement To Be Announced Today |
| • | Rapper Jay-Z Unveiled As Investor In Bruce Ratner’s Group Bidding For Nets |
| • | Street & Smith’s Sports Group Intercollegiate Athletics Forum Concludes Today |
| • | NFL Tells Clubs That ’04 Salary Cap Will Fall Somewhere Between $78.7-79.2M |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
WUSA COMMISSIONER DiCICCO TODAY TO MEET WITH USSF EXEC
The HARTFORD COURANT reports that WUSA Commissioner TonyDiCicco will meet with U.S. Soccer General Secretary Dan Flynn todayregarding potential revival of the league. DiCicco said, “Realistically wecannot restart a league in 2004. But aseries of festivals to keep the brand alive is possible. We might try to takefour teams to a venue and play a Saturday night doubleheader, but that's justone scenario we are discussing” (HARTFORDCOURANT, 12/11).
NYRA TO AVOID FRAUD PROSECUTION UNDER TODAY’S SETTLEMENT
The APreports that the NYRA is "expected to paymillions of dollars in fines and adopt anti-corruption reforms to avoid afederal fraud prosecution" under a settlement with prosecutors that willbe announced today in N.Y. Under the deal, NYRA wouldbe "accused of fraud and other charges, but would not go totrial. Instead, it would be allowed tocontinue to run Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga” if it adopts reforms (AP,12/11).
JAY-Z UNVEILED AS INVESTOR IN BRUCE RATNER’S GROUP FOR NETS
The NewarkSTAR-LEDGER notes that Jay-Z, who hails from Brooklyn, has joined BruceRatner's investment group bidding for the Nets. Jay-Zattended yesterday's unveiling of the plans for a new Brooklyn arena (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 12/11).
The DENVER POST reports that following today’s practice inPhiladelphia, Nuggets F Carmelo Anthony will travel to for a photo shootwith Jay-Z for ESPN the Magazine (DENVERPOST, 12/10).
FEDERAL GRAND JURY TESTIMONY IN BALCO PROBE RESUMESTODAY
The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reports that testimony resumestoday in the BALCO laboratories probe, of which BALCO President Victor Conteand Greg Anderson are targets. Sources indicated that federal investigators are “offering athleteslimited immunity in exchange for their testimony.” Raiders LB BillRomanowski, C Barrett Robbins, boxer Shane Mosley and Yankees1B Jason Giambi are among the athletes subpoenaed that have yet totestify (SANJOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/11).
INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS FORUM CONCLUDES TODAY IN N.Y.
The Street & Smith’s Sports Group IntercollegiateAthletics Forum concludes today at the N.Y. Marriott East Side, where paneldiscussions will include, “The BlurredLine: Redefining Amateurism and Professionalism,” “Conference Commissioners:Raising the Economic Stakes in College Sports and Setting a Course forFinancial Change” and “Athletics Facilities and Strategic Planning: TheNecessary Foundation to Stay Competitive.”
NCAA President MylesBrand delivered the keynote speech at the conference yesterday. Brand, when asked about a Division I-A football playoff, said, "What hasbecome very clear to me is that the decision makers here are the presidents,and they have to decide whether they want a playoff. At most we'retalking about a single extra game. We're not talking about a 16-, 8- oreven 4-team playoff. I just don't think that's acceptable" (ESPN.com,12/10).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
Which game-show host canbe heard on MLB.com Radio most Fridays, and although a long-time Cubs fan, doesnot believe in the curse of the Goat? To find out, see today’s “Sports Industrialists” section for “THE DAILYGoes One-On-One With…”
MORNING BRIEFS
The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that the NFL yesterday toldclub executives at its annual labor seminar that the salary cap for ’04 “wouldfall somewhere between $78.7[M] and $79.2[M]. That represents 64.75[%] of the league’s designated gross revenue thatwill go to the players” (DALLASMORNING NEWS, 12/11).
Oklahoma QB Jason White, Ole Miss QB Eli Manning,Michigan RB Chris Perry and Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgeraldyesterday were announced as the finalists for the Heisman Trophy, to be awardedSaturday at the Hilton N.Y. (Mult., 12/11).
USA TODAY reports that in a survey of 57 Division I-Afootball coaches, 42 responded that the “existing college football overtimeformat, as it relates to conversion attempts after touchdowns, should remain” (USATODAY, 12/11).
Falcons Owner Arthur Blank, on the team’s upcomingsearch for a coach: “We need to do this within the guidelines of the tamperingrules and certainly, being an owner … a Diversity Committee member and havingtwo of my senior management team on the working group, we will pay a lot ofattention to that protocol” (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 12/10).
The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports that a press conferencewelcoming Mets SS Kaz Matsui to N.Y. “took place at the Sheraton Hotelin Midtown and was attended by dozens of Japanese and American reporters,photographers and television crews.” Afterward, Matsui “went out into TimesSquare for a photo shoot with [NYPD] officers” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 12/11).
REUTERS reported that Alex Zanardi, “who lost bothhis legs in a driving accident two years ago, is to race in the EuropeanTouring Car championship next season.” Zanardi: “It is 99[%] sure that in 2004 I will drive in the Touring Carchampionship with BMW Italia using a vehicle of the Ravaglia team” (REUTERS, 12/10).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWSreports that the AFL Philadelphia Soul “made an expansion draft-day ‘deal’ withthe New Orleans Voodoo to select Gunnard Twyner, an offensive specialistwith Columbus, in the fifth round for ‘a future consideration.’” Sources said that the “‘futureconsideration’ is – get this – an autographed Jon Bon Jovi guitar.” The guitar “already has been delivered tothe Voodoo.” AFL Soul Personnel Dir RobertSmith, who “initially denied a guitar had made its way to New Orleans,”said of the deal: “[The Voodoo] received the guitar, but the guitar and thetrade were totally separate” (PHILADELPHIADAILY NEWS, 12/11).
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 |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The $5M Target World Challenge, the final PGA Toursanctioned event of the year, begins today at Sherwood Country Club in ThousandOaks, CA. The winner receives$1.2M. Tiger Woods is hostingthe 16-player event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation (L.A. TIMES,12/11).
The K.C. STAR reports that Tom Watson is “scheduledto make an announcement today concerning the future of the Children’s MercyClassic,” a golf fundraiser started by Watson in ’80 which has raised nearly$10M for the Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The Dodgers and the Dodgers Dream Foundation will unveilimprovements to Bishop Canyon Fields, home of Northeast L.A. Little League, ata 3:00pm PT ceremony. Dodgers President& COO Bob Graziano, VP/External Affairs Tommy Hawkins, L.A.Mayor James Hahn and L.A. GM Manual Mollinedo are expected toattend.
Lightning single-game and ticket packages for games throughJanuary 31 will be reduced 50% during a sale at the St. Pete Times Forum boxoffice from 8:00am-midnight ET (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/10).
The St. Pete Times Forum will host a 2:00pm ET newsconference to announce details of the ’04 ATP Tour Mercedes-Benz Classic.
IN OTHER NEWS….
NEWSDAY reports that the N.Y. Franchise and Concession ReviewCommittee yesterday “voted 4-2 to approve a $126[M] contract granting Snappleexclusive citywide vending machine rights despite testimony from losing biddersthat the selection process was unfair and tainted” (NEWSDAY,12/11).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that a group led by the AmericanAssociation of Advertising Agencies today will formally describe events for aproposed Advertising Week in N.Y., “patterned after the annual FashionWeek.” The group is “moving ahead witha series of programs” for September 20-24 (N.Y.TIMES, 12/11).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was"The Planets."
"In 1978 astronomer James Christy named its moonin honor of his wife Charlene."
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS' DavidLetterman: "What a rough crowd we had here last night. After the show, they went to New Jersey on abear hunt. ... People are always coming up to me on the street and they'll sayto me, 'Regis.' No, they'll say,'Dave, do you put up Christmas decorations on your house?' No, I don't, but here's what I do and thisis great. ... What I do this time of year is I turn up the power on my electricfence, turn it all the way up until it glows white hot. ... Earlier in the weekHoward Dean was endorsed by former Vice President Al Gore, andnow Howard Dean is getting campaign advice from Al Gore. I'm thinking, who better to give advice thanthe guy who couldn't even get elected with the most votes. ... Earlier today, ColinPowell named James Brown the Secretary of Soul and Foreign Ministerof Funk. I think this is great becausebefore the Bush administration, you probably remember this, that Soul and Funkwere two different agencies" ("Late Show," CBS, 12/10).
NBC'sJay Leno: "I did something so stupid. Yesterday, when I bought my Christmas tree and I'm always ashamedof this, I let the salesman talk me into the extended three-year warranty. ...Howard Dean was endorsed by Al Gore. How about that? Now if Dean canjust get Gray Davis to campaign for him too, that'll put him over thetop! ... Gore and Dean made the announcement together in Harlem. You know, just a couple of homeboyshanging! Getting down in the hood. Howard Dean and Al Gore in Harlem. Doesn't that sound like the plot to one ofthose Farrelly Brothers movies: 'White and Whiter.' ... Funk musiclegend George Clinton was arrested for drug possession over theweekend. He was caught with a bag ofcocaine and a crack pipe or as we call that in L.A., circumstantial evidence.... The USC football team downloaded the Paris Hilton video today. They said they just wanted to see somebodyelse get screwed on a computer" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 12/10).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Signs You're AtA Bad Office Christmas Party” ("Late Show," CBS, 12/10).
| 10) "Santa hired for party arrives handcuffed to his parole officer." |
| 9) "Eggnog tastes like Gatorade and Wite-Out." |
| 8) "This year, it's your turn to be the piñata." |
| 7) "Everyone's arrested for listening to illegally downloaded Bing Crosby CD." |
| 6) "Instead of 'The Night Before Christmas,' boss recites employees' personal e-mails." |
| 5) "Party expenses are deducted from your 401(k)." |
| 4) "It's held in August.” |
| 3) "The caterer: Chef Boy-Ar-Dee.” |
| 2) "Your boss insists on reading one of his lame Top Ten lists." |
| 1) "Party consists of you, Bill Clinton and a whole lot of mistletoe." |
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Falcons firing coach Dan Reeves | Red Sox SS Nomar Garciaparra; Ole Miss QB Eli Manning |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Falcons firing Reeves | Astros close to signing P Andy Pettitte; Garciaparra |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Maryland-Florida men's basketball | Andy Pettitte; Yankees' contract offer to OF Gary Sheffield |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Falcons firing Reeves | Univ. of Missouri basketball; Redskins DE Bruce Smith |
| FSN | “Pittsburgh Sports Tonight” | Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald | Univ. of Miami TE Kellen Winslow II; BCS |
| MSG | “SportsDesk” | Astros close to signing Andy Pettitte | Gary Sheffield; Mets SS Kaz Matsui |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"What was Pluto?"
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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