Morning Buzz, December 15, 2003

WINTER MEETINGS OFFICIALLY CLOSE TODAY WITH RULE 5 DRAFT

MLB’s Winter Meetings officially end today in New Orleanswith the Rule 5 Draft. The following isa collection of the major headlines from this weekend’s activities:

After signing SS Miguel Tejada to a six-year, $72Mdeal, ESPN.com reported that the Orioles last night “appeared close to reelingin” C Ivan Rodriguez, “with a deal believed to be in the neighborhood ofthree years, $30[M].” Meanwhile, theOrioles are “still charging hard after” RF Vladimir Guerrero (ESPN.com,12/14).

Rangers GM John Hart, on the status of an AlexRodriguez-Manny Ramirez trade with the Red Sox: “I got a 3:30 flight and I guarantee I will be flying home with my shortstop” (MLB.com, 12/14). However, the BOSTON GLOBE notes the trade“might not happen until next week; but the courtship of Rodriguez appears to beheaded toward consummation” (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/15). Rangers Owner TomHicks “reportedly wants a $5[M] annual subsidy on the Ramirez contract” (WASHINGTONPOST, 12/15).

The Marlins Saturday traded OF Juan Encarnacion tothe Dodgers for a player to be named later, and GM Larry Beinfest said,“He was not going to fit in the payroll we’re operating with. … The economicsare not going to allow us to keep him.” Encarnacion made $3.45M last season and could receive $5.5M afterarbitration (MIAMI HERALD, 12/14).

Braves GM John Schuerholz, who last year said theeconomics of baseball “stink,” this year said, “That’s just the way it is. The whining era is over, but it stillstinks.” The Braves will reduce their$95M payroll to about $80M next season (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/14).

Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner yesterday announcedthat he is picking up the $1.15M option on GM Brian Cashman’s contractfor ’05. Cashman “hadn‘t heard fromSteinbrenner as of late yesterday afternoon, but expects to talk to The Bosstoday” (N.Y. POST, 12/15).

It was announced that the ’05 Winter Meetings will be in Dallas,December 5-8. The ’04 meetings are atthe Anaheim Hilton & Towers, December 10-13.

APPROVAL OF McCOURT’S DODGERS BID COULD BE JEOPARDIZED

The L.A. TIMES cites sources saying that Frank McCourt’scomplex $430M bid to “purchase the Dodgers is so highly leveraged that it couldjeopardize the approval process. McCourt is funding almost all of the package with loans from News Corp.– the current Dodger owner – two to four lending institutions and Aramark, oneof Dodger Stadium’s two concessionaires,” and McCourt “has little or none ofhis own money invested.” MLBCommissioner Bud Selig is “expected to review the documentation thisweek” (L.A.TIMES, 12/15).

A’S TO NAME GREENWALD NO. 1 TV ANNOUNCER AS EARLY AS TODAY

The S.F. CHRONICLE reported that the A’s as early as todaywill announce that Hank Greenwald, “who spent 16 years as a Giants broadcasterbefore retiring after the 1996 season,” will call 60-70 A’s games next seasonas the team’s No. 1 TV announcer. Greenwald will team with color analyst Ray Fosse on KICU and FSNBay Area. Two men – Glen Kuiperand Tim Roye – would “split the play-by-play duties for the 50-60 gamesthat Greenwald doesn’t work” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 12/14).

NIKE AD FOR LEBRON’S AIR ZOOM GENERATION BROKE YESTERDAY

Click Here To View Clip

Nike yesterday launched a 60-second TV spot for LeBronJames’ Air Zoom Generation during NFL action, and SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNALreports that the spot, via Wieden & Kennedy, “presents a slew of WNBAplayers, … who are cast as a choir in what is depicted as a combinationchurch/gymnasium.” Also included in thespot are George Gervin, Julius Erving, Moses Malone and JerryWest. Bernie Mac “stars asthe preacher.” The ad “will run atleast through December on NFL, NBA and other sports programming, along withsome prime-time buys. Radio ads willfeature the same song from the TV spot” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/15 issue).

DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN ATLANTA SPIRIT, LEAGUES CONTINUE

The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reported that discussions “continued this past week betweenthe Hawks-Thrashers buyers and the leagues that must approve the teams’sale.” Atlanta Spirit partner SteveBelkin: “A lot of this is related to the personal guarantees [the leagues]want. The NBA wants personal guaranteesand the NHL wants personal guarantees, like it’s two separate teams, and yet weview it’s all part of one entity, Atlanta Spirit. So we kind of have to negotiate with the NHL, then with the NBA,and we’ve got to get something that all comes together” (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 12/14).

NEWS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN’S CAPTURE DISCUSSED ON NFL SHOWS

ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” led with comments from ChrisBerman on the capture of Saddam Hussein. Berman: “We all woke up to big, big news today, the capture ofSaddam Hussein. It will prove to be ared letter day in the United States and world history. All of us here at ESPN commend the men andwomen of the armed forces over in Iraq, for what is obviously an incrediblepayoff of a painstaking process” ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN,12/14).

Fox’s “Fox NFL Sunday” began on time at 12:00pm ET, withFox’ James Brown stating, “Congratulations to all the courageous men andwomen of the armed forces for all that they have done culminating in thecapture of Saddam Hussein.” Approximately 15 minutes into the broadcast, Fox cut away to Fox Newsfor President Bush’s address to the nation, which lasted about fiveminutes. Fox had several cut-ins duringits NFL broadcasts for updates on Hussein’s capture ("Fox NFLSunday," Fox, 12/14).

CBS’ “NFL Today” was delayed by CBS News’ coverage ofHussein’s capture, including the President’s address. “NFL Today” came on the air at approximately 12:20pm ET. CBS’ Jim Nantz began by saying, “Wehave an abbreviated show for you today because of CBS News’ continuing coverageof the capture of Saddam Hussein. Ifthere is breaking news throughout today’s NFL coverage, rest assured we’ll goto CBS News. ... It’s a difficult transition to go from this landmark news tofootball, but that’s our job right now” ("NFL Today," CBS, 12/14).

MORNING BRIEFS

The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reported that Falcons Owner ArthurBlank is expected to meet today with Buccaneers GM Rich McKay, andit is “conceivable that he could beemployed by the Falcons before the team’s trip to play Tampa Bay Saturday” (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 12/13).

The Newark STAR-LEDGER reported that Las Vegas and San Antonio “have emerged as potential relocationdestinations for the Expos.” MLBofficials “are sufficiently concerned over the lack of financing in place for anew ballpark in the DC area that they have begun to seriously contemplate alternativelocations” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 12/14).

The N.Y. TIMES reported that the NBA and Trail Blazers“decided not to take disciplinary action against” F Rasheed Wallace forcomments that appeared in The Oregonian on Thursday. Trail Blazers President Steve Patterson: “I agree with thecommissioner that there is no reason to continue the public debate on thismatter” (N.Y.TIMES, 12/13).

The Collegiate Licensing Company announced an agreement withReebok Int’l and the Downtown Athletic Club to make Reebok the exclusiveapparel licensee for the Hesiman Trophy. Under the agreement, Reebok will design, manufacture, sell and marketlicensed DAC and Heisman-branded merchandise (Collegiate Licensing Company).

The World Skating Federation today announced that it hasfiled a lawsuit against the Int’l Skating Union and its president, OctavioCinquanta, for anti-competitive conduct designed to improperly maintain amonopoly over the sport of figure skating and related markets by threatening toblacklist or banish any person who provides support to the WSF (WSF).

The Knight Foundation Commission on IntercollegiateAthletics “is calling for bowl eligibility reforms, saying that more than halfof this year’s 56 bowl-bound teams fail to meet the proposed graduationstandard” of 50% (AP, 12/13).

Coyotes President & COO Douglas Moss, on apotential NLL strike affecting the Arizona Sting’s opening game at GlendaleArena December 26: “We really expectthings to go forward” (ARIZONAREPUBLIC, 12/13).

The FINANCIAL TIMESreported that the Consumers’ Association said that BSkyB’s “virtual monopoly”on televising English Premier League soccer matches is “anti-fan,anti-competitive and excludes at least 4.5 [million] consumers everyweek.” The group called for theEuropean Commission to declare the deal “illegal” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 12/12).

ATTEDANCE WATCH:

• Kentucky defeated Michigan State 79-74 in front of the “largest basketball crowd in history” as 78,129 filled Ford Field for “The BasketBowl.” The previous record was 75,000 for a Harlem Globetrotters’ exhibition at the Berlin Olympic Stadium in Germany in 1951 (DETROIT NEWS, 12/14).

• NEWSDAY notes that a total of 33,166 “brave (masochistic?) souls turned out with the wind-chill as low as 18 degrees and winds gusting to 30 mph” in “near-blizzard conditions” for the Jets’ 6-0 win against the Steelers at the Meadowlands (NEWSDAY, 12/15).

• The Red Wings defeated the Capitals 5-1 on Saturday, the Caps’ first sellout of the season at MCI Center (AP, 12/14).

• The attendance of 11,989 for the Penguins 5-3 over the Blue Jackets Saturday “marked the 10^th crowd lower than 12,000 in 13 home dates.” A Mario Lemieux replica sweater was given out to all children (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/14).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The L.A. TIMES notes that while Mavericks Owner MarkCuban talked to reporters in a Staples Center hallway prior to theMavericks’ victory over the Lakers Friday, Lakers coach Phil Jackson“walked up behind him with a huge grin and yanked Cuban’s ear.” Cuban: “I love you too, Phil” (L.A.TIMES, 12/14).

WEEKEND RAP…

The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “partingshots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:

• Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: “How good are the Los Angeles Lakers? 72-win good, that’s how good. ... The NBA season is already over. Hold all calls, we have a winner.”

• N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica: “The Tampa Bay Bucs are how fast things change in sports. Eleven months ago they were doing whatever they wanted to the Raiders, except making them move back to Los Angeles. ... Now Gruden is just another guy coaching an underachieving team. The Bucs have paid Keyshawn about a million bucks over the second-half of the season to not play football for them. So the Bucs aren’t a team for the ages. Neither is their defense. ... You know what people will learn from the dreary season the Bucs are having: nothing!”

• N.Y. Times columnist William Rhoden: “In all my years of covering inter-collegiate athletics, I never thought I’d call for Walter Byers to return. Byers was the NCAA Executive Director from 1951 until his retirement in 1988. He ran the NCAA with an iron fist. ... Under the current president, Myles Brand, the NCAA has drifted way, way, way off course. ... Brand has to come out from behind the scenes – wherever that is – and take his place on the stage.”

• ESPN’s John Saunders, on Trail Blazers F Rasheed Wallace: “The mouth that roared. ... I happen to agree with him that the league is hurting itself by signing high school players. But to suggest the owners are doing it because the kids can be controlled or taken advantage of is ridiculous. ... It’s the college player who is exploited, not you” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 12/14).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• Ryan, on Lincoln Financial Field: “It’s not the Vet. Don’t make the mistake of thinking (the Eagles) have their eternal home-field advantage in that place. They lost something when they lost that dungeon” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 12/14).

• Lupica, on former Yankees P Andy Pettitte signing with the Astros: “The irony of this is George Steinbrenner fires employees who bungle things as badly as he bungled the Andy Pettitte negotiation” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 12/14).

• Falcons QB Michael Vick, on his role in the process of hiring a new head coach: “I think they’ll come to me and get some advice. ... I’m really not around here to be paid to make decisions, but at the same time, I know what’s best for this football team” ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/14).

• ESPN’s Steve Young: “Arthur Blank has been very democratic about a lot of the decisions in the Atlanta Falcon organization and has brought a lot of people in. My concern is he’s going to take so much input from so many chefs in the kitchen, he’s going to get overloaded” ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/14).

• Fox’ Troy Aikman, after Rams FB Joey Goodspeed dropped a pass: “Good speed. Bad hands” (Seahawks-Rams, Fox, 12/14).

• Fox’ Bill Mass, at the end of the Packers’ 38-21 win over the Chargers, referring to the capture of Saddam Hussein: “Big day for the Packers and the state of Wisconsin. Big day for George W., too” (Packers-Chargers, Fox, 12/14).

• Fox’ Terry Bradshaw, as James Brown was closing the postgame show with another mention of Saddam Hussein’s capture: “Osama, you’re next” ("Fox NFL Postgame Show," Fox, 12/14).

• Boston Globe columnist Michael Holley, on Ohio State Univ. RB Maurice Clarett: “There wouldn’t have been a national championship without Maurice Clarett. But as soon as he got into trouble, the university machine ate its young” ("OTL," ESPN, 12/13).

• L.A. Times columnist Bill Plaschke, on the NFL’s early entry rule: “This is not about worrying about somebody’s health. The NFL wants its players to come in as stars already. ... It helps the marketing of the league, the marketing of the individual” ("OTL," ESPN, 12/13).

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

TODAY’S EVENTS

AROUND THE RINGS reported that the USOC Exec Committee willmeet this week “to give the go-ahead for the dismantling” of the U.S. TaekwondoUnion. The affairs of the sport “willbe overseen by the USOC during the interim when a new NGB is formed to run thesport.” U.S. Taekwondo Union issuesinclude “poor accounting practices and whether USTU’s allegiance is to Koreanor U.S. sport interests” (AROUND THE RINGS, 12/12).

Muhammad and Lonnie Ali will officially donatea new baseball field to Niles (MI) Community Schools valued at over$10,000. The field will be named“Champ’s Field.”

THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…

This week’s coverstory examines the future of Fox Sports Net as more and more franchises look tostart their own regional sports networks.

For these stories and more, see this week’s issue of SportsBusiness Journal.

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are thisweek’s confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THEDAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

This week’s cover of TIME and NEWSWEEK both offer detailsof the raid to capture Saddam Hussein, under the header, “We Got Him!” (THE DAILY).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that CNN “got on the air first with a Reuters report” at 5:03amET on Sunday about the capture of Hussein. ABC and CBS News “went on the air with special reports shortly afterCNN, as MSNBC hit the air next” at 5:17am, and Fox News Channel at 5:27am. ABC and CBS went into full-time specialcoverage at 6:00am and 6:16 am respectively. NBC News “did not cut in with any special reports, but went live” at5:52am (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 12/15).

The Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL reported that Ft. Lauderdale-based DirecTV Latin AmericaLLC, which provides satellite TV services to Latin America and the Caribbean,said it has “filed a reorganization plan, aiming to exit Chapter 11 bankruptcyin early 2004.” Hughes Electronics“would retain more than 80[%] equity in the reorganized venture” (Ft.Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/13).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “19^thCentury Business.”

“Frederic Tudor became wealthy marketing this, whichhe took from a pond called Fresh Pond in Massachusetts.”

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “Everybody in New York Cityreally, really has the holiday festive spirit, and I’ll give you an example ofwhat I’m talking about. ... Everyday I come to work on the subway, there’s anaked guy sitting right next to me. Well, today he was covered in tinsel. ... I’m shopping for my mom and sheis so easy to shop for. She doesn’tcare what you get her, as long as it has George Foreman’s name on it.... Airport screeners are now X-raying holiday fruitcakes. Even with the X-ray, they cannot determinewhat those little red things are. ... Former President Clinton has gotan office here in New York City, and he’s decorating his office. He finished putting the mistletoe under hisdesk. ... As part of the holiday festivities at the White House, (PresidentBush) hosted a performance of the ‘Nutcracker.’ ... I believe this is thefirst time the ‘Nutcracker’ has been at the White House since ... I guess sinceHillary” ("Late Show," CBS, 12/12).

NBC’sJay Leno: “Welcome to Day One of the countdown to Ryan and Trista’sdivorce. If you saw that show, theywound up calling it ‘Ryan’s and Trista’s Wedding.’ They wanted to call it ‘Yes, Dear,’ but that name was alreadytaken by CBS. ... Forget banning gay marriages. Let’s start banning reality show marriages. ... I’ve beenwatching holiday shows all week. Iwatched a ‘Charlie Brown Christmas.’ That was pretty good. But I sawa really disturbing one last night: a Bobby Brown Christmas. ...According to a government memo, the boy who said Michael Jacksonmolested him told authorities back in February nothing inappropriatehappened. How about that? We’re all set to believe that Michael wassome kind of weirdo. ... The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded their star pitcherKevin Brown to the New York Yankees. Brown told reporters today he was looking forward to going someplacenew, and they said, ‘You mean New York?’ and he said, ‘No, the World Series’” ("TheTonight Show," NBC, 12/12).

LATENIGHT LAUGHS:

Friday’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs You Won’t BeWinning The Heisman Trophy” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/12).

NASCAR driver JeffGordon appeared on NBC’s “Last Call” Friday.  Host Carson Dalyasked Gordon, “I didn’t know this, but when you win a race, you have to posefor a picture wearing a hat from each of the sponsors that sponsor you. So how many hats do you have to wear after you win a race?”  Gordon:“Probably 30, 40, 50 hats. ... Second-place isn’t all that bad.  You getto go home early.”  Gordon told Daly the least amount of money to sponsorhis car was $1M, prompting Daly to say, “We can’t afford that.  How aboutjust to get our sticker on your fridge?”  Gordon: “I’ll give you that onefor maybe $10, $20” (“Last Call," NBC, 12/12).

SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s11:30pm ET 90-minute edition of “SportsCenter” led with 49ers-Bengals,followed by Ravens-Raiders and the Orioles signing free agent SS MiguelTejada to a six-year, $72M contract.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that it “was a lackluster weekend at the box office as theestimated total for the top 12 films was $83.1[M], down 8% from the comparableframe a year ago” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 12/15).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What was ice?”

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

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