| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Fox Sports Today Celebrates Tenth Anniversary Of Securing NFL Package |
| • | Houston Department To Seek $500,000 In Super Bowl Funding Today |
| • | A-Rod To Continue Meeting Today With Orza, Others To Discuss Contract |
| • | San Jose Today To Be Awarded ’04 Olympic Trials For Two “Combat Sports” |
| • | T’Wolves Minority Owner And Wife Die In Auto Accident Yesterday |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
FOX SPORTS TODAY CELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF NFL DEAL
Fox Sports celebrates its tenth anniversary today, and USATODAY notes that Fox “triggered a revitalization of all television sports thatcontinues today” (USA TODAY,12/17). Fox Sports TV GroupChair David Hill: “Television has got to serve the community that itaddresses. As the community and societychange on a daily basis, we have to keep our coverage moving ahead. Television is like a shark – if you stopmoving, you die” (THE DAILY). For more on Fox Sports’ anniversary, see today’s issue of The Daily.
HOUSTON DEPARTMENT TO SEEK $500,000 FROM CITY COUNCIL TODAY
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the city’s Convention& Entertainment Department today will ask the City Council to “spend$500,000 on 50 Super Bowl tickets, game-related advertising and improvementssuch as landscaping. The money wouldbuy a sponsorship with the Houston Super Bowl XXXVIII Host Committee.” The city funds would also “provide anestimated $125,000 in beautification; … $110,000 to put up a barrier to protectpedestrians from the light rail train on four blocks of Main,” andadvertisements promoting the city. Several City Council members “are not sold on the proposal” (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 12/17).
EFFORTS CONTINUE TODAY IN N.Y. TO COMPLETE RANGERS-SOX SWAP
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that talks about restructuringRangers SS Alex Rodriguez’ contract will resume today at the MLBPAoffice in N.Y., as the MLBPA has “yet to approve a proposed restructuring,”despite a daylong meeting yesterday that included Rodriguez, MLBPA AssociateGeneral Counsel Gene Orza, MLB VP/Labor Relations Rob Manfred andRed Sox GM Theo Epstein. Orza:“The issue continues to be the essential difference between restructuring andreducing. … There has to be some added value to the player.” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig “will notallow the talks to go beyond the Christmas holiday, and the parties have beeninstructed that a resolution must be reached by the end of the week” (BOSTONGLOBE, 12/17).
REDSKINS FANS TO PLEAD PEDESTRIAN CASE TODAY IN COURT
The WASHINGTON POST reports that Prince George’s CountyCircuit Court Judge Sheila Tillerson-Adams today is scheduled to hear asuit claiming that the pedestrian policy at FedEx Field “should be voidedbecause it is the product of a private meeting of team, stadium and countyofficials, in violation of the Maryland Open Meetings Act.” Another suit “seeks class-action relief onbehalf of ticket holders who are barred by metal barricades and securitypersonnel from walking on public roads and sidewalks to the game” (WASHINGTONPOST, 12/17).
SAN JOSE TODAY TO BE AWARDED '04 OLYMPIC TRIALS FOR TWO SPORTS
The SAN JOSE MERCURYNEWS reports that USOC acting CEO Jim Scherr and San Jose Mayor RonGonzales will hold a news conference today to announce that SanJose will play “host to Olympic trials in two ‘combat sports.’” The events will be held in “early Juneat the Event Center at San Jose State. A USOC official confirmed theevent but refused to identify the sports” (SANJOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/17).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
Which sports host boasts a multitude of assignments, rangingfrom pre-game show host to radio show host to a contributing role on a DCpolitical talk show, and is a classic car collector? To find out, seetoday’s “Sports Industrialists” section for “THE DAILY Goes One-On-One With…”
MORNING BRIEFS
The NewarkSTAR-LEDGER reports that bankers handling the Nets sale have“requested a third round of bids.” Nets owners “still hope toreceive $300[M] for the team, and this new round of bidding will go forwardwithout” Islanders co-Owner Charles Wang. Wang’sspokesperson Chris Botta: “Charles is out. He’s not in. There has been no filing and no proposal” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 12/17).
The NFL yesterday fined Saints WR Joe Horn $30,000and WR Michael Lewis $5,000 for their roles in Horn’s use of a cellphone during a touchdown celebration Sunday night. Meanwhile, the league fined Bengals WR Chad Johnson$10,000 for holding up a sign Sunday reading, “Dear NFL, Please Don’t Fine MeAgain” (Mult., 12/17).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Chrysler may be “closeto dropping its sponsorship of the Lingerie Bowl … after a dealer council urgedthe company to cut its ties to the event” (WALLSTREET JOURNAL, 12/17).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the Yankees yesterday releasedtheir ’04 schedule, including two games in Japan against the Devil Rays to openthe season March 30-31. Tickets go onsale Friday (N.Y.TIMES, 12/17).
The AP reports that the European Union and BSkyB havereached an agreement on broadcasting rights for the English Premier League,under which BSkyB “must lift is control over exclusive rights to as many aseight live games a season as early as next year” (AP,12/17).
MLB announced the promotion of CFO Jonathan Marinerto Exec VP/Finance, effective January 1 (MLB).
The L.A. TIMES reports that Anaheim Arena Management, acompany owned by Broadcom Chair Henry Samueli, yesterday “officiallytook over management of the Arrowhead Pond.” A federal Bankruptcy Court last week approved a transfer of managementfrom Covanta Energy to AAM (L.A.TIMES, 12/17).
The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER reports that Aramark has “decidedto keep its [HQs] in the Center City tower that bears its name for at leastanother 15 years.” PennsylvaniaDepartment of Community & Economic Development PR Officer Kevin Ortizsaid that an announcement “would come soon, possibly today” (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 12/17).
T’Wolves MinorityOwner Albert Fallenstein and his wife, Erla, “died Tuesday whenhis van collided with a semitrailer truck just west” of his Minnesotahome. T’Wolves Owner Glen Taylor: “We lost two lifelong friendstoday. Al and Erla were a significant and important part of ourTimberwolves family” (Minneapolis STARTRIBUNE, 12/17).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The WASHINGTON POST reports that the Wizards defeated the Jazz last night in front of 12,097, the “smallest announced crowd at MCI Center since April 15, 2001, before Michael Jordan returned to the court” (WASHINGTON POST, 12/17).
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 Hillsborough County Commission meets at 9:00am ET at theCounty Center in Tampa, and the TAMPA TRIBUNE reported that among the items onthe commission’s agenda is a plan to “take ownership of about 98[%] of RaymondJames Stadium.” The Tampa SportsAuthority has the title to the venue, but “has agreed to switch most ownershipto the county to avoid, among other things, pressure from the … Buccaneers tobuy costly upgrades to the stadium’s terrorism and hurricane insurance” (TAMPATRIBUNE, 12/16).
The deadline for experienced minority crewmembers to submittheir resumes to NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program is today (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 12/16).
New Zealand Soccer today is expected to announce asponsorship and equipment deal with Nike at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland,ending the governing body’s association with adidas. Nike is believed to be spending nearly $2M under the deal (FINANCIALTIMES, 12/16).
IN OTHER NEWS….
REUTERS reports that Lazard CEO Bruce Wassersteinyesterday “signed a deal to buy New York magazine from Primedia for $55[M],pulling off a surprise victory in the closely watched auction of the35-year-old weekly” (REUTERS,12/17).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that GE Chair Jeff Immeltyesterday projected that ’04 “will likely show flat to slightly downearnings. But by 2005, GE will grow –driven, among others, by its own entertainment division in the form of themerged NBC-Vivendi Universal.” Theoperation is “expected to post 10% profit growth and revenue of about $14[B] in2005” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 12/17).
The L.A. TIMES notes a Harris Nesbitt Gerard study showsthat sales of video games increased 7% in November compared to the same perioda year earlier, “fueled by lower prices and an increase in consumers who owngame consoles.” November game salestotaled $764M, “bringing game sales for the first 11 months of the year to morethan $4[B].” Including consoles, industrysales dipped 1% in November compared with November ’02 (L.A.TIMES, 12/17).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “The Olympics.”
“This city that Napoleon gave to Bavaria in 1806 hashosted the Winter Olympics twice.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “Just a reminder, tomorrow night is ‘Audience Flu Shot Night.’... Things are so exciting at my house. ... Here’s what’s going on. Mom keeps watching Saddam’s flea examover and over and over. ... Saddam Hussein was captured 8:30 Saturdaynight. It’s comforting to know thatsomeone had a worse Saturday night than I did. He had a hole adjacent to a hut. ... Here’s what he had in the hut. He had unopened packages of underwear, guns,cans of 7Up and the Paris Hilton video. ... They found several pairs ofSaddam’s boxer shorts in the hut. Bythe way, that’s the closest we came to finding weapons of mass destruction. ...Mr. Bigshot Saddam Hussein came out of the hole with his hands up. Just gave himself up, surrenderedimmediately. Hell, Winona Ryderput up more of a fight” ("Late Show," CBS, 12/16).
NBC’sJay Leno: “First the economy gets better. Now Saddam Hussein has been captured. For the Democrats, this is like ‘The Grinch That StoleChristmas.’ ... Give you an idea how bad Saddam’s living conditions were, FoxNews employees couldn’t even find anything to steal. ... When they found Saddam,he had $750,000 in cash, a pistol and two AK47’s. They now believe he was trying to start a new career as a rapstar. ... Cardinal Martino of the Vatican is complaining that we havemishandled Saddam Hussein. He thinks wemight be mistreating him. I don’t thinkwe’re mistreating him. Okay, we’re nottreating him like an altar boy. ... A male nurse in New Jersey has admitted tokilling 30 to 40 patients in hospitals where he worked. His name was Charles Cullen, or asHMO’s call him, employee of the month” ("The Tonight Show," NBC,12/16).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Secrets Learned FromSaddam Hussein’s Papers” ("Late Show," CBS, 12/16).
| 10) “‘Saddam’ is Kurdish for ‘Duane.’” |
| 9) “Had just acquired a New York City cabdriver’s license.” |
| 8) “Surprisingly, dots his ‘i’s with hearts.” |
| 7) “You won’t find a bigger Clay Aiken fan.” |
| 6) “Four of clubs? Gay.” |
| 5) “His ‘divine plan for world domination’ was written on back of Blimpie’s coupon.” |
| 4) “Continued to name himself ‘Iraqi of the Month’ right through November.” |
| 3) “Was working on a book of ‘You Might Be A Dictator If...’ jokes.” |
| 2) “Funneled money to ABC to throw Trista and Ryan a fabulous wedding.” |
| 1) “He wrote letters to ‘Penthouse’ under name ‘Sexy In Spider Hole.’” |
TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Eagles | Red Sox trade rumors; Vikings WR Randy Moss |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Eagles | Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt; Saints WR Joe Horn |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Kings-Grizzlies | Red Sox trade rumors; Rockets-T’Wolves |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Matt Millen-Johnnie Morton dispute | Giants LB Michael Barrow ; Broncos RB Clinton Portis |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Celtics-Cavaliers trade | Celtics’ Christmas party; Bruins-Canadians |
| FSN | “Southwest Sports Report” | New Orleans Bowl | Univ. of Nebraska football; Texans |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Innsbruck?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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