| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, January 19, 2004
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Large Market Patriots To Square Off Against Panthers In Super Bowl XXXVIII |
| • | Brewers Announce Late Friday They Have Retained Allen & Co. To Sell Team |
| • | Minnesota Stadium Screening Committee To Further Reduce Proposals Today |
| • | ESPN.com To Launch Sports-Entertainment Focused “Page 3” This Week |
| • | MLSE BOD To Meet Today To Discuss Proposed $100M Univ. of Toronto Project |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/Weekend Rap/Weekend Box Office |
PATRIOTS, PANTHERS ADVANCE TO SUPER BOWL XXXVIII IN HOUSTON
The Patriots and Panthers yesterday advanced to Super BowlXXXVIII, and the HOUSTON CHRONICLE notes that the Panthers' small-market status “doesn’t havequite the same punch, in terms of the potential audience for CBS’ coverage” asa game involving the Eagles, who play in the fourth-largest market. However, “barring an absolute, totalblowout, the Super Bowl will garner at least a 40 rating and will, as always,be the most-watched television program of the year” (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 1/19).
CBS Sports President Sean McManus: “To a certain extent, the Super Bowl isbulletproof. ... Obviously you prefer the big-market teams and the traditionalNFL teams” (WINSTON-SALEMJOURNAL, 1/19).
The PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER noted that having a small-market franchise in the game “is notautomatically bad for television. TheGreen Bay Packers – a small-market squad with national appeal, a storiedhistory, and a highly publicized star in Brett Favre – would have beenextremely attractive to CBS. ButCarolina has none of those elements going for it” (PHILADELPHIAINQUIRER, 1/18).
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that according to licensees,the difference in revenue between a Patriots-Eagles matchup and one between thePanthers and Colts “varied from a low of 10-1 from Majestic Athletic President FaustCapobianco to ‘infinite – the biggest ever’ from a senior executive at oneof the NFL’s largest apparel licensees.” However, NFL Senior VP/Consumer Products Mark Holtzman “preachedcaution,” noting that Buccaneers championship merchandise last year “farexceeded expectations” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/19 issue).
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER today offers an excerpt from anarticle originally published October 30, 1993, a day after Panthers Owner JerryRichardson“pledged towin a Super Bowl within ten years” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 1/19).
Charlotte-based Bank of America, which announced Friday thatit would become the naming-rightspartner of the Panthers’ stadium, today runs a full-page ad in the CharlotteObserver congratulating the team on making the “Big Game” (THE DAILY).
THE DAILY AND SBJ OFFER OUR ANNUAL SUPER BOWL PICK ‘EM
It’s that time ofyear again. The Sports BusinessDaily and SportsBusiness Journal Super Bowl Pick ‘em is now open. Test your prognostication skills againstthose of your fellow readers. The bestand brightest in the sports industry will receive an award perhaps second onlyto the Vince Lombardi Trophy itself – recognition in the Morning Buzz, TheDaily and SportsBusiness Journal. To enter, provide your name, title, company, email address and SuperBowl pick. Deadline for entry isFriday, January 30 at 5:00pm ET.
BREWERS ANNOUNCE INTENTION TO SELL TEAM LATE FRIDAY
The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL reported that the Brewersannounced late Friday that they were putting the franchise up for sale,signaling the “end of Selig family ownership in the team.” The Brewers have retained N.Y.-based Allen& Co. to handle the sale. MLBsources have “said the team is worth anywhere from [$180-200M], which includesthe team’s debt, estimated at $110[M] by team officials” (MILWAUKEEJOURNAL-SENTINEL, 1/17).
STADIUM SCREENING COMMITTEE SEES FOUR COMPLETED PROPOSALS
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reported that Minnesota Gov. TimPawlenty’s Stadium Screening Committee will conduct a conference call todayto “decide which [stadium] proposals will receive hearings from the committeeon Tuesday or Wednesday,” after the committee determined that 13 of the 26proposals “merit further analysis.” Butonly four proposals were “complete and fully developed.” The four include two for a Twins stadium – “onea joint effort by Minneapolis and Hennepin County, the other from the city ofSt. Paul;” one for a Vikings stadium, a joint effort by Anoka County andBlaine; and one from Eden Prairie that “offered land but didn’t specify whichteam” (MinneapolisSTAR TRIBUNE, 1/18).
ESPN.COM THIS WEEK TO LAUNCH ENTERTAINMENT-BASED “PAGE 3”
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that ESPN.com this week“plans to launch ‘Page 3,’ a new section of the site devoted to the crossoverbetween sports and entertainment.” Thesection “will aim to take the same edgy, humorous approach to sports featuredon ESPN.com’s Page 2, but apply it to the entertainment world.” Mazda has “signed on for an undisclosedamount as an advertiser for Page 3 as part of an effort by the carmaker to toutits new Mazda 3” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/19 issue).
MLSE TO DISCUSS PROPOSED $100M UNIV. OF TORONTO PROJECT TODAY
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reported that the MLSE BOD willmeet today to discuss a proposed $100M project at the Univ. of Toronto thatwould include a Maple Leafs practice facility and a stadium for the CFLArgonauts. MLSE “would end up owning50[%]” of the Argonauts under the plan. MLSE CEO Richard Peddie said that management “has not decidedwhether to recommend the project” to the BOD. Univ. of Toronto VP/Development John Dellandrea: “I would be verysurprised if the outcome on Monday were a full green light to go ahead and putthis thing together” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 1/17).
JEREMY BLOOM TODAY TO ANNOUNCE DECISION TO PLAY OR WALK AWAY
The DENVER POST reported that Colorado Univ. WR andfreestyle skier Jeremy Bloom today will conduct a news conference to “announce his decision to playanother season or walk away from college football.” At issue is “whether he feels he can stay sharp with hisfreestyle skiing without the benefit of better training that he could receiveby earning endorsements. He is suingthe NCAA for the right to earn endorsement money from skiing and still beeligible to play college football” (DENVERPOST, 1/18).
MORNING BRIEFS
The L.A. TIMES reported that L.A. developer andphilanthropist Eli Broad “has offered to buy the Dodgers for $430[M],mostly in cash, if Boston developer Frank McCourt’s highly leveraged bidfalls through” (L.A. TIMES,1/17).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer(D-NY) “joined the chorus of cheerleaders yesterday backing the massive sportsarena proposed for Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues” in Brooklyn. Schumer said that he would “withdraw supportfor the project if developer Bruce Ratner does not treat neighborsfairly” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 1/19).
ESPN.com reported that McDonald’s Dir of Sports Marketing JohnLewicki confirmed that Lakers G Kobe Bryant’s “three-yearagreement with the fast food company expired December 31.” McDonald’s joins Ferrero USA as the secondcompany to let its relationship with Bryant end since he was accused of sexualassault (ESPN.com,1/16).
The TORONTO STAR reports that as fan voting for the NBAAll-Star game closes today, Raptors F Vince Carter is “expected tobecome the first player to lead the annual ballot in four seasons.” Although you “couldn’t find one of Carter’scommercials on TV just a year or two after they’d been ubiquitous, Carter’svisage on the box of EA Sports ‘NBA Live 2004’ has kept his profile high” (TORONTOSTAR, 1/19).
The L.A. TIMES reported that the USOC has imposed financialand other sanctions on USA Track & Field because of its refusal to turnover files relating to sprinter Jerome Young. The USOC “has handed down a three-part series of sanctions,including the suspension of about $3[M] that flows annually from the USOC toUSATF” (L.A.TIMES, 1/17).
ESPN.com reported that Michelle Wie has accepted asponsor’s exemption for the LPGA Tour Evian Masters in France in July. Wie has now accepted the maximum sixexemptions for ’04 (ESPN.com, 1/18).
The London TELEGRAPH reported that English Premier Leagueclub Leeds United has “denied reports that Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mubarakal-Khalifa has provided proof that he can fund a [US$62.5M] bid for theclub.” Leeds CEO Trevor Birchtoday is expected to announce that he has “secured a two-week extension to astandstill agreement with the club’s principal creditors” (LondonTELEGRAPH, 1/18).
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that Univ. of PittsburghWR Larry Fitzgerald is “expected to receive the NFL’s approval to enterthe draft in a rare ruling that could come as soon as today” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE,1/19).
SEHL President John Cherney said Saturday that hisleague has ownership groups, front-office staffs, coaches and equipmentmanagers “ready to step in and operate, once the WHA2 folds.” Macon, GA and Pelham, AL are the “targetedcities” (KNOXVILLENEWS, 1/18).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- The HONOLULU ADVERTISER reported that the crowd at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open Friday at Waialae Country Club “was up 22[%] over the same day in 2003, to see Michelle Wie attempt to make the cut. That followed on the heels of the 18[%] rise for Thursday’s opening round” (HONOLULU ADVERTISER, 1/18).
- The AP reported that a crowd of 17,806 attended Saturday’s Tennessee-South Carolina men’s basketball game at the Colonial Center in Columbia, SC, “the largest crowd to watch basketball in the state of South Carolina” (AP, 1/18).
- The AHL Houston Aeros announced that a crowd of 13,342 attended Friday night’s game against the San Antonio Rampage at Toyota Center, where recently acquired Astros P Roger Clemens dropped the ceremonial first puck. The crowd was the Aeros’ largest since Game 7 of the ’99 Turner Cup Finals, and the largest to see an AHL game this season (Aeros).
- The L.A. DAILY NEWS reports that a “standing-room-only crowd announced at 4,373 in the Pyramid got all of the entertainment value it could have hoped for Friday night” as Dennis Rodman pulled down 14 rebounds during his ABA Long Beach Jam debut against the Fresno Heat Wave (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/17).
- The L.A. TIMES reports that a crowd of 10,461 attended yesterday’s Denmark-U.S. exhibition soccer match at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA (L.A. TIMES, 1/19).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The S.F. CHRONICLE noted that according to the calculations of the California Avocado Commission, the43.5 million pounds of avocados that will be devoured by Americans on SuperBowl Sunday “could produce enough guacamole to blanket Reliant Stadium’sfootball field in Houston in 7 feet of dip” (S.F.CHRONICLE, 1/18).
The BOSTON GLOBE notes that Patriots owners Bob and MyraKraft “greeted guests at the AFC Championship party Saturday night atGillette Stadium. In contrast to thegame, the party was a friendly gathering, as a few hundred supporters of thePats and Colts chowed on shrimp, lobster, lamb, roast beef, and sushi” (BOSTONGLOBE, 1/19).
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, on head coaching opportunities for Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis: “They have had limited time to interview for jobs because they’re still very much active, preparing the Patriots for playoff action. ... Now, these qualified men have been shut out, victimized by both the system and ownership impatience.”
- N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica: “We won’t be able to hold Michelle Wie back anymore than we could hold LeBron James back. ... Talent like this isn’t normal and trying to hold it back is like trying to hold back the ocean. ... She will overpower women’s golf someday the way the Williams sisters overpower women’s tennis.”
- Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom, on the quarterback rating: “It’s not enough that football fans have to put up with Sharpies and cell phones, now we are stuck with the quarterback rating, the new darling of the calculator set. ... Lose it! For one thing, I don’t understand it. You understand it?”
- ESPN’s John Saunders, on the injured Lakers and their replacements: “(The back-ups) resemble the Charleston Lowgators of the NBDL. ... Without Payton, Malone and Shaq and Kobe, this is barely an NBA team” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 1/18).
Heard elsewhere over the weekend:
- Ryan, on Lincoln Financial Field: “This stadium, I don’t believe, is as intimidating or as helpful to the Eagles in the long run as (Veterans Stadium)” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 1/18).
- Albom, on Knicks President Isiah Thomas: “This has been one of the most interesting first months any executive since maybe (Yankees Owner George) Steinbrenner has had in New York” ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 1/18).
- ESPN’s Kenny Mayne, pointing out Colts fans tailgating in the Gillette Stadium parking lot, said, “They all came in on a Mayflower van” ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 1/18).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sportscovers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Philadelphia Daily News |
| | |
| N.Y. Daily News | N.Y. Post |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The LONDON TIMES reports that London 2012 Dir ofCommunications Mike Lee and consultant John Boulter “will fly toTunis [this] week for the African Nations Football Cup in an attempt todiscover the early voting intentions of the African members of the [IOC]” (LONDONTIMES, 1/17).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that H&R Block today willunveil its Super Bowl spot, and the company “once again presents [Willie]Nelson as the kind of guy you wouldn’t want to go to for taxadvice. This time around, the countrymusic singer – who in real life has had some serious battles with the taxman –is featured in a faux infomercial hawking a talking Willie Nelson doll. Of course, the mini Willie Nelson giveslousy tax tips” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 1/19).
The Clippers are holding an essay contest on their Web siteto hear fans’ thoughts on how the efforts of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.inspired and educated America. The topfive submissions will receive two free tickets to today’s 12:30pm PT gameagainst the Kings at Staples Center (Clippers).
THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…
This week’s SBJ In-Depth examines the nexus between sportsand music, including the connection between the music industry and NASCAR, anda roundup of experts’ commentaries.
Also in this week’sissue:
- Andre Agassi inks ten-year deal with 24 Hour Fitness.
- MLB free agent pay on the decline.
- Visa’s Daytona promo shifts into second year.
- Analysis: The escalation of the RFP.
- One-on-One with ESPN Senior VP John Skipper.
EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS
Below are thisweek’s confirmed earnings announcements for sports-business related companies (THEDAILY).
| DATE | TICKER | COMPANY | QUARTER |
| 1/22 | ELY | Callaway Golf | Q4 2003 |
IN OTHER NEWS….
This week’s cover of TIME offers “Mission To Mars.” Meanwhile, NEWSWEEK examines “GirlOr Boy? … Now You Can Choose. ButShould You?” (THE DAILY).
BLOOMBERG NEWS reported thatEchoStar Communications “won a court order Friday preventing Viacom Inc. fromwithholding its CBS and other networks from EchoStar customers during acontract dispute,” after proving that it “would suffer irreparable harmif Viacom refused to let EchoStar’s Dish Network satellite service continuebroadcasting the signals of Viacom's CBS stations and its cable networks” (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 1/17).
ANANOVA.com reported that Beyonce, Britney Spears,Pink and Enrique Iglesias will appear together in a Pepsi TV adfor the company’s “Dare For More” campaign (ANANOVA.com, 1/16).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “The Movies.”
“They’re the two two-letter abbreviations in the titles ofmovies directed by Steven Spielberg.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “It was so cold today, on my lunch hour, I’m walking throughCentral Park just to see how cold it was, and I round a corner there andsitting by a bench, I see a squirrel and it’s so cold, this squirrel isactually blowing on his nuts. ... Then, I’m down in Times Square and I see atourist using his credit card to chip ice off of a hooker. ... It’s alreadyFriday, and Britney Spears has no one to marry for the weekend. ... MarlonBrando has lost 83 pounds, and it really was time for him to loseweight. I mean, he was being followedby poachers” ("Late Show," CBS, 1/16).
NBC’sJay Leno: “Today, Michael Jackson was charged with seven countsof lewd acts with a child. ... The judge also issued a gag order in the case,and the judge asked Michael Jackson if he knew what a gag order was, andMichael said, ‘Yes your honor. I issuethe same order whenever kids stay at the house.’ ... I don’t think Michael understandsthe severity of these charges because when they asked him what he was doingafter the arraignment, he said, ‘I’m going to Disneyland.’ ... The interestingthing about (the Mars Rover), it’s only expected to last about 90 days beforeit breaks down completely and falls apart. It was a joint venture between NASA and Kia. ... Starbucks has openedtheir first franchise in Paris, France, but in order to be successful, they hadto change the formula. They had to makethe coffee much more bitter and weak, just like the French” ("TheTonight Show," NBC, 1/16).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Friday’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Questions Received By TheToro Snow Blower Hotline” ("Late Show," CBS, 1/16).
| 10) “I’m blowing into it. But it won’t snow.” |
| 9) “Do you make one for rain?” |
| 8) “Who do I call about reattaching my hand?” |
| 7) “Can you use it to make sno-cones?” |
| 6) “Hi, this is Monica Lewinsky. Are you looking for a spokesperson?” |
| 5) “Can I use it to make cole slaw?” |
| 4) “Toro? Oh, I’m sorry. I was trying to call Zorro.” |
| 3) “Can I use the snow blower indoors as a fan?” |
| 2) “Where exactly does Bush think he’s getting the money to go to Mars?” |
| 1) “Can I blow myself?” |
During “Weekend Update” on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,”castmember Tina Fey said, “CBS announced that it will not airMoveOn.org’s winning anti-Bush ad during the Super Bowl, saying that they don’tair so-called ‘issue ads’ unless the issue is that girls are sluts for beer” ("SNL,"NBC, 1/17).
SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 11:30pm ET 90-minute edition of “SportsCenter” ledwith NFL Conference Championships: Panthers-Eagles and Colts-Patriots,followed by a report that Univ. of Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald willbe declared eligible for the ’04 NFL Draft. The first non-football report, at 28:14 into the broadcast, was aninjury update on Cavaliers G LeBron James.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
DAILY VARIETY reported that estimates for all pictures’ Sunday box office “were bolstered byexpectations of higher-than-usual moviegoing ahead of school and work closingsfor the Martin Luther King holiday today” (DAILYVARIETY, 1/18).
| Title | Weekend | Cumulative |
| “Along Came Polly” | $27.6M | $27.6M |
| “Big Fish” | $10.4M | $38.0M |
| “Torque” | $10.3M | $10.3M |
| “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” | $10.2M | $326.8M |
| “Cheaper by the Dozen” | $8.8M | $112.0M |
| “Cold Mountain” | $7.0M | $65.0M |
| “Something’s Gotta Give” | $6.0M | $101.0M |
| “My Baby’s Daddy” | $3.7M | $12.4M |
| “The Last Samurai” | $3.1M | $102.0M |
| “Calendar Girls” | $3.1M | $17.2M |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What are ET & AI?”
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