| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Prospective Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt To Meet Today With MLB In N.Y. |
| • | NASCAR To Officially Unveil New Championship Points System This Morning |
| • | ESPN Today To Announce That Winter X Games Will Remain In Aspen Thru ‘07 |
| • | Frisco City Council Today To Approve MLS Burn Complex Construction Manager |
| • | USOC To Host Int’l Pacific Sports Forum Today Through Wednesday In Honolulu |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
McCOURT TO MEET TODAY WITH MLB OFFICIALS, LAWYERS IN N.Y.
The L.A. TIMES reports that prospective Dodgers Owner FrankMcCourt and his wife Jamie today will meet in N.Y. with MLBofficials and lawyers “in an attempt to resolve the ongoing debt-serviceproblems” around his bid to purchase the club. MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy, on the emergence of EliBroad as a potential owner if McCourt’s bid fails: “As to what significancethe development with Eli Broad has is a question for News Corp. As for baseball, we have no reaction in thesense that News Corp. has asked us to process the McCourt application andthat’s what we’re attempting to do” (L.A.TIMES, 1/20).
NASCAR TO UNVEIL NEW POINTS SYSTEM TODAY AT 9:30am ET
The UAW-GM Motorsports Media Tour continues today at Lowe’sMotor Speedway outside Charlotte, where NASCAR will host a 9:30am ET pressconference. The ORLANDO SENTINELreports that NASCAR will officially unveil its new championship points systemat that time. NASCAR officials admitthat the playoff-like system for the last ten races “is a ploy to compete in the autumn free-for-alls for TV ratings withthe baseball playoffs, NFL, NBA, et al.” NASCAR VP/Communications Jim Hunter: “Hopefully, [today] is goingto provide all the details, so that people will at least know what they’rebashing” (ORLANDOSENTINEL, 1/20).
Speed Channel will broadcast the press conference live,while NASCAR.com will Webcast it over the Internet (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL,1/20).
ESPN TO ANNOUNCE WINTER X GAMES WILL REMAIN IN ASPEN THRU ‘07
The DENVER POST reports that ESPN is expected to announce today that the Winter X Games,which begin their third year at the Buttermilk ski area Friday, “will remain inAspen through 2007.” SkiCo President PatO’Donnell confirmed that a deal is being negotiated, saying, “We have beentrying to make this the home base for the next three or four years.” Last year, the four-day event “drew morethan 48,000 spectators – up from 36,000 in 2002” (DENVERPOST, 1/20).
MLSE TO CONTINUE UNIV. OF TORONTO TALKS AS EARLY AS TODAY
The TORONTO STAR reports that talks between MLSE and theUniv. of Toronto on plans to “resurrect Varsity Stadium and provide a new home”for the CFL Argonauts could resume “as early as today.” The deal is “believed to hinge on the Argosagreeing to become part of the project by selling a share in the club to MLSE”(TORONTOSTAR, 1/20).
Although the MLSE BOD met yesterday, CEO Richard Peddiesaid that the BOD “decided not to make a final decision.” Under the current proposal, MLSE would“finance construction of a 25,000-seat stadium with an eight-lane track, ahockey arena and second ice surface and a shopping area” (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 1/20).
FRISCO CITY COUNCIL TO APPROVE MLS BURN COMPLEX MANAGER
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that the Frisco (TX) CityCouncil today will “recommend and approve a new construction manager” for asoccer complex that includes a 20,000-seat stadium for the MLS Burn and 17soccer fields for high school and recreational use. The city “could not agree on contract terms with Centex, thecompany initially selected to negotiate the building of the complex.” Second-round bidders are ManhattanConstruction, a joint venture with Thomas S. Byrne and J.E. Dunn, Lee LewisConstruction, Turner Sports Group and Hunt Construction Group (SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL, 1/19 issue).
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 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.
MORNING BRIEFS
USA TODAY reports that thePatriots Pro Shop yesterday “sold more merchandise than it did the dayafter the Patriots won the 2002 Super Bowl” against the Rams. Manager MikePerriello: “The craziest thing today is just the amount ofmerchandise people are buying. It’s notlike people are dropping $20. They’redropping some serious money” (USA TODAY, 1/20).
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reportsthat Panthers fans “mobbedstores Monday, waiting in hours-long lines to grab” officially licensed NFCChampionship T-shirts. PanthersMerchandise Manager Sarah Strohschein, on sales at the stadium: “Oursales have exceeded game-day sales” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 1/20).
The WASHINGTON POST reports thatthe NFL “released a list yesterday of 41 non-seniors who have decided todeclare themselves eligible for the annual draft.” Univ. of Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald “was not amongthem,” prompting NFL VP/Communications Greg Aiello to say, “We’re stillin the process of clarifying his status” (WASHINGTONPOST, 1/20).
The Baltimore SUN reports that Michelle Wie will beinvited to play in the PGA Tour’s Booz Allen Open June 24-27 at the TPC atAvenel in Potomac, MD. Kemper SportsCEO Steve Lesnik: “We know a bunch of other people will probably [inviteher], too, and she will pick and choose” (BaltimoreSUN, 1/20).
REUTERS reports that debt-laden English Premier League clubLeeds United “has staved off the immediate threat of [bankruptcy] afteragreeing with creditors yesterday to a one-week extension to find funding” (REUTERS,1/20).
The SALT LAKE TRIBUNE reports that last night’sJazz-Warriors game was “delayed by a half-hour at TNT’s request, afterproblems with the lights in Memphis caused the network’s telecast of theRockets-Grizzlies game to start 30 minutes late” (SALT LAKETRIBUNE, 1/20).
REUTERS reported that F1 team bosses have “threatened not torace in Europe unless exempted from new community-wide arrest warrants thatcould be used against them if a driver is killed on the track.” Warrants have “already been implemented” inBelgium, Britain and Spain (REUTERS, 1/19).
Callaway Golf has re-launched itsconsumer Web site (CallawayGolf).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
TNT’s Charles Barkley, on the Hawks’ lime greenthrowback uniforms: “That’s a horrible uniform. The color’s horrible.” TNT’s Kenny Smith said the uniforms “sell well.” Barkley: “Why in the world would anybodywear an Atlanta Hawks jersey?” (TNT, 1/19).
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
Representatives from the St. Paul, HennepinCounty/Minneapolis, Anoka County/Blaine and Eden Prairie stadium proposalgroups will “each be given an hour to present their plans” to Minnesota Gov. TimPawlenty’s Stadium Screening Committee beginning at 8:30am CT at the StateOffice Building in Minneapolis (Minneapolis STARTRIBUNE, 1/20).
The USOC will host an int’l Pacific sports forum throughWednesday in Honolulu to exchange ideas with Olympic sports leaders fromAustralia, Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and South Korea (SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL, 1/19 issue).
The National Association of Television Program Executives2004 Conference concludes at the Sands Expo Center & Venetian Hotel in LasVegas, where Mandalay Entertainment Group Chair Peter Guber willmoderate a 9:00am MT panel discussion entitled, “Coffee With Peter Bart,Peter Guber, Hisham Melhem & Norm Pattiz.” Mavericks Owner and HDNet President &Chair Mark Cuban will participate in a 2:45pm MT panel discussionentitled, “Super Session IX: Great Expectations: New Opportunities with VOD& HDTV.” View today’s entireagenda.
NY Gov. George Pataki is scheduled to deliver his FY’04 speech, and BLOODHORSE.com reported that Pataki was “said to be planning anexpansion of [video lottery terminals] into off-track betting parlors or otherfranchises such as hotels. Theadministration, which supports the plan, is desperate for new ways to raisecash to help cope with an expected $5.1[B] deficit” (BLOODHORSE.com, 1/19).
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to consider the omnibusspending package, part of which bans flights over sports stadiums (CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY TODAY,12/15).
Predators D Jamie Allison, a country music artist, isscheduled to audition for RCA Records (USA TODAY, 1/20).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that NBC expects to “reap $70[M]from the final night of ‘Friends,’ thanks to advertisers who are shelling out arecord $2[M] for 30-second spots. That’s a new mark for an entertainment show, and just shy of the $2.3[M]price tag for a Super Bowl spot.” NBChas sold out “nearly all of the spots” for the “Friends” final episode, set toair May 6 (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 1/20).
BRANDWEEK.com reported that online travel service Priceline.comthis week breaks a new 30-second TV spot featuring spokesperson WilliamShatner and a “surprise guest: Leonard Nimoy,” via Gotham, N.Y. (BRANDWEEK.com,1/19).
U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), following his victory inyesterday’s Democratic Iowa caucus: “Last night, the New England Patriotswon. Tonight, this New Englander won,and you’ve sent me on to the Super Bowl. Thank you very much. … Thank you Iowa for making me the Comeback Kerry”(Mult., 1/19).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Ranks &Titles.”
“Queen Victoria and Indira Gandhi each heldthis title, though only one was official.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “It’s so cold here in New YorkCity. Let me give you an example of howcold it is today. I went into the RupertG’s Hello Deli, and I saw a rat climb into the bamboo steamer. ... Ofcourse earlier tonight out in Iowa, they had the Iowa Caucus. ... The last wordwe had was the results are apparently too close to call, unless you’re DennisKucinich. ... Ted Kennedy is campaigning for John Kerry, andTed, if you’re watching, I have two words for you: low carbs. ... Do you reallywant the endorsement of a guy with a Bloody Mary mustache? ... Howard Deanfinally introduced his wife for the first time during the campaign. After all these weeks and months, the firsttime he introduces his wife on the campaign. I’m telling you, these two make the Clintons look close” ("LateShow," CBS, 1/19).
NBC’sJay Leno: “Today is Martin Luther King Day. It’s a day where all of us, whether we’reblack or white, no matter what color you are, we can put aside our sillydifferences. We can all agree on one thing:Michael Jackson is really odd. ... Tonight is the big night inIowa. In fact, it’s the only big nightin Iowa. ... They said this race was so close, even Pete Rose wasn’tbetting on it. ... President Bush has announced plans to send astronautsto Mars. But you know, I don’t thinkPresident Bush really understands our space program. In fact, when he first heard about the Mars Rover, he said, ‘Hey,if we can put a dog on Mars, we can put a man on Mars.’ ... Have you heardabout this bird flu that’s sweeping across Asia? This is really bad. Apparently, there’s an even deadlier strain here in the United Statesthat causes seemingly healthy birds to suddenly start choking. But enough about the Philadelphia Eagles.... Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady is very popular with the ladies. Women like him. Big heartthrob. In facttoday, Britney Spears said see could herself married to him for almost aweek. ... Kobe Bryant has lost his endorsement deal withMcDonald’s. But the good news is he’snow the official spokesman for In-N-Out” ("The Tonight Show," NBC,1/19).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Reasons I’ll Make AGood Talk Show Host,” read on-stage by John McEnroe ("LateShow," CBS, 1/19).
| 10) “You never know when I’ll go nuts and beat a guest with a tennis racquet.” |
| 9) “America’s starving for anecdotes about 20-year-old Wimbledon quarterfinal matches.” |
| 8) “It’s on CNBC – if they get ten viewers, they’re happy.” |
| 7) “Bush is an idiot and he’s President, so anything’s possible.” |
| 6) “There’s nothing more entertaining than watching me bully people until they cry.” |
| 5) “Uhh, you may recall a little hit show I hosted on ABC called ‘The Chair.’” |
| 4) “You won’t know this at home, but the studio is going to smell like a fresh can of tennis balls.” |
| 3) “How many Grand Slams has Oprah won?” |
| 2) “I’ve gotten some great advice from my idol, Jay Leno.” |
| 1) “I’m also willing to have a baby to boost ratings.” |
MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Panthers-Eagles | Colts-Patriots; Eagles to rebuild? |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Panthers | Eagles to rebuild?; Patriots |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Pittsburgh-UConn men’s basketball | Spurs-Pistons; Hornets-T’Wolves |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Super Bowl XXXVIII | Rangers-Bruins; Celtics-Heat |
| FSN | “Southwest Sports Report” | Spurs-Pistons | Rockets-Grizzlies; Hornets-T’Wolves |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Empress of India?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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