| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, January 23, 2004
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Winter X Games Begin Today In Aspen With Primetime Viewing Scheduled |
| • | Tony George Makes “Substantial Bid” For CART Assets Prior To Deadline Today |
| • | YankeeNets To Vote On Sale Of Nets Today Before Bruce Ratner Signs Contract |
| • | Preliminary Hearing In Viacom-EchoStar Dispute Delayed Until After Super Bowl |
| • | Kobe Bryant To Appear Today In Eagle County Court For Pretrial Hearing |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
WINTER X GAMES BEGIN TODAY IN ASPEN WITH PRIMETIME ON TAP
ESPN’s Winter X Games VIII begins today at Buttermilk skiarea in Aspen, CO, and the Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL notes that the event is“taking advantage of the off weekbefore the Super Bowl,” with ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 televising a combined 19 hoursSaturday through Tuesday. In addition,“SportsCenter” will be on site for the first time, providing highlights andlive action during the show’s 11:00pm ET edition on Monday and Tuesday (Ft.Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 1/23).
The DENVER POST noted that Aspen city leaders “promised $100,000 a year for the next fouryears, plus exponentially more resources for police, transportation and parkingservices, to keep the Winter X Games in town through 2007” (DENVERPOST, 1/21).
The DENVER POST reports that X Game attendees “tend to keep a tighter rein on theirspending than the typical Aspen visitor, but they are still expected to pump anestimated [$10-15M] into the local economy” (DENVERPOST, 1/23).
ALL OUTSIDE BIDS FOR ASSETS OF BANKRUPT CART DUE THIS MORNING
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that all outside bids for theassets of CART are due today at 9:30am CT. IRL President Tony George yesterday made a “substantial bid” forsome of the assets. Grand American RoadRacing Series President Roger Edmondson said that his group is“considering a last-minute bid” (INDIANAPOLISSTAR, 1/23).
The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL notes that Open Wheel RacingSeries, which consists of three CART team owners, has made the only otherbid. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank Otte is “expected to render his finaldecision on who gets to own the CART pieces by Wednesday” (LASVEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/23).
BRUCE RATNER EXPECTED TO SIGN CONTRACT TODAY TO BUY NETS
NEWSDAY reports that Bruce Ratner’s $300M deal topurchase the Nets is “expected to closetoday, when Ratner signs the contract.” First, the 15-member YankeeeNets BOD will vote on the sale during an11:00am ET conference call. A simplemajority is “needed, and the vote is expected to be a formality.” As soon as possible, Ratner’s group, whichincludes Nets Principal Owner Lewis Katz, will “enter a new round ofnegotiations – with city and state officials and lenders” (NEWSDAY,1/23).
LAWYERS FOR FRANK McCOURT, NEWS CORP. COMPLETE REVISIONS
The L.A. TIMES reports that lawyers for News Corp. andprospective Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt yesterday completed work on“revisions in the purchase agreement.” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will“probably discuss the revised agreement with his ownership committee andexecutive council by phone on Tuesday, after which it is expected to go to theowners with the committee’s endorsement for a conference call vote on Thursday”(L.A.TIMES, 1/23).
VIACOM-ECHOSTAR HEARING DELAYED TO AVOID SUPER BOWL CONFLICT
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that a federal court yesterday“pushed back the date of apreliminary injunction hearing in the network carriage dispute” between Viacomand EchoStar Communications “so that it will now happen after the Super Bowl,”which Viacom’s CBS will broadcast February 1. With today’s scheduled hearing delayed, a “temporary restraining orderthat EchoStar won against Viacom late last week to keep the conglomerate fromstopping transmission of its broadcast and cable networks via EchoStar willstay in effect until March 3” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 1/23).
EAGLE COUNTY COURT WILL NOT HEIGHTEN SECURITY FOR KOBE
Kobe Bryant will appear in Eagle County, CO, courttoday for a pretrial hearing in his sexual assault case, and the L.A. TIMESreports that despite “concerns about threats against [him], there will be nomajor changes in security at the courthouse.” A source said two weeks ago that “recent and credible” threats had beenmade against Bryant, and that his security team “had requested changes toprocedures in and around the courthouse.” Much of today’s hearing “will be closed to the public” (L.A.TIMES, 1/23).
MORNING BRIEFS
The WASHINGTON POST reports that the Capitals and Rangers“have made considerable progress in negotiations that would send” Capitals RW JaromirJagr to the Rangers. The Rangerswanted Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis to “assume nearly half of theremainder of the contract – four more guaranteed seasons worth $44[M] – butsources said the Capitals would take on a far smaller figure” (WASHINGTONPOST, 1/23).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that MLS today is expected toannounce that its teams “will be forced to greatly accelerate theirforeign-player-acquisition plans due to a new FIFA-mandated March 1 transferdeadline.” This is the “first time inits nine-year history [that] MLS must restrict itself to a transfer windowsimilar to what European clubs follow” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 1/23).
CBS SportsLine reported that the Big Ten “will ask the NCAAfootball rules committee next month to allow instant replay on an experimentalbasis for the 2004 season” (CBS SportsLine,1/22).
The AP reported that ESPN NHL analyst Barry Melroseis part of an ownership group buying the UHL Adirondack Ice Hawks. The sale of the “financially troubled teamwill be announced [today]” (AP, 1/22).
The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that Texas ChristianUniv. “will accept an invitation next week to join the Mountain West Conferencebeginning in the 2005-06 school year.” The school’s athletic committee is “expected to make its recommendationto the board of trustees” January 30 (FT. WORTHSTAR-TELEGRAM, 1/23).
The ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH notes that MLB Cardinals managerTony La Russa and three passengers were “uninjured after their planeskidded off a snowy Colorado runway” on Wednesday (ST.LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/23).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ESPN's Tony Kornheiser, on Giants QB Jesse Palmerstarring in the next run of ABC’s “The Bachelor”: “I know they’re going to put25 hot babes in front of him and let him pick, but shouldn’t an NFL quarterbackbe able to get his own women without some phony-bologna bevy of beautiesscooped up from the streets of L.A.? Isn’t this bad for the NFL?” ESPN’s Michael Wilbon: “I think the NFL loves this because theNFL, unlike your boy Bud’s league, understands how to market itself” ("PTI,"ESPN, 1/22).
The L.A. TIMES reports that Belichick the horse, named afterthe Patriots coach, yesterday ran third in an allowance race that was won byParhelion at Gulfstream Park (L.A.TIMES, 1/23).
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 Marlins willvisit with President Bush at the White House, and the AP reported thatFlorida Gov. Jeb Bush will “join the team in the East Room in acontinuation of the President’s tradition of welcoming sports champions” (AP, 1/22).
The NFL Experiencebegins at 3:00pm CT at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, andthe HOUSTON CHRONICLE notes that the theme park spreads “over more than 800,000square feet,” and features more than 50 interactive games and activities. Last year’s event in San Diego drew about175,000 people over six days (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 1/23).
The Philadelphia chapter of the National Sports MarketingNetwork will host an 8:00am ET panel discussion, “The Business Of Hockey,” atWachovia Center. The panel includes Wendy’s Field Marketing Manager BobBechtold, NHL VP/Strategic Development Susan Cohig, Clemens FamilyMarkets Dir of Marketing Mark Clemens, AHL Philadelphia Phantoms VP JimGarino and Flyers VP/Marketing & Communications Shawn Tilger.
The Randall’s IslandSports Foundation will host an 8:00am ET breakfast celebration to salute thetrack & field history of Randall’s Island Park.
Giants DE MichaelStrahan will attend a noon ET ribbon-cutting ceremony to launch the newestWalgreens’ store in Manhattan.
The San Antonio LocalOrganizing Committee for the ’04 NCAA Final Four will host a 2:00pm CT newsconference at the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce River Walk Patio tolaunch its Host City campaign.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a videoclip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through thecracks. This week, following President Bush’s call for the banishmentof steroids, Jon Stewart of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” findsone “Senator” who does not agree with the President’s sentiments (THEDAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. POST reports that Fox’ “American Idol” drew 29.4million viewers Wednesday night, compared to 12.3 million for NBC’s “TheApprentice,” which aired in the same time slot. NBC “moved quickly yesterday to save the ‘The Apprentice,’ bymoving it to Thursday nights at [9:00pm ET] starting next week” (N.Y.POST, 1/23).
The WASHINGTON POSTreports that Savvis Communications “beat out six other bidders yesterday,including XO Communications, to buy the assets of Cable & Wireless USA andits sister Internet company out of bankruptcy in a deal worth $167.5[M]” (WASHINGTONPOST, 1/23).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “TechnologyFirsts.”
“In 1923, the Zeiss Unit seen here was placed under a dometo create the first modern one of these.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “Today is the first day of theChinese New Year. Dick Clark wason the roof of the Shun Lee Palace. It’s the year of the monkey and in honor of the year of the monkey, thespecial at Rupert G’s Hello Deli right around the corner is Kung PowChimp. ... Howard Dean was at a rally up there in New Hampshire andsomebody was heckling him, so here’s what he did. He started to sing the National Anthem, and then he followed upwith ‘When A Man Loves A Woman.’ ... I’m starting to worry about HowardDean. Earlier tonight, he was debating DennisKucinich and he head-butted him. ... I really believe this about HowardDean. I think we’re about a day awayfrom him announcing that he’s addicted to painkillers” ("LateShow," CBS, 1/22).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Ben and J.Lo havebroken up, ladies and gentlemen. Iguess the final straw was Ben finally told her, ‘Yes, your ass does look big inthose pants.’ ... I had a nightmare last night. I woke up, I was sweating. I dreamed that Howard Dean had somehow gotten a hold of a weapon of massdestruction. ... Democratic candidate Wesley Clark revealed this weekthat he got $500,000 last year lobbying the Bush administration for asecurity software firm. Do you knowwhat you call a Democrat who makes $500,000 lobbying the Bushadministration? A Republican! ... Inhis speech [Tuesday night], President Bush asked Congress to preserve theinstitution of marriage. You know,asking a bunch of congressman to preserve marriage is like asking MichaelJackson to help with the ‘Leave No Child Behind’ program” ("TheTonight Show," NBC, 1/22).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Ways I, Howard Dean,Can Turn Things Around,” read by Howard Dean ("Late Show," CBS,1/22).
| 10) “Switch to decaf.” |
| 9) “Unveil a new slogan: ‘Vote for Dean and get one dollar off your next purchase at Blimpie.’” |
| 8) “Marry Rachel on the final episode of ‘Friends.’” |
| 7) “Don’t change a thing – it’s going great.” |
| 6) “Show a little more skin.” |
| 5) “Go on ‘American Idol’ and give ‘em a taste of these pipes.” |
| 4) “Start working out and speaking with an Austrian accent.” |
| 3) “I can’t give specifics yet, but it involves Ted Danson.” |
| 2) “Fire the staffer who suggested that we do this lousy Top Ten list instead of actually campaigning.” |
| 1) “Oh, I don’t know – maybe fewer crazy, red-faced rants?” |
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Raiders head coaching search | Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski; Silver Anniversary ACC team |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Duke-Maryland men’s basketball | Terrell Owens to Eagles?; state of the Raiders |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | UNC-Florida State men’s basketball | UCLA-Stanford; Kings-Cavaliers |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Panthers CB Ricky Manning | Jaguars QB Byron Leftwich; eating contest |
| Comcast Mid-Atlantic | “SportsNite” | Capitals RW Jaromir Jagr | NHL All-Star Game; Capitals G Olaf Kolzig |
| MSG | “SportsDesk” | Flyers-Rangers, | Jaromir Jagr; Flyers trading for D Mattias Timander |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is a planetarium?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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