Morning Buzz, January 30, 2004

TAGLIABUE TO DELIVER STATE OF THE LEAGUE ADDRESS TODAY

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will deliver his annual State of the League address during an 11:30am CT news conference. For more, see today’s Closing Bell.

The DALLAS MORNING NEWS reports that the NFL “wants a firm but fan-friendly approach to protecting the game and surrounding events.” NFL VP/Security Milt Ahlerich: “It’s not about security. It’s about the game, and we’re doing everything we can to be sure the focus is on the game and a great experience for the fans.” Twenty-five federal, state and local organizations are assisting with security, and there is a “plan for calling out the National Guard, if necessary” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/30).

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that NFL investigators have “already seized about 1,000 counterfeit products in Houston this week that were peddled by two vendors.” NFL Intellectual Property attorney Paula Guibault said that there have been “no reports of fake tickets being sold yet, but that most ticket counterfeiters wouldn’t shop their products until the end of the week” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/30).

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson has been “staying at The Houstonian, perhaps Houston’s most exclusive hotel, all week. Apparently, he’s been impressed by the service. Richardson held a drawing to give away four Super Bowl tickets to the hotel’s employees” yesterday (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/30).

MLB OWNERS APPROVE FRANK McCOURT’S DODGERS PURCHASE

MLB’s 30 club owners yesterday unanimously approved Frank McCourt’s purchase of the Dodgers from News Corp., and the L.A. TIMES reports that in a “highly leveraged $430[M] deal that is expected to be completed next week, McCourt will assume control of the club and Dodger Stadium, as well as the Dodgertown training facility in Vero Beach, FL, and other properties.” A source said that News Corp. lent McCourt “more than one-third of the purchase price, … and will retain the equivalent of a 9% ownership stake” (L.A. TIMES, 1/30).

The L.A. TIMES also reports that McCourt said that there are “zero plans” to move out of Dodger Stadium, and that he “is committed to keeping the Dodgers in the top quarter of the payroll rankings.” McCourt added that he will “begin regular meetings with season-ticket holders today” (L.A. TIMES, 1/30).

LEEDS UNITED CEO SEEKING FUNDING BEFORE TODAY’S DEADLINE

English Premier League club Leeds United CEO Trevor Birch has until noon ET to “find [US$9.11M] to fund the club until the end of the season or secure a rescue bid.” If he is unsuccessful, the club would go into administration, the last step before bankruptcy (REUTERS, 1/29).

The AP noted that Leeds United players yesterday agreed to a “salary deferral to keep the cash-strapped club afloat until the end of the season.” Professional Footballers Association CEO Gordon Taylor said that the deferral was about 25%. Club management had “sought a deferral reported at between” 30-35% (AP, 1/29).

MORNING BRIEFS

FedEx runs a full-page ad in USA Today congratulating Colts QB Peyton Manning and Packers RB Ahman Green as winners of the FedEx Air And Ground NFL Players of the Year Awards, respectively (THE DAILY).

The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that under U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Frank Otte’s ruling, OWRS investors Gerald Forsythe, Kevin Kalkhoven and Paul Gentilozzi were given the opportunity to “take the remnants of [CART] and revitalize it under the Champ Car World Series banner.” All major announcements are being held off until the sale is completed February 12 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/30).

The PALM BEACH POST reports that the D’Rays yesterday declined comment on reports that N.Y. investor Stuart Sternberg “agreed to buy a large portion of the team’s shares” (PALM BEACH POST, 1/30).

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that Hockey Canada yesterday awarded the ’06 World Junior Hockey Championship to Vancouver yesterday (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/30).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that the N.Y. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chair Peter Kalikow yesterday pledged to “seek fair market value for the right to build a new arena for the … Nets over the agency’s sprawling Brooklyn rail yard.” City real estate experts said that the rights “probably are worth between [$30-100M], although opponents of the plan have pegged it as high as” $500M (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/30).

The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Colorado District Judge Terry Ruckriegle yesterday ruled that portions of a hearing “on a defense motion to exclude [Kobe Bryant’s] statements to police as evidence in his sexual assault trial will be closed to the public” (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 1/30).

The L.A. TIMES notes that Bryant was elected a Western Conference starter for the February 15 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center. Rockets C Yao Ming also was elected as a starter for the Western Conference, edging out Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal by roughly 31,000 votes (L.A. TIMES, 1/30).

DAILY VARIETY reports that Hilary Duff, Ashanti and Usher will be the musical headliners for “NBA All-Star Read to Achieve Celebration,” a one-hour special to air on 12 broadcast and cable networks. The special will take place at the L.A. Convention Center February 14, during NBA All-Star Weekend (DAILY VARIETY, 1/30).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that a 20-minute morning delay for frost did not “deter first-round leader Scott Verplank or the nearly record crowd of 71,796 fans” attending the opening round of the PGA Tour FBR Open at the TPC of Scottsdale. More than 100,000 are expected to attend today’s round (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/30).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that what started out as a “mild-mannered, low-key news conference touting CBS’ halftime show turned momentarily edgy and thoroughly entertaining [yesterday] afternoon when rap star P. Diddy challenged rock star Kid Rock to a $10,000 wager on Super Bowl XXXVIII.” When P. Diddy said that he was picking the Panthers to win, Kid Rock “interrupted Diddy by offering a wager.” Rock: “Just a friendly wager to make it interesting?” Diddy: “I’ll bet you $10,000 straight up right now” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 1/30).

The PHILADELHIA DAILY NEWS noted that the Wing Bowl, the “world’s most well-attended eating contest,” will be held today in Philadelphia. For the 12^th annual event, “20,000 people pack the Wachovia Center before dawn to drink beer, ogle scantily clad women and watch fat guys gorge on 7,000 chicken wings” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 1/29).

THE BACK PAGES

The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:

N.Y. Post	N.Y. Daily News

Philadelphia Daily News

TODAY’S EVENTS

FIFA will unveil its first set of commissioned coins at the World Money Fair in Basel, Switzerland. The coins represent Paris, FIFA’s birthplace; Switzerland, FIFA’s current HQs; Brazil, five-time World Cup winners; and Uruguay, host nation of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

Mountain West Conference Commissioner Craig Thompson will announce the invitation of Texas Christian Univ. to join the conference, and the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE notes that the invitation ends “months of speculation and [creates] a nine-member league that officials hope will be strong enough in football to earn a greater role” in the BCS (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/30).

The Stanley Cup and Keeper of the Cup will travel across Minnesota on a snowmobile. The four-day trek begins at the Hockey HOF in Toronto and ends at the Saint Paul RiverCentre on Tuesday.

The ‘04 Hockey Fights Cancer On-Line Charity Auction begins. The auction, in its fourth year, raises money for cancer research and children’s hospitals in North America. Auction items include everything from a chance to sit in the penalty box to ringing the buzzer after a goal has been scored.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..

Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, the remaining bachelors on ABC’s “The Bachelorette” took a trip to Arrowhead Pond where they attempted to score a goal on former Mighty Ducks G Guy Hebert. Also, take note of the dasherboard signage (THE DAILY).

Click Here To View Clip

IN OTHER NEWS….

The L.A. TIMES notes that despite “growing sales and a larger base of subscribers” RealNetworks yesterday reported a “wider quarterly loss due to lower profit margin and higher legal expenses.” The company lost $5.3M on revenue of $54.1M in Q4 ’03. Although the loss was “in line with analysts’ expectations, it was more than double the loss of $2.5[M]” in the same period a year earlier, despite a 17% gain in revenue (L.A. TIMES, 1/30).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that American Express and MBNA have “reached an agreement in which MBNA will issue a new series of credit cards under the American Express brand.” The move marks a “serious change in the competitive landscape of the credit card industry following an antitrust decision against Visa USA and MasterCard,” which found the two companies “wrong to ban member banks such as MBNA, a big Visa issuer, from also issuing cards under” rival brands (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/30).

The N.Y. TIMES reports that “Finding Nemo” producer Pixar Animation Studios “is ending talks on continuing its 12-year partnership with the Walt Disney Company and would seek another studio to distribute its films, beginning in 2006” (N.Y. TIMES, 1/30).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Mythology."

"They were the two parents of a son who ended up half man, half woman."

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

NBC's Jay Leno: "There are these rumors going around that Senator Kerry has had botox shots. Does anybody care? I think people care about whether Howard Dean has had all his distemper shots. There's now a rumor that Al Sharpton may have had breast reduction surgery. ... This has been a tough week for President Bush. Yesterday, the former U.S. chief weapons inspector David Kay testified before Congress about the weapons of mass destruction and he said, 'We were almost all wrong.' You never hear a politician say that. ... President Bush hasn't heard those words since he took his SATs. ... Vanity Fair has a report this month that claims Michael Jackson seduced young boys by giving them white wine in Coke cans which is called Jesus Juice, which is shocking because doesn't he endorse Pepsi? ... There's a new movie coming out called '50 First Dates.' It's all about Kobe Bryant calling room service" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 1/29).

THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who were Hermes and Aphrodite?"

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dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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