| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, Febuary 18, 2004
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Jury Deliberations Continue Today In Broncos Case After One Claim Is Dropped |
| • | MLS Burn To Host Official Groundbreaking Ceremony Today For New Stadium |
| • | Jaguars Owner, Jacksonville Mayor Today To Discuss Alltel Stadium Upgrades |
| • | Katzenberg, Burnett Pitching Unscripted Series Around Aspiring Boxers |
| • | Reebok To Become Official Footwear Supplier For MLB Authentic Collection |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
JURY DELIBERATIONS CONTINUE TODAY IN BRONCOS OWNERSHIP CASE
The DENVER POST reports that the jury in the trial pitting former Broncos Owner EdgarKaiser against current Owner Pat Bowlen will “continue deliberationstoday, but with one less charge to consider. U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch compelled Kaiser’s lawyers todrop a claim that Bowlen fraudulently induced Kaiser in 1984 to sell theBroncos football team to him under false pretenses.” The jury began considering the case yesterday “after hearingclosing arguments. … They broke after two hours of deliberation with plans toreconvene today” (DENVERPOST, 2/18).
BURN TO HOST OFFICIAL STADIUM GROUNDBREAKING TODAY
The MLS Burn will host the official groundbreaking ceremonyfor the new Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center in Frisco, TX, from11:00am-1:00pm CT. Hunt Sports Groupwill develop the 115-acre facility, which will feature a 20,000-plus-seatsoccer stadium and 17 full-sized tournament grade soccer fields. Over 300 guests, including MLS Commissioner DonGarber, Burn Investor/Operator Lamar Hunt, Hunt Sports GroupPresident John Wagner and Burn President & GM Greg Elliott,will attend the event (Burn).
JAGUARS OWNER TO DISCUSS ALLTEL UPGRADES TODAY WITH MAYOR
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that Jaguars Owner WayneWeaver and Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton will meet today to discussproposed improvements to Alltel Stadium and “work out ways to finance theproject.” Since the Super Bowl “wasawarded to Jacksonville in 2000, more than $47[M] has been used on improvementsto the stadium, at the Jaguars’ request. A quarter of the money has come from taxpayers.” Further renovations include “two new scoreboards, club and suiterenovations, large-scale painting, replacing furniture, and carpet and wallhangings” (FLORIDATIMES-UNION, 2/18).
KATZENBERG, BURNETT PITCHING ASPIRING BOXER REALITY SKEIN
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that DreamWorks co-Founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and “Survivor” producer MarkBurnett today will pitch an “unscripted series revolving around aspiringboxers” to NBC and ABC, after pitching the idea yesterday to Fox and CBS. The duo has also “recruited SylvesterStallone as an executive producer who would lend the show some on-airpresence.” The show “would have a‘Survivor’-esque elimination-style competition element” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 2/18).
MORNING BRIEFS
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that ’03 advertising for ABC,CBS and NBC totaled $10.4B, down from $10.5B in ’02. The largest “drag on full-year results came from the sportscategory, down by 30% for the year. That category had virtually impossible comparisons, though, as 2002 wasup by 30% from 2001 largely on the strength of advertising for the WinterOlympics” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 2/18).
MLB yesterday announced a multiyear licensing agreement withReebok, which becomes the MLB Authentic Collection official supplier offootwear. The Reebok MLB AuthenticCollection product line will feature the MLB logo and will be exclusivelypromoted and marketed by Reebok (MLB).
The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that the Memphis CityCouncil yesterday voted 12-0 to reject a proposal to give the Univ. of Memphis$125,000 annually “over 20 years if the Tigers basketball team relocates” toFedExForum (MemphisCOMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/18).
The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports that NJ officials andrepresentatives from Atlantic City’s casino industry are “close to a deal thatwould keep slot machines out of racetracks in New Jersey for the next fouryears” (NewarkSTAR-LEDGER, 2/18).
The AP reports that a “record 44[%] of athletes at theAthens Olympics will be women, and the IOC expects an equal number of men andwomen to compete in the Games within a decade” (AP, 2/18).
USA TODAY reports that ESPN and CBS have decided not to“drop telecasts of the suspension-racked St. John’s men’s basketballteam.” ESPN will air the school’sFebruary 24 game against UConn, while CBS will air the March 6 contest againstNotre Dame (USATODAY, 2/18).
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 | N.Y. Daily News |
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Philadelphia Daily News |
TODAY’S EVENTS
Fox Sports will conduct a 1:00pm ET media conference call topreview the Subway 400, the “NASCAR on Fox” season premiere. Fox Sports TV Group Chair David Hilland “NASCAR on Fox” analysts Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds willparticipate.
Southwest Casino & Hotel will present its plans for ahorseracing track near Forest Lake to the Minnesota Racing Commission andannounce it is partnering with West Virginia-based Mountaineer Gaming in theproposal. The partnership will“eliminate a major question aboutfinancing for the $30[M] facility that would offer live harness racing 50 daysa year” (ST. PAULPIONEER PRESS, 2/18).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that AOL Exec VP/Brand Marketing LenShort is “stepping down after 13 months.” Senior VP/Promotions Richard Taylor, who becomes Senior VP/BrandAdvertising & Promotions, will assume Short’s duties (N.Y. TIMES,2/18).
The L.A. TIMES reports that Walt Disney has “sealed a deal,valued at about $90[M], to acquire the Muppets” from Jim Henson Co. Execs from both companies yesterday saidthat the acquisition “had nothing to do with Comcast’s unsolicited bid forDisney last week” (L.A.TIMES, 2/18).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that the U.S. Court of Appeals forthe Tenth Circuit in Denver upheld the government’s right to “help peopleshield themselves from unwanted telemarketing calls” by ruling that thedo-not-call registry created last fall “prevents the invasion of consumerprivacy” (N.Y.TIMES, 2/18).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “OlympicCities.”
“It’s the only national capital city in the Americas to havehosted the Olympic Games.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “I had a great Valentine’s Day and maybe you heard aboutthis. I’m engaged to Star Jones.... Good news for Yankee fans. AlexRodriguez is coming to New York City from the Texas Rangers. I thought this was a pretty good sign: PeteRose is already betting on the Yankees. ... Alex Rodriguez is the highestpaid player in baseball at $252[M]. That’s amazing. That kind ofmoney could buy us another day in Iraq. ... I think it’s nice to hear about a$252[M] contract that doesn’t involve Haliburton. ... Alex Rodriguez is friendswith Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, and now that they’re both in town,they’ve been going around to all the New York City hot spots. As a matter of fact, this morning they hadfront rows seats at the Martha Stewart trial. ... The hookers in TimesSquare – they’re always looking for a new angle – have their Alex Rodriguezspecial. For $5, they’ll let you get tothird base” ("Late Show," CBS, 2/17).
NBC’sJay Leno: “Earlier today, President Bush spent some time withNational Guard troops in Louisiana. Infact, when Bush arrived, the commanding officer said, ‘Hey, you’re a littlelate!’ ... Did you see who’s campaigning with John Kerry? Ted Kennedy. Imagine those two giant heads coming downthe street together. It must look likethe Macy’s Day parade. ... Since it’s an election year, there’s a lot of talkabout President Bush spending $87[B] to ensure victory for our men inuniform. I’m sorry, that’s GeorgeSteinbrenner buying players for the Yankees. ... Star Jones got engaged atthe All-Star Game on Sunday. ... When I first saw that huge diamond, I thought,‘Oh my God, Kobe must have cheated on her too.’ ... How many peoplewatched that stupid show, ‘The Littlest Groom?’ ... It has 12 female littlepeople competing for a little groom. Ididn’t even know Doug Flutie was dating again” ("The TonightShow," NBC, 2/17).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Good Things AboutBeing Named George W. Bush,” read on-stage by a guy named George W. Bush("Late Show," CBS, 2/17).
| 10) “Read my lips: I never pay taxes.” |
| 9) “I receive a courtesy call whenever Cheney has a heart attack.” |
| 8) “I always get Presidential Suite at Motel 6 in downtown Cleveland.” |
| 7) “After sex, my wife hums ‘Hail To The Chief.’” |
| 6) “Whenever I get bored, I call the Texas Department of Corrections and have them execute a guy.” |
| 5) “Last week, I used an improperly addressed Haliburton contribution to buy myself a trampoline.” |
| 4) “I’ve been cleaning up on Denny’s ‘Presidents Eat Free’ promotion.” |
| 3) “Amusing late night phone calls from a drunk Tony Blair.” |
| 2) “People are pleasantly surprised that I’m not an idiot.” |
| 1) “The President offered me ten grand for a copy of my military record.” |
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “Today, ladies and gentlemen, inLouisiana, President Bush met with over 15,000 National Guard troops. Here’s the weird part. Nobody remembers seeing him there. … HowardDean says that if he drops out, he’ll go back to being a doctor. How’d you like to be the first guy he makesturn and cough? … A-Rod is now a Yankee. The Boston Red Sox are now angry that Alex Rodriguez did not sign withthem. I just want to say right now tothe Red Sox that I have total confidence that you guys can choke on your own” (“TheLate Late Show,” CBS, 2/17).
TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez | Free agent P Greg Maddux; Pistons trading for Rasheed Wallace? |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Yankees’ World Series chances | Greg Maddux; Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Yankees introduce Alex Rodriguez | Greg Maddux; Kings F Chris Webber suspended |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Rangers-Yankees trade | Interview w/ Yankees RF Gary Sheffield; Rangers Owner Tom Hicks |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Rangers-Yankees trade | Celtics-Kings; Bruins-Maple Leafs |
| FSN | “Southern Sports Report” | Rangers-Yankees trade | Greg Maddux; NASCAR driver Dale Jarrett |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Mexico City?”
If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
TheMorning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Mondaythrough Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for ane-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.
