| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, Febuary 19, 2004
9:00am ET | |
| |
| • | Action Anticipated As NBA Trade Deadline Looms Today At 3:00pm ET |
| • | Annual NFL Scouting Combine Begins Today In Indianapolis With 337 Invitees |
| • | St. Paul Mayor To Argue Gift-Ban Violation Today Before State Court of Appeals |
| • | ESPN/ABC Sports Execs To Meet With ACC Today To Discuss TV Rights Deal |
| • | Colorado Football Coach Gary Barnett Put On Paid Administrative Leave |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
TRADES EXPECTED BEFORE NBA TRADE DEADLINE TODAY AT 3:00pm ET
The NBA trade deadline looms today at 3:00pm ET, and theTORONTO STAR reports that the “reason a lot of action is anticipated,especially involving Eastern Conference teams, is that the conference remainswide open. … And the teams clamoring at the bottom of the playoff ladder thinkthey can move up a few notches with the right deal.” In the Western Conference, the “key to trades is to clear caproom, pure and simple, to take a run at free-agent-to-be Kobe Bryant” (TORONTOSTAR, 2/19).
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE BEGINS TODAY WITH CLARETT, 336 OTHERS
The annual NFL scouting combine begins today inIndianapolis, and USA TODAY notes that the six-day event includes “physicalexams, workouts, IQ tests and just-trying-to-get-to-know-you interviews.” Despite the presence of several potentialtop draft picks, the “most poked-and-prodded prospect likely will be” suspendedOhio State RB Maurice Clarett. The combine has extended 337 invitations: 21 QBs, 29 RBs, 50 WRs, 19TEs, 53 OL, 60 DL, 38 LBs, 56 DBs and 11 kickers (USA TODAY, 2/19).
USA TODAY also notes that the combine is “opening its doorsfor the first time, however briefly, to television viewers with access to thefledgling NFL Network, which, beginning Friday, will have a one-hour show onthe day’s activities” (USA TODAY, 2/19).
ST. PAUL MAYOR TO APPEAL GIFT-BAN VIOLATION TODAY IN COURT
The Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE reported that St. Paul Mayor RandyKelly will “take his fight over a gift-ban violation to the Minnesota Courtof Appeals [today], arguing that his trip to a playoff game with … Wildofficials last year should be considered city business.” The Campaign Finance & Public DisclosureBoard ruled in June that Kelly violated state law when he flew to Denver andwatched a Wild game from a luxury suite. Kelly flew to the game on a private plane owned by Wild co-Owner Dr.Glen Nelson. Kelly has “defendedthe trip, saying he was meeting with [NHL] officials and laying the groundworkfor the NHL All-Star Game” (Minneapolis STARTRIBUNE, 2/18).
ESPN/ABC SPORTS EXECS TO MEET WITH ACC ABOUT TV RIGHTS DEAL
ESPN/ABC Sports execs are scheduled to meet with ACCofficials in Greensboro today and tomorrow to finalize a previouslyreported TV rights deal, and MULTICHANNEL NEWS noted that the pact, “whichcould be valued in excess of $250[M], would extend through 2010 and supersedean existing agreement covering the 2004 and 2005 seasons.” IMG is handling negotiations for the ACC (MULTICHANNELNEWS, 2/16).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
What league exec strives to combine the Nordstrom servicemodel with a Wal-Mart cost mentality to deliver an entertaining product to hisfans? To find out, please see theSports Industrialists section in today’s issue of The Daily.
MORNING BRIEFS
The DENVER POST reports that Univ. of Colorado President Betsy Hoffman “put football coach GaryBarnett on paid administrative leave Wednesday night, saying she was‘utterly distressed’ by a police report that describes Barnett as siding ‘100percent’ with a player accused of rape” (DENVERPOST, 2/19).
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that attorneys for theRockets, Astros and FSN were ordered yesterday to “begin mediation in an effortto settle their legal battle over the Astros’ efforts to move their games in2006 to a new regional sports network in partnership with the Rockets.” An April 5 trial is scheduled for the case (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 2/19).
NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw yesterday said that theNFL this week will announce the ’04 salary cap “has been set at around $80.5[M]per team” (SI.com,2/18).
The DENVER POST reports that the jury in the trial of former Broncos Owner EdgarKaiser’s claims against current Owner Pat Bowlen will reconvenetoday “minus one juror. That juror …missed the jury’s deliberations [yesterday] because of an illness and will notreturn. The jury will continue with 11members” (DENVERPOST, 2/19).
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that construction ofPetco Park is complete and “more than 200 people, most of them constructionworkers, attended a ceremony and barbecue on Petco Park’s main concourseyesterday to celebrate. Mayor DickMurphy handed Padres Owner John Moores a certificate of occupancy” (SANDIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/19).
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that Jacksonville Mayor JohnPeyton yesterday agreed to “support using $15[M] from the city sportscomplex trust fund for additional improvements” to Alltel Stadium in advance ofSuper Bowl XXXIX (FLORIDATIMES-UNION, 2/19).
The L.A. TIMES reports that AEG yesterday submitted a bid tothe USTA to host the April 9-11 Sweden-U.S. Davis Cup quarterfinal matches atThe Home Depot Center in Carson, CA (L.A.TIMES, 2/19).
BLOOMBERG NEWS reports that a N.Y. jury yesterday decidedthat ESPN did not “violate a contract with an Indian distributor [ModiEnterprises] of the sports cable channel and doesn’t owe $231[M] in damages” (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 2/19).
Yankees RF Gary Sheffield, on being named in a BALCOaffidavit: “I was surprised, of course, but I have no comment otherwise. It’s nothing even to worry about” (Mult.,2/19).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The N.Y. POST reports that Mets fan Antonio Rodriguez,whose license plate reads “A-Rod,” said that he would not give up the licenseplate even if new Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez “personally signed thecheck.” Antonio Rodriguez: “I can’tthink of how much he could offer me – it would have to be more than$20,000. You can tell him they’re hisfor free if he played for the Mets” (N.Y. POST, 2/19).
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
AFL Philadelphia Soul President & ESPN NFL analyst RonJaworski will deliver the keynote address at a Philadelphia Chapter of theNational Sports Marketing Network breakfast meeting at 8:00am ET at WachoviaCenter.
Bobcats & WNBA Sting Owner Bob Johnson will hostan 11:00am ET press conference at the Charlotte Coliseum Crown Club to make anevent announcement.
ESPN will host a 1:30pm ET conference call to discuss “DreamJob.” ESPN Original EntertainmentSenior Coordinating Producer Mike Antinoro and “Dream Job” host StuartScott, as well as ESPN VP/Talent Negotiation & Production Recruitment AlJaffe and ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” co-host Kit Hoover – both of whom are“Dream Job” judges – are scheduled to participate.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Toyota has “agreed to become thefirst exclusive automotive sponsor on eBay” in a deal that promotes Toyotaautomobiles on “special eBay pages and in online charity auctions.” The agreement lasts through December (N.Y. TIMES,2/19).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Politics.”
“On July 16, 1790 Congress created this area and some of itsresidents think that by now it should be a state.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ DavidLetterman: “It’s cold again here in New York City. ... Here’s what I dowhen it’s this cold. I warm my handsusing recently discharged shell casings. ... New York City is still excitedabout the big Alex Rodriguez trade. He’s the best player in baseball and the highest paid player in baseballat $252[M]. ... But George Steinbrenner has made a promise. He says, ‘I don’t care what the price ofAlex Rodriguez is, I don’t care how much it costs, the price of Yankee Stadiumhot dogs will remain at $22.’ ... Things are actually looking pretty good for MarthaStewart. In fact, she’s alreadymaking place settings for her acquittal party. ... Howard Dean droppedout of the Presidential Democratic race ... and he gathered all his supportersthere in Wisconsin and he gave a moving, reflective, screaming, vein-poppingfarewell speech. At the end, HowardDean honestly was desperate for votes. Yesterday, he called a press conference to announce that he was planningon having an affair with an intern. ... There are rumors that President Bushhad cosmetic surgery on his nose. ... At least you can’t get impeached forgetting a nose job” ("Late Show," CBS, 2/18).
NBC’sJay Leno: “Howard Dean dropped out of the race today. At least he can’t claim his voice wasn’t heard. Political experts are calling Howard Dean’scampaign the biggest political collapse since Bob Dole ran out ofViagra. ... John Kerry has denied the rumor he had an affair with ayounger woman. It turns out the rumoris totally false. I mean anyone knowsJohn Kerry has always been attracted to older money. ... Over the weekend,President Bush attended the Daytona 500. It was reported in the paper that Bush was ‘warmly received’ by theracecar drivers. Well sure, they’venever met anyone who was sponsored by more oil companies than they were. ...Fifty-five year-old George Foreman says he wants to get back in the ringand fight again. Does Medicare coverthat? ... Don King says he and Foreman have reached a $20[M] verbalagreement. How many shots to the headdo you have to take before a verbal agreement with Don King sounds like a goodidea?” ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 2/18).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Good Things AboutBeing A New York Yankee,” read by Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner from thetop of the dugout steps at Legends Field in Tampa ("Late Show,"CBS, 2/18).
| 10) “With a player discount, a hot dog at Yankee Stadium is now only $50.” |
| 9) “Your bobblehead doll is a legal form of identification in New York state.” |
| 8) “With me there is very little pressure to win.” |
| 7) “Hideki Matsui can teach you to sing in Japanese.” |
| 6) “After every game, Yogi Berra gives you a complimentary foot massage.” |
| 5) “Our training facility in Tampa is one block from Hooters.” |
| 4) “Take it from the guy signing the checks – some of the players do OK for themselves.” |
| 3) “Pinstripes make your butt look slimmer.” |
| 2) “You get to meet all of Derek Jeter’s girlfriends.” |
| 1) “You think this A-Rod deal is good, huh – we’re about to sign Ty Cobb.” |
CNBC’s Dennis Miller: “Alex Rodriguez joined theYankees on Tuesday. In this case,vertical stripes made his wallet look fatter. A-Rod’s introduction was overshadowed by the Yankees announcement thatthey had reversed the aging process and were thawing out Ted Williams toplay left field” ("Dennis Miller," CNBC, 2/18).
CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “Tonight marks our 1,000thshow on the air, ladies and gentlemen. Think about that. 1,000shows. That’s almost 38 laughs. … It isour 1,000th show on CBS and in my parking space today, this is kindof nice. This morning I got here, abrand new Jaguar with a bow on it and a thank-you note from NBC. … Howard Deanhas dropped out of the race. Let’s faceit. He never recovered from thatunforgettable disaster in the beginning: Al Gore’s endorsement” (“TheLate Late Show,” CBS, 2/18).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Cubs sign Greg Maddux | 76ers G Allen Iverson; Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Univ. of Colorado football rape allegations | Allen Iverson; Greg Maddux |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Univ. of Colorado football rape allegations | Hawks-Nets; Mavericks-Cavaliers |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Allen Iverson | Lakers G Kobe Bryant; Free agent CB Charles Woodson |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Washington, DC?”
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