| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, March 5, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Prosecutors Issue New Subpoenas In BALCO Case For Seven MLBers’ Tests |
| • | Dodgers President Bob Graziano, Exec VP/Business Affairs Kris Rone Resign |
| • | Univ. Of Colorado WR Jeremy Bloom Puts Eligibility At Risk With Endorsements |
| • | NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Seeking To Resume Talks With NHLPA |
| • | In Case You Missed It: Jerry Van Dyke Tries To Recall Jeanie Buss Encounter |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NEW BALCO SUBPOENAS REQUEST ONLY SEVEN PLAYERS’ TESTS
The AP reported that the BALCO federal grand jury yesterday “withdrew subpoenas issued to the two agencies used by [MLB] – Comprehensive Drug Testing of Long Beach, and Quest Diagnostics of Teterboro, NJ – and issued new ones.” MLBPA COO Gene Orza said the subpoenas “are narrower in scope, with a return date of April 8.” Officials of the commissioner’s office and the union suggested that the subpoenas “could be limited to the tests of those involved in the inquiry” (AP, 3/4).
The L.A. TIMES reports that the announcement of the new subpoenas is expected to come today or Monday. The decision by prosecutors “does not mean they will receive the test results of the seven players,” as the MLBPA may “continue the effort to have none of the results released” (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).
ATTORNEY FILES SUIT ACCUSING NFL, TEAMS OF ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS
The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that attorney William Helzlsouer late yesterday filed a 23-page lawsuit in U.S. District Court on behalf of Robert Warnock, who “opposed the plan to build Heinz Field and PNC Park partly with public money.” The NFL and its 32 teams are named as defendants, which claims that NFL antitrust violations have “enabled teams to extract huge subsidies from governments to build new stadiums.” Helzlsouer and Warnock are “asking a federal judge to void the Steelers’ Heinz Field lease and to award damages in excess of $200[M] against the NFL and its teams” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/5).
DODGERLAND REVOLVING DOOR: GRAZIANO, RONE OUT; MIKE DEE IN
The L.A. TIMES reports that Bob Graziano “for the first time Thursday revealed that he has resigned” as Dodgers President, and new Owner Frank McCourt has “already selected” Red Sox Exec VP/Business Affairs Mike Dee to replace him. The news came on the same day that Dodgers Exec VP/Business Operations Kris Rone “resigned because of philosophical differences with the McCourts” (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).
JEREMY BLOOM PUTS ELIGIBILITY AT RISK WITH ENDORSEMENT DEALS
The ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS reports that Jeremy Bloom has his “first two ski-related endorsements” with U.S. Ski team sponsors Under Armour and Bolle eyewear. By signing the deals, Bloom “further challenges the NCAA, which he said would have to prevent him from returning this fall for a third season as [Univ. of Colorado WR]. NCAA rules have prohibited him from accepting endorsement revenue while playing football for the past two seasons” (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 3/5).
XPRS-AM TO BROADCAST FIRST PADRES GAME TODAY AGAINST ANGELS
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE notes that XPRS-AM today “will broadcast its first Padres game” as the club faces the Angels at 1:05pm MT at Tempe Diablo Stadium in Tempe, AZ. The station has “committed about $18[M] in rights and promotional fees to the Padres over the next four seasons, and the station likely will incur about $1[M] a year in production costs.” Clear Channel Communications “lost several million dollars while paying the Padres an average of $5[M] over the past four seasons to carry the games on KOGO-AM.” President John Lynch, Presidentof XPRS operator Broadcast Company of the Americas, said the station is “budgeted to break even (on the Padres), and I intend to make money on it” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 3/5).
MORNING BRIEFS
The L.A. TIMES reports that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman “sent a letter to [NHLPA Exec Dir] Bob Goodenow this week, formally requesting a resumption of collective bargaining talks, which stalled after an October 1 session ended in acrimony.” NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly said that he “expected Bettman and Goodenow to speak soon and set up a meeting” (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).
The DENVER POST reports that retiring U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) yesterday said that he “would consider taking a board position” at the USOC. The USOC’s current 123-member BOD “soon will be swept clean and slashed to 11 seats” (DENVER POST, 3/5).
The BOSTON HERALD reports that arbiter Roger Kaplan will not rule on Vin Baker’s availability “until a hearing in [N.Y.] on Monday,” when a date for arbitration between Baker and the Celtics will be set (BOSTON HERALD, 3/5).
Univ. of Pittsburgh AD Jeff Long, on a proposed national championship football game that would be played following the BCS games: “It has been reported that what we call the plus-one is now off the table; I don't believe that to be true. There still will be discussions about the plus-one game, which would occur after the five bowl games, pitting a new No. 1 and 2 against each other” (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 3/5).
The CALGARY SUN reports that a Calgary businessman “reportedly met with [CFL Stampeders] Owner Michael Feterik 10 days ago in California and is preparing to bid” US$4.9M for the club. The deal is “expected to close within two weeks” (CALGARY SUN, 3/5).
BLOODHORSE.com reports that the gaming room at Saratoga Gaming & Raceway “handled $82[M] and provided net earnings of $6.3[M]” from January 28-March 1. In accordance with state law, 61% of the revenue went towards education, and the first month of operation “provided $3.8[M] for the New York school system,” while tracks and horsemen “earned just over $1.8[M]” (BLOODHORSE.com, 3/5).
U.S. women’s national team members Mia Hamm and Michelle Akers yesterday were named to “The FIFA 100,” a list commemorating the 100 greatest living soccer players. Hamm and Akers are the only women and only U.S. players on the list (US Soccer).
ATTENDANCE WATCH:
- USA TODAY reports that a “sellout crowd of 8,205” attended the inaugural exhibition opener at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, FL, where the Phillies defeated the Yankees 5-1 (USA TODAY, 3/5).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
TNT's Charles Barkley, on the easy test given by Jim Harrick Jr. in a basketball class at the Univ. of Georgia: "ESPN always does stuff to make me mad. They're doing this thing on sex and sports how sports athletes do everything wrong in sports. We're the only people that are having sex. If they really want to make a difference and stop trying to sensationalize stuff, they should do a report on academics because all these colleges – not all of them but most of them – are frauds.” TNT's Ernie Johnson: "I'm sure they're all taking notes in Bristol" (TNT, 3/4).
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that the “latest for the discerning motorsports fan who wants to bring the delicate aroma of the race track into the home” is the Cooper Tires’ “burning rubber-scented candle. The candle is shaped like a tire, with the wick located in the middle” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/5).
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 |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Marlins will raise their ’03 World Series Championship banner during a pregame ceremony at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, FL, where the club will host the Orioles at 1:05pm ET. Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria will “throw out the first pitch after he unveils the design of the World Series ring.” More than 5,000 tickets have been sold for the game, a significant increase from the 2,219 in attendance during the club’s inaugural game at the facility last year (PALM BEACH POST, 3/5).
The L.A. TIMES reports that WTA Tour player Maria Sharapova will appear at a luncheon at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA, to promote the July 26-August 1 Acura Classic (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).
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, Jimmy Hughes’ Mike O’Malley character on CBS’ “Yes, Dear” takes his dad, played by Jerry Van Dyke, to a Lakers game at Staples Center, where the pair is introduced to Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss (THE DAILY).
IN OTHER NEWS….
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that former FSN Exec VP/Marketing Neal Tiles has been named DirecTV Exec VP/Marketing. Tiles will “oversee all advertising, creative services, brand management and on-air promotions strategy and initiatives” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/5).
The L.A. TIMES notes that TiVo yesterday reported a “narrower loss for the quarter ended January 31, aided by an 85% increase in revenue and significantly faster growth in subscriptions.” The company lost $12.4M on revenue of $42.6M in Q4, compared with a loss of $32.5M on revenue of $23M in the same period a year earlier. TiVo also “announced plans for a $50[M] increase in spending on rebates and promotions to lure more subscribers, predicting that the effort would more than double its customer base within 12 months” (L.A. TIMES, 3/5).
The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that PepsiCo’s U.S. market share “edged upward 0.4 points” in ’03 to reach 31.8% of the market, the company’s “highest total in 12 years, according to Beverage Digest/Maxwell.” PepsiCo’s Sierra Mist brand “gained a spot in the U.S. top 10,” jumping to No. 9 (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/5).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Famous Lasts.”
“In July 2003 the last old-style one of these rolled off an assembly line in Mexico, headed for a museum in Germany.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS' David Letterman: "Have you folks seen the new Mel Gibson movie? One more Happy Meal and I have the entire set of Apostles. ... McDonald's french fries have now been reduced from 610 calories to 540 calories because people were complaining that they were promoting obesity. ... That's like reducing the current on the electric chair by ten volts. McDonald's is being very defensive about these accusations and they deny that there is anything unhealthy about eating at McDonald's. They say customers get a great cardio workout at the ketchup pump. ... The Bush campaign for re-election has officially begun. They're actually running television commercials. ... In one of the commercials you see George Bush for 30 seconds. In another commercial you get to see George Bush for 60 seconds. Kind of like his stint in the National Guard. ... TBS is planning on having a new 'Gilligan's Island,' but it's going to be a reality show so they're looking for an actual millionaire, they're looking for a sexy movie star, they're looking for a fat guy and a naive farm girl, and I'm thinking, 'Hell, that's every night at Clinton's house'" ("Late Show," CBS, 3/4).
NBC's Jay Leno: "NASA says they have proof that parts of Mars were once submerged under water. If they can prove there was water on Mars that means it could have supported life. Of course, water doesn't always mean intelligent life. Remember 'Baywatch.' ... Did you see those shots of John Kerry throwing that football at the Atlanta airport before his flight? I didn't even know he was on Levitra. ... An assistant coach at the Univ. of Georgia taught a full credit class for the basketball players. He gave them a test and the big question was, 'How many points is a three-point shot worth?' I don't know who's more embarrassed, the university president, the coach or the six players that got the answer wrong? ... ESPN announced they are coming out with their own sports drink. Didn't that use to be called beer?" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 3/4).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear From A Guy In A Hotel," read by a "Late Show" staffer in a real hotel dressed as a hotel bellman ("Late Show," CBS, 3/4).
| 10) "The desk clerk is nuts, so whatever room number she gives you, add three." |
| 9) "I wrote you a note about halfway through your roll of toilet paper." |
| 8) "Meet me in the whirlpool in twenty minutes." |
| 7) "If you want a bellhop, press '1' on your phone, if you want a hooker, press '2'." |
| 6) "Ring this bell again, I'll burn your luggage." |
| 5) "Hey, could you go over to the Ramada and swipe us some towels?" |
| 4) "You know, every room has a hair dryer – how's that for ritzy?" |
| 3) "Are you the bastard that took my gin out of the minibar?" |
| 2) "You wanna see the pictures I took of you sleeping?" |
| 1) "Do you mind sharing your room with a monkey?" |
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Yao Ming & Shaquille O’Neal | Steroids in MLB; Redskins |
| ESPN | “PTI” | 49ers trade WR Terrell Owens to Ravens | Best men’s basketball team; Yao-Shaq |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Terrell Owens | Stanford-Washington State; Kings-76ers |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Jessica Simpson | Terrell Owens; Buccaneers trade Keyshawn Johnson to Cowboys |
| Comcast | “SportsNite” | Terrell Owens | Redskins free agent signings; Redskins RB Clinton Portis |
| MSG | “SportsDesk” | Islanders-Maple Leafs | Rangers-Bruins; Mets-Cardinals |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What was a Volkswagen Beetle?”
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