| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, April 2, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | ESPN To Stage Mock Trial Today To Examine Economic Model In MLB |
| • | Univ. Of Memphis Expected To Receive Approval Today To Play In FedExForum |
| • | Resolution Expected Today To Allow PCL Portland Beavers Back Into PGE Park |
| • | NBA To Stage “Basketball Without Borders” Camp On Three Continents In ‘04 |
| • | Nonscientific Survey Finds Final Four Ticket Packages Priced At $300 To $14,000 |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
ESPN TO STAGE MOCK TRIAL ON YANKEES’ SPENDING TODAY IN NJ
The N.Y. TIMES reported that ESPN today will stage a mocktrial in a Hackensack, NJ, courtroom to determine if a system that allows theYankees to outspend other teams is good for MLB. Alan Dershowitz will serve as prosecuting attorney, while BruceCutler will defend the Yankees. Court TV’s Catherine Crier will preside over the case. The mock trial’s producer, K2 Pictures, willselect the jury (N.Y.TIMES, 4/1).
ESPN will air the three-hour special, “Break up the Bombers:The Yankees on Trial,” Thursday, April 8 at 7:00pm ET. Announced witnesses include former Yankees Pand “Ball Four” author Jim Bouton, minor league baseball team Owner MikeVeeck and A’s GM Billy Beane (ESPN).
UNIV. OF MEMPHIS TO BE GRANTED RIGHT TO PLAY IN FEDEXFORUM
The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that the TennesseeBoard of Regents today is “all but certain to follow the lead of its committee”that yesterday decided to “take noaction to halt” the Univ. of Memphis’ lease to play men’s basketballgames at FedExForum. Under the 20-year contract, the Grizzlies“retain all concession rights during U of M games and plan to sell alcoholicbeverages.” The Regents agreed that thedeal “will not violate its existing policies forbidding the sale of alcohol atfacilities the board and its universities own or control, and that alcohol salesdo not pose a significant liability risk to the university” (MemphisCOMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/2).
RESOLUTION BETWEEN PORTLAND BEAVERS, PGE PARK EXPECTED TODAY
The Portland OREGONIAN reported that a news conference is anticipated for today toannounce a resolution to the Triple-A PCL Portland Beavers’ “ownership saga, inwhich the city locked the club out of PGE Park last week. After another meeting of the [PCL BOD]Wednesday, President Branch Rickey III was optimistic that a deal wouldget done” by today. Under the deal, theleague “would take over the team on an interim basis and transfer ownership toan out-of-town group.” However, asettlement has yet to be reached between the league and Portland FamilyEntertainment, which operates the ballpark (PortlandOREGONIAN, 4/1).
NBA TO HOST “BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS” ON THREE CONTINENTS
The NBA, together with the IBF, will stage its int’lbasketball and community relations outreach program, “Basketball WithoutBorders,” for the first time on three separate continents in ’04. The program will be held in Rio de JaneiroJune 28-July 3; Treviso, Italy, July 24-27; and Johannesburg, South Africa,September 6-10. Each program willfeature current and former NBAers (NBA).
DON CHERRY COULD BE ON THE MOVE FROM CBC TO ROGERS
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports with CBC hockey analystDon Cherry’s contract up at the end of the season, it is “viewed aspossible, even likely, that changes will be made.” A TV source, on the possibility of Cherry joining RogersSportsnet for Maple Leafs telecasts: “It’s a no-brainer if you ask me. If you’re going to pay [C$25M] annually forLeaf rights, what’s another half-million to sign the most popular guy in theCanadian sports media?” It is believed Cherryearns approximately C$400,000 a year at CBC (TorontoGLOBE & MAIL, 4/2).
MORNING BRIEFS
The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS notes that a nonscientificsurvey of ticket brokers advertising in the Express-News found Final Fourtickets “ranging from $300 for a single seat in the upper deck on Saturday to acool $14,000 for a pair of center-court, front-row seats for all threegames.” Face value on the tickets is$130-170 (SANANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4/2).
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that former Nets F JaysonWilliams’ manslaughter trial yesterday was “thrown into jeopardy” after itwas revealed that the prosecutors had “failed to turn over potentially criticalevidence about the shotgun at the heart of the case.” The mistake opens the door for the defense to seek a mistrial ora dismissal of the incident (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 4/2).
The AP noted that 26 drivers are currently entered in theIndy 500, which will be held May 30. Additional entries, which had to be postmarked by Wednesday, “areexpected to arrive in the next few days” (AP, 4/1).
TH!NKFilm yesterday announced that the movie chronicling the’04 Red Sox season will be called “Still, We Believe: The Boston Red SoxMovie.” Nearly 8,000 fans cast onlinevotes to determine the title (TH!NKFilm).
The L.A. TIMES reports that Thailand has won its bid to hostthe ’07 World Weightlifting Championships. L.A. was also bidding for the event (L.A. TIMES, 4/2).
The AP reported that the October 14-17 LPGA Samsung WorldChampionship will be played at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, CA (AP, 4/1).
The UHL late yesterday announced that the league’s BOG hasawarded Danbury, CT, a franchise, which will be owned by A.J. and JimGalante and will play at the Danbury Ice Arena beginning with the ’04-05season (UHL).
Atlanta Motor Speedway yesterday announced that it willinstall the new SAFER barrier walls prior to the October 29-31 NASCAR NextelCup Series Bass Pro Shops MBNA 500 (AMS).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The AUSTRALIAN reports that the Australian Football Leaguehas been “forced to recall 40,000 CD-ROMs given to young children to promoteAustralian football because it secretly included a picture of a topless woman.”AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said that an investigation “had been launchedto establish whether the inclusion of the picture was mischievous oraccidental. However, he said the AFLhad dumped the CD-ROM’s producer – a subsidiary of advertising agency GeorgePatterson Bates” (AUSTRALIAN, 4/2).
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
Astros Owner Drayton McLane, P Andy Pettitteand broadcaster Milo Hamilton will attend a 10:00am CT ribbon-cuttingceremony at the Northeast Family YMCA Youth Ball Field, which has beenrefurbished by Minute Maid and the Astros.
McLane will join Aramark GM for Minute Maid Park ScottMcGinn in hosting Aramark’s annual Media Food Tasting day at 2:00pm CT atthe ballpark.
AFL Cobras Owner Pete Loftin will deliver the keynoteaddress at the noon ET Gaston County Schools Business Partners Luncheon inGastonia, NC.
NASCAR Nextel Cup Series driver Jamie McMurray,Texaco/Havoline Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing officials, including FelixSabates, will host a 9:30am CT news conference to announce a special initiativefor the ’04 season.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…..
Every Friday, the MorningBuzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might havefallen through the cracks. This week, FSN West2 debuted “Lakers LivingRoom,” an alternate game telecast designed to attract casual viewers featuringLakers Exec VP Jeanie Buss, Leeann Tweeden, WNBA Sparks C LisaLeslie, Linda Rambis, wife of Lakers assistant Kurt, and ShaunieO’Neal, wife of Shaquille. Proving that it is not just the typical pregame show, right out of thegate, the women provide on-point analysis of several Lakers’ pregame duds.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The L.A. TIMES reports that the Dow Jones Industrial Averagewill replace AT&T, Eastman Kodak and International Paper with AIG, Pfizerand Verizon Communications beginning April 8, marking the “first reshuffling ofthe nation’s best-known market barometer” since ‘99. Dow Jones Indexes Editor John Prestbo said the move “is arecognition of the growth of finance and healthcare” in the economy (L.A.TIMES, 4/2).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that according to a PromotionMarketing Association and Promo Magazine survey, marketers “spent almost twiceas much on consumer promotions as they did on consumer advertising in2003.” Overall consumer promotionspending rose 9.7% to $288.3B last year. Event marketing, interactive marketing and sampling “all posteddouble-digit growth in 2003 compared with 2002” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 4/2).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes thatNBC has hired Anna Perez, most recently the Deputy Assistant to PresidentBush & Counselor for Communications to Condoleezza Rice, as ExecVP/Communications effective May 1. Perez will succeed Patricia Steele (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/2).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Golf.”
“It’s the only one of golf’s four major pro events in whichamateurs are not permitted to play.”
LAUGH TRACK
THEMONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “New York City is once againgoing to try recycling. That’s veryexciting and here’s what it is. Therecycling plan is separate the glass, the plastic, the metal, the paper. So remember to separate your shell casingsfrom your condoms. ... It turns out one of the jury members in the MarthaStewart trial is a criminal and crook, and as a result Martha is trying toget a new trial, and I’m thinking, well, it’s supposed to be a jury of yourpeers. ... Aren’t the gas prices crazy? It’s so bad you’re even starting to hear complaints from the Amish. ...Last night, President Bush raised $1.5[M] in Washington, DC, at afundraiser. It’s all part of hisprogram, ‘No Cash Left Behind.’ ... Because of the shoulder surgery, JohnKerry will have his arm in a sling. President Clinton one time was injured and also had to wear a sling...inhis pants” ("Late Show," CBS, 4/1).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Happy April Fool’s Day. This of course is the day we honor thosepeople who bet on the Clippers. WithBush in the White House, doesn’t everyday feel like April Fool’s Day? ... Gasis so expensive now, a lot of the gangs can’t even afford drive-by shootings.... Today in Hollywood, I saw a pimp in an electric car. ... Senator John Kerryintroduced his plan to reduce oil prices. He said he’s going to marry a rich Saudi Arabian princess. ... MattLauer interviewed Donald Trump. How’d you like to be the hairstylist in that interview? ... ParisHilton was recently thrown off the horse she was riding. The horse said he threw her off because shemade him feel dirty. ... According to a survey by IKEA, 20% of people saythey’ve had sexual encounters in the kitchen. That’s something to think about the next time you’re in a restaurant andyou can’t find your waiter” ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 4/1).
LATENIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Questions You’reAfraid To Ask Condoleezza Rice” ("Late Show," CBS, 4/1).
| 10) “Did Bush ever hurt himself trying to pronounce your name?” |
| 9) “At cabinet meetings, who besides you and Cheney wear lipstick?” |
| 8) “Do you know Leeza Gibbons?” |
| 7) “Do you own a condo?” |
| 6) “Did you ever try the ‘Condoleezza Rice’ at Chi-Chi’s?” |
| 5) “As a souvenir, did you keep any of Saddam’s beard lice?” |
| 4) “Hey, where’d you get that cool Halliburton sweatshirt?” |
| 3) “Who told CNN that Letterman faked the footage of the bored kid next to Bush?” |
| 2) “About those Iraqi weapons of mass destruction – did you check Baghdad mini-storage?” |
| 1) “What kind of job will you and Bush be looking for in January 2005?” |
CBS’ CraigKilborn: “Tonight marks our five-year anniversary, ladies andgentlemen. I will never forget when Iactually got the show. Five years agomy phone rings. It’s the President ofCBS and he says, ‘It’s your’s. TonyDanza passed.’ And I just want tosay, to all those people who thought I’d never make it as a talk show host,‘How’d you know?’ … I got some telegrams today. Jessica Simpson sent me a telegram that said,‘Congratulations Regis.’ JenniferLopez sent me a telegram and it said, ‘What’s an anniversary?’ … A retiredtruck driver hit all the numbers in the Virginia state lottery. He received $239M and a marriage proposalfrom John Kerry. … Show business is so interesting. For example, did you know every time Richard Simmons slapsa man, he has to pay a royalty to Liza?” (“The Late Late Show, CBS,4/1).
ComedyCentral’s Jon Stewart: “I heard about this retired truck driver inVirginia. He came forward. He’s got a winning lottery ticket for $239M– second largest lottery payout ever. And here’s the thing. He’s got aterrible choice to make. He can takethe $239M in 26 annual payments of $9.2M each or he can take a lesser amount,$141M as a lump sum. I don’t know whathe’s going to do. I’ll give him alittle bit of advice and here’s what I’m going to say, take the lump sum. What kind of an animal lives on $9.2M ayear? I’m sorry, but I don’t call thatliving!” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 4/1).
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Impact of Nomar’s injury on Red Sox | UConn-Duke; NBA Kings |
| ESPN | “PTI” | NBA Kings | Pacers; High-schoolers going to the NBA |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | D’Backs-Cubs | Astros-Braves; Red Sox-Twins |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Female winning McDonald’s Slam Dunk | Biggest upset in sports; Interview with Paul Hornung |
| FSN | “New England Sports Tonight” | Capitals-Bruins | Red Sox-Twins; Celtics |
| FSN | “Southwest Sports Report” | Pat Summerall hospitalized | Kings-Mavericks; Rockets-Lakers |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is the PGA Championship?”
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