Morning Buzz, April 28, 2004

DEADLINE LOOMS TODAY FOR ATHENS STADIUM STRUCTURAL SUPPORT

REUTERS reports that if the structure “designed to carry the weight of the Athens Olympic Stadium roof is not in place by today, the stadium will be open to the elements for the Games.” The IOC has said that the “sliding of two huge arches, which will carry the weight of the spectacular 18,000-ton steel roof, must take place by today, otherwise the Games’ architectural centerpiece cannot be completed in time” (REUTERS, 4/28).

Athens Olympics Secretary-General Spyros Capralos, on Athens construction: “We have shown with other construction that we can perform miracles, and this is going to be one more miracle. We will have it ready on time” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 4/27).

JUDGE EXPECTED TO RULE TODAY ON JOCKEY ADVERTISING

The Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL notes that U.S. District Court Judge John Heyburn II today is expected to rule on whether to “suspend a Kentucky law prohibiting advertising on a jockeys’ attire, possibly paving the way for commercial logos on riders’ pants in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 4/28).

BCS MEETINGS TODAY EXPECTED TO COVER FORMULA ALTERATIONS

USA TODAY reports that the BCS meetings in Phoenix are “expected to conclude today with discussions on a fifth bowl and the BCS formula.” Outgoing BCS Coordinator & Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese said that he “hopes to present proposals from the meeting to the presidents of BCS members within two weeks.” Tranghese: “We haven’t arrived at any decisions or conclusions” (USA TODAY, 4/28).

While ABC Sports yesterday proposed a "five-plus-one" BCS, adding a championship game after the five bowls BCS Presidential Oversight Committee Chair and Univ. of Oregon President David Frohnmayer said, "I know of three and maybe four conferences where the additional bowl model would be the only one acceptable"(ESPN.com, 4/27).

THE DAILY PRESENTS THIRD-ROUND NFL SELECTIONS AND AGENTS

Today, The Daily presents the third installment of our annual NFL Draft agent chart. The representation of the top five selections in the third round of the draft is as follows:

Please see today’s issue of The Daily for the representation of all 33 third round picks.

MORNING BRIEFS

The NFL this morning named Phil Guarascio to the newly created position of lead executive in charge of marketing and sales. Guarascio retired from his GM VP/Advertising & Corporate Marketing post in '00 (NFL).

USA TODAY reports that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow are expected to attend tonight’s Flyers-Maple Leafs Game Three as a “prelude to the resumption of labor talks Thursday in Toronto” (USA TODAY, 4/28).

The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that a California Assembly bill, under which cities “enticing teams to move would have to reimburse the vacated municipality for certain quantifiable costs, such as bond debt and concession and parking revenues,” yesterday “failed to attract a single vote in an Assembly committee that overseas sports issues” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/28).

The AP reported that the NBA is “reviewing a pre-game skit” by the Mavericks prior to Saturday’s game against the Kings to determine if it was “demeaning” to the Kings. Among the vignettes was a cartoon “depicting Kings guard Doug Christie being led on a leash tugged by his wife, and one of forward Chris Webber being showered with money” at the Univ. of Michigan (AP, 4/27).

Pacers C Jermaine O’Neal, on NBA players’ concerns about terrorism being a reason for not yet committing to the Athens Olympics: “It definitely sits on your mind. Every day you’ve got TV, and you see how the terrorists are trying to figure out ways to be effective” (AP, 4/27).

The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL reports that negotiations are “under way for a six-team NBA summer league” at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas from July 13-18. The Cavaliers, Celtics, Suns and Magic are “among the interested teams” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/28).

The PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reports that the Univ. of Pittsburgh yesterday “declined an offer by ESPN and the Big East to move its opener at South Florida to Labor Day,” from Saturday, September 4 date (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/28).

Van Heusen’s Izod brand has become the official swimwear provider and the preferred sportswear brand of Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando (Van Heusen).

• The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that a crowd of 16,609 attended last night’s Heat-Hornets Game Four at 17,200-seat New Orleans Arena (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/28).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

Philadelphia Soul President Ron Jaworski, on being the team's first bobblehead doll on May 8: “It absolutely is my doing. I couldn't accomplish it as a player where they would do me in a bobblehead, so I figured as president of the team we'll do a Jaws bobblehead." With 5,000 bobbleheads to be handed out during the game, Jaworski added, “I'm certain you'll see many of them on eBay the next day very high-priced” (ESPNews, 4/27).

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

Cavaliers G LeBron James, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, Boys & Girls Clubs of America President Roxanne Spillett, Coca Cola Senior VP & Chief Innovation/Research & Development Officer Danny Strickland and Kraft Foods Senior VP/Global Health & Wellness Lance Friedmann will participate in the 9 :30am ET unveiling of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ “Triple Play : A Game Plan for the Mind, Body & Soul” in N.Y. “Triple Play” is the largest health and wellness education initiative ever undertaken by the Boys & Girls Club.

The Univ. of Memphis (UM) will host a free seminar for small businesses about sports sponsorships at its Fogelman Executive Center. UM Dir of Bureau of Sport & Leisure Commerce Dick Irwin will deliver the morning keynote address, and Grizzlies President of Business Operations Andy Dolich will deliver the afternoon keynote. Several other local sports entities will be represented (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/27).

Lowe’s Motor Speedway President & GM Humpy Wheeler will announce the purses for the May 22 NASCAR Nextel All-Star Challenge and the May 30 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at a 2:30pm ET news conference.

The CFL Canadian College Draft begins at 11:00am ET.

At a parking lot near Long Beach Arena, construction will begin on the foundation for “two temporary above-ground pools that will be used in June and July for the U.S. Olympic swim trials, a Grand Prix swim meet, a synchronized swimming festival and men’s and women’s water polo tournaments.” Completion is scheduled for June 4 (L.A. TIMES, 4/24).

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will declare today “Tony Stewart Day” in the state. Stewart will address the Kansas legislature and participate in a press conference with Sebelius at 3:00pm ET.

IN OTHER NEWS….

CBS MarketWatch reports that Comcast is “scrapping its $60[B] bid for Walt Disney, effective immediately,” as it has “become clear that Disney’s management and board have ‘no interest’ in putting the companies together” (CBS MarketWatch, 4/28).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER reports that Disney’s BOD yesterday expressed “strong support for embattled CEO Michael Eisner,” saying it has “complete confidence” in Disney’s senior management and its long-term plan. Although George Mitchell was recently named Disney Chair, yesterday’s statement “made clear that all operating authority and decisions at Disney still run through Eisner.” Mitchell’s responsibilities are “largely focused on the functions of the board and its role in overseeing management decisions” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/28).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "State Capitals."

"In 2003 a famous marker on the steps of this city's capital got an altitude adjustment, being lowered by three feet."

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "It was so nice today in New York that Billy Joel crashed a convertible. It was so nice in Central Park today the two naked guys were having trouble finding a tree to have sex in. ... Over the weekend, a couple of guys were in a tree in Central Park, and they're naked, and they're up they're up there for like four hours, and they're having sex, and here's the best part. The church has suspended both priests. ... There's controversy about John Kerry throwing away his military medals and ribbons. Well, not to be outdone today President Bush threw away his Alabama National Guard spotty attendance ribbon. ... P. Diddy made his broadway musical debut. It was very exciting. He's starring in the revival of the Broadway classic, 'Thoroughly Modern Diddy.' The actual name of the production is 'Diddy Get Your Gun.' ... The bad news is the Mona Lisa is apparently deteriorating, it's warping and it's buckling but don't worry. They're bringing in the same team that worked on Cher" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/27).

NBC's Jay Leno: "What was it like today, 104? I was sweating like Billy Joel taking a driver's test. It was so hot today, Hellboy went to a theater showing ‘The Passion of the Christ' just for the air conditioning. ... President Bush's campaign is now attacking John Kerry for throwing away some of his medals to protest the Vietnam War. Bush did not have any medals to throw away, but in his defense he did have all his service records thrown out. ... Bill Clinton's memoir, which is coming out in June, is called 'My Life.' I believe it's an oral history. ... Britney Spears is negotiating a multi-million deal to pose topless in Playboy. She says she is a little hesitant about taking her top off. Hey, why not bring in Justin Timberlake? He's an expert at that. ... A company that makes collectible dolls has now come out with a new doll for adults that looks like a newborn baby, and it comes with birth announcements you can send to your friends. How creepy is that? It's like sending out wedding invitations after you buy a blow-up doll" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/27).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Chapter Titles In Bill Clinton's Memoirs" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/27).

CBS’ Craig Kilborn: “I just want to come clean right now, ladies and gentlemen, about what I was doing during the Vietnam War. I was 12 years old and living with Cher. Thank you. … Bill Clinton’s publishers say he’s just about finished writing his memoirs. The last chapter is titled, ‘Hold on, I just found out Halle Berry is single.’ … Listen to this true story from Portland, Oregon. Police repeatedly pepper sprayed a 71-year-old woman and she still continued showing pictures of her grandchildren” (“The Late Late Show,” CBS, 4/27).

TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What is Denver?"

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