Morning Buzz, June 3, 2004

KIM UN-YONG SENTENCED TO 2 ½ YEARS IN PRISON BY SEOULCOURT

The L.A. TIMES reports that suspended IOC VP Kim Un-Yongtoday was sentenced in a Seoul courtroom to 2 ½ years in prison on embezzlementand bribery charges. Prosecutors, whosought a seven-year term for Kim, alleged that he had “embezzled more than $3Mfrom the Seoul-based World Taekwondo Federation and other sportsorganizations.” Additionally, Kim wasordered to pay nearly $672,000 in fines. A source close to Kim’s defense noted an appeal was likely, citingissues of “impartiality and experience in interpreting sports contracts” (L.A.TIMES, 6/3).

LOUISIANA GOV. MEETING AGAIN WITHSAINTS OWNER TOM BENSON

The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that Louisiana Gov. KathleenBlanco and Saints Owner Tom Benson will meet today regarding a $7.1Mshortfall in the $15M the state is obligated to pay the club by July 5. Blanco wants Benson to “agree to defer the July payment, accept the state'soffer to renovate the Superdome and let the governor find new sources ofrevenue for the long term and for the renovation.” The Saints want the state to “commit to making this year'spayment and begin negotiating a deal extending beyond 2010 that includes a newstadium” (NewOrleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/3).

NEW YORK GOV. PATAKI INTRODUCING JAVITS CENTER LEGISLATION

NEWSDAY reports that NewYork Gov. George Pataki is expected today to introduce legislation thatwould “redefine the boundaries of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center andamend the state's public authorities law.” The change would “allow the city to use the Transitional FinanceAuthority for borrowing related” to the $1.4B West Side development, whichincludes a stadium for the Jets, an expansion of the convention center and aredevelopment of the Hudson Yards (NEWSDAY,6/3).

NEWSDAY also reported that the N.Y. City Council’s EconomicDevelopment Committee will hold a 1:00pm ET hearing today at City Hall on theimpact of the proposed stadium (NEWSDAY, 6/1). Meanwhile, the Jets will host a noon ET rally in support of theproject at City Hall Park. Former Jetsplayers, labor leaders and public officials are expected to attend (Jets).

CBS CONDUCTING 50^TH ANNUAL AFFILATE MEETING TODAY IN VEGAS

In the wake of Viacom President & COO Mel Karmazin’sresignation, DAILY VARIETY reports that as part of CBS’ 50^th annualaffiliate gathering today in Las Vegas, affiliates “will hear from various CBSdivisions, including Sports and News.” Followingthe opening session, Viacom co-President & co-CEO Les Moonves will“meet with station owners behind closed doors to address any ongoing problems”(DAILYVARIETY, 6/3).

TENNIS MASTERS CUP MOVING TO SHANGHAI BEGINNING WITH‘05

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the ATP today willannounce that Shanghai will host the ’05-07 Tennis Masters Cups. An affirmative vote by representatives ofthe four Grand Slam tournaments will finalize the deal. The group will meetprior to the announcement (HOUSTONCHRONICLE, 6/3). The move toShanghai was first reported by sister publication SportsBusiness Journal.

MORNING BRIEFS

The L.A. TIMES reports that AEG has purchased FoxEntertainment Group’s 40% interest in Staples Center for an estimated $200M,“paving the way for work to begin on a massive $1[B] addition to the areasurrounding the arena.” The addition“could house a 7,000-seat theater, a 1,200-room hotel, other smaller hotels,restaurants, stores, offices and residential units” (L.A.TIMES, 6/3).

San Diego-based Science Applications Int’l Senior VP DavidTubbs, a senior official with the consortium setting up the $312M ’04Olympics security network, yesterday promised that the “system will be readybefore the Games open” (USA TODAY, 6/3).

The K.C. STAR reports that the four architectural firms -HOK Sport + Venue + Event, EllerbeBecket, Heinlein Schrock Stearns and CDFM² - working together on thedowntown K.C. arena “can have a basic design ready by mid-July,” giving votersa “chance to see the design before a scheduled August 3 referendum” (K.C.STAR, 6/3).

The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reports that USADA officials metyesterday with sprinter Tim Montgomery’s attorney, and “showed [him] documents from theBALCO criminal investigation that they contend link Montgomery to use ofperformance-enhancing drugs” (SANJOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/3).

The N.Y.TIMES notes that after a two-month absence fromYankee Stadium, the team has “brought back Cracker Jack for a simplereason.” Yankees COO Lonn Trost:“The fans have spoken” (N.Y.TIMES, 6/3).

Upper Deck and the AFL formally announced an exclusivemulti-year deal yesterday, marking the first agreement between a sportsmemorabilia company and the AFL (AFL).

ESPN.com reported that the fifth BCS game that would have“alternated among the four established bowls, is dying before it ever had the chanceto take place.” As a result, the ideaof adding a fifth city to the BCS rotation, “which had been written off, issuddenly under discussion again” (ESPN.com, 6/2).

The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that the SECpresidents yesterday unanimously approved a series of principles andrecommendations “designed to govern and streamline reporting of rulesviolations.” A coach of one school “canno longer call the SEC or NCAA offices and directly turn another school in foralleged rules violations” (MemphisCOMMERCIAL APPEAL, 6/3).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that Mets COO Jeff Wilpon“led a Mets contingent on a tour" of Citizens Bank Park yesterday,"trying to pick up ideas that could be implemented whenever Shea Stadium isreplaced” (N.Y.DAILY NEWS, 6/3).

The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reports that with Iran likely to withdraw from the June18-20 Titan Games, the USOC has invited Spain's wrestling team as areplacement. A decision from Spain is expected today (ATLANTACONSTITUTION, 6/3).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• MLB.com reported that a crowd of 1,071 gathered Tuesday night at Montclair State Univ.’s softball stadium for the National Pro Fastpitch’s inaugural game between the NY/NJ Juggernaut and the New England Riptide (MLB.com, 6/2).

• The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports that the “ease in which [38,500] made it into” Petco Park for yesterday’s Rockies-Padres afternoon game “answers questions about how the downtown area would handle a weekday day game.” However, the end of the game “brought a predictable departure crunch” at 3:30pm PT (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/3).

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

Philadelphia Daily News

TODAY’S EVENTS

Churchill Downs CFO MichaelMiller will discuss industry trends and present the company’s growthstrategy at the “INVESTKentucky” financial conference at 11:25am ET atChurchill Downs’ Jockey Club Suites.

Raptors G Vince Carterwill promote his new children’s book, “Choose Your Course,” on “Live! withRegis and Kelly” at 9:00am ET.

ESPN Exec VP/Programming &Production Mark Shapiro and “SportsCenter” anchor

Dan Patrick will host an 11:00am ETconference call to discuss the “ESPN25” initiative.

The Broncos have scheduled a2:00pm MT press conference for CBS’ “The NFL Today” co-host and former TE ShannonSharpe in the Dove Valley training center, where President & CEO PatBowlen and Head Coach Mike Shanahan will attend.

The Astros, MLB and CentralHouston Civic Improvement will begin the All-Star Boots on Parade by unveilingfour of 33 MLB team-themed cowboy boots at 10:00am CT at Minute Maid Park aspart of the 75th All-Star Game celebrations.

PGA Tour Charity Auctions willbegin auctioning approximately 100 items, including several pieces ofmemorabilia from “Bobby Jones: Stroke Of Genius,” via eBay and PGATour.com.

IN OTHER NEWS….

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that CBS yesterday “urgedNielsen Media Research to delay the implementation” of Local People Meters inN.Y., L.A. and Chicago, but Nielsen “reiterated that it will go ahead with therollout” today in N.Y. In a statement,CBS asked Nielsen to “address the current shortcomings of these new services asidentified by the Media Rating Council” and “not convert to the new service inany market until the service successfully passed an audit by the MRC” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 6/3).

The N.Y. TIMES reported that Nielsen will “continue tooperate the current system of measuring ratings in [N.Y.] for the next threemonths as it proceeds” with the people meter service (N.Y. TIMES,6/2).

Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Quick, on MillerBrewing and A-B fighting via election-themed TV ads: “The big loser here isCoors. Nobody even remembers thatthey're there. I read one analystcalling (Coors) the 'Green Party of this beer war.'” ("Bullseye,"CNBC, 6/2).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was"The 2000 Olympics."

"She's the first female track and field athlete to winmedals in five different events at a single Olympics."

MONDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who is Marion Jones?"

If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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