Morning Buzz, June 14, 2004

USOC UNVEILING NEW 11-MEMBER BOD REPLACING 123-MEMBERUNIT

The L.A. TIMES reports that the USOC today will name its new11-member BOD during a news conference at its Colorado Springs HQs, whereformer MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth is expected to be namedChair.  Indiana Supreme Court Justice TedBoehm led a four-person committee in selecting the 11 members.  About 200 people applied for the four slotsto be filled by those without ties to the USOC (L.A. TIMES,6/14).

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL TO FILE FOR CHAPTER SEVEN BANKRUPTCY

The AP reported that the World Boxing Council today willfile for Chapter Seven bankruptcy, which “usually leads to the liquidation of acompany.”  The WBC filed for Chapter 11bankruptcy protection last year to “keep from paying a $31[M] judgment awardedto German fighter Graciano Rocchigiani, who had his light heavyweighttitle taken away from him,” reinstating Roy Jones Jr. as the champion (AP,6/13).

MOAG PREDICTING TO CLIENTS THAT NHL SEASON WILL BE PLAYED

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that sports investment bankerJohn Moag today will notify his clients – including the Atlanta Spiritand potential team buyers – of his prediction that there “will be an NHLsettlement and a full 2004-05 season.” Moag: “We are very bullish on where this whole thing ends up.  We believe that [NHL Commissioner GaryBettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow] will ultimatelyprevent a demise of the league.”  Butonly 13% in a poll of 300 sports execs conducted by sports consultant LenPerna in ’03 believed there would not be a lockout (SPORTSBUSINESSJOURNAL, 6/14 issue).

MORNING BRIEFS

The AP reported that if the Expos “wind up in Washington,[Orioles Owner Peter] Angelos will begrudgingly accept themove.”  Angelos: “Unfortunately, I haveno choice.  After all, Washington isalso my capital” (AP, 6/12).

BLOOMBERG NEWS reported that Lakers C Shaquille O’Neal“wants to take over as president of the [NBPA], effective immediately.” O’Neal:“It’s time for somebody professional to get in there to help the league staystrong.  We’ve had big-name guys go upthere and talk, but millionaires can’t negotiate with billionaires throughaggression” (BLOOMBERGNEWS, 6/11).  The current NBPAPresident is Raptors G Michael Curry.

The AP reported that through the NBA Finals, Pistonsmerchandise is selling 70% above Merchandising Dir Terry Adam’sprojections.  Palace Sports &Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson, on sales during GameThree: “The sales were double any game we’ve ever had.  It was about $250,000 in sales internally” (AP, 6/12).

The AP reported that Monmouth Park will host the ’07Breeders’ Cup, “barring problems in finalizing a contract” (AP, 6/11).

USA TODAY reports thatfacing the 7:00pm ET cutoff, ABC last night duringthe playoff of the PGA Tour's Buick Open switched about 80% of thecountry to "America's Funniest Home Videos."  ABC VP MarkMandel: "We apologize for any frustrations we have caused ourviewers and hope they understand our dilemma" (USA TODAY, 6/14). 

The WASHINGTON POST reports that RFK Stadium is one of threefinalists to host the July 31 MLS All-Star Game after plans for Real Madrid toplay a league squad at Gillette Stadium fell through.  A decision is expected this week (WASHINGTONPOST, 6/14).

The Big East Conference, the N.Y. Sports Commission, theJets and the National Football Foundation and College HOF announced thecreation of the Big Apple Bowl, to be held annually at the proposed West SideStadium (Jets).

ATTENDANCE WATCH:

• The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that a crowd of 114,000 at yesterday’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal brought the three-day event attendance to 317,000, up 11,000 over last year (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/14).

• The PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS reports that with yesterday’s NASCAR Nextel Series Cup Pocono 500 “finishing under caution, many of the fans in the estimated crowd of 100,000 at Pocono Raceway booed vociferously.  One lugnut threw a cooler that struck flagman Jimmy Howell in the back of the head.  Howell was not injured and did not press charges” (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/14).

• The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that fans “packed into every seat and into the aisles” at 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium in Mexico City, where UNAM Pumas defeated Chivas for its first Mexican soccer championship in 13 years (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/14).

• The GLASGOW DAILY RECORD reports that a crowd of 35,000 attended NFL Europe’s World Bowl XII at Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany (GLASGOW DAILY RECORD, 6/14).

• The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reported that former President George Bush’s 80^th birthday party at Minute Maid Park Saturday night drew more than 5,000 people (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/13).

• The WASHINGTON POST reported that a crowd of 48,869 attended Saturday’s Giants-Orioles doubleheader, the largest crowd of the season and sixth-largest ever at Oriole Park at Camden Yards (WASHINGTON POST, 6/13).

• The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL reported that a crowd of 40,223 attended Saturday night’s Scott Podsednik Bobblehead Night during the Astros-Brewers game, the largest crowd at Miller Park since this year’s home opener (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/13).

• The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION reported that the crowd of 34,719 attending Saturday’s Braves-White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field was the White Sox’ largest crowd since opening day (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 6/13).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The BOSTON GLOBE reports that sitting behind home plateduring Saturday’s Dodgers-Red Sox game at Fenway Park was actor Robert Wuhl,who discussed the Red Sox’ decision to fire Grady Little with ComedyConnection Owner Bill Blumenreich. Blumenreich: “[Wuhl] was saying, ‘Can you imagine, one bad pitch by thebest pitcher in baseball, and they fire the guy?’  Just then, this guy turns around to [Wuhl], sticks out his handand says, ‘Hi, I’m Theo Epstein’” (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/14).

WEEKEND RAP

The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “partingshots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:

• Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: "Name the professional athlete of the past 25 years you think was not just a good guy, but an honorable guy, and who you may think was the best that sport had to offer, and I will tell you he couldn't be the answer unless his name was Ray Bourque.  That's the right answer."

• N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica: "For the first time since (Tiger) Woods became the Michael Jordan of golf, he finally has to share number one in that way with Phil Mickelson because people want to see what Mickelson will do at Shinnecock as much as Tiger. ... For the first time since he became Tiger, he has to share the spotlight with somebody else.  It makes him a different kind of left-handed complement."

• Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom: "Jimmy Kimmel last week became the latest in a long line of Detroit insulters, falling back on that old chestnut, 'When Detroit wins, it burns the city down.'  Never mind that we had one incident 20 years ago and plenty of cities have outdone us since.  It's an easy joke.  Who cares?  We in Detroit don't get mad, although we do know some teamsters we can call. ... As for Kimmel, he had his Wednesday show pulled, his bosses were steamed and the next night he mea culpa-ed all over the place, proving that, just like the Staples Center, he answers to corporate needs first."

• ESPN's John Saunders: "Bill Parcells and Larry Bird didn't say anything I haven't heard hundreds of times in and out of locker rooms, but most of what you hear comes from the mouths of the ignorant and shouldn't be acceptable to anyone, especially people in positions of authority. ... It just seems on occasion the people who constantly try to prove how much smarter they are than everyone else remind us smart people say dumb things" ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 6/13).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• During Fox’ World Bowl XII broadcast, Falcons Owner Arthur Blank said, "Last year we had a big debate about the NFL Europe program in the owners’ meeting.  I wanted to come see it for myself. ... For me, it's a real winner” ("World Bowl," Fox Sports, 6/12).

• NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, on NASCAR’s handling of yesterday’s Pocono 500: “I want to congratulate NASCAR for completely screwing up that race.  That is absolutely ridiculous.  It’s uncalled for.  I cannot believe it.  After everything that went on last week, this is really an embarrassment.  I want to apologize to the fans, and the sponsors, and everybody that watched this because that was really embarrassing” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/14).

• Fox Sports' Curt Menefee, on the crowd at the World Bowl in Germany: "This crowd is kind of a cross between Raider Nation and a Metallica crowd" (Fox, 6/12).

• NASCAR President Mike Helton, on rules changes in NASCAR: "It's wanting to do it more efficiently, quicker and then the technology certainly helps us to move faster" ("NASCAR This Morning," FSN, 6/13).

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	Newsday

TODAY’S EVENTS

The NBA and the Pistons will dedicate the renovated PistonsReading & Learning Center at the Cornerstone School in Detroit at 3:00pmET.  NBA Commissioner David Stern,Community Ambassador Bob Lanier, Pistons Legal Counsel Oscar Feldman,Palace Sports & Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson,Basketball HOFer Bill Russell and WNBA Shock F Swin Cash willattend the ceremony (NBA).

The Eagles will hold their inaugural corporate partnersummit at Lincoln Financial Field. Gatorade Senior VP/Sports Marketing Tom Fox will deliver akeynote address, Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie will give a state of theteam address and The Sports Business Daily/SportsBusiness JournalEditor-at-Large Terry Lefton will moderate a panel discussion onpartnership activation with Tom Fox and execs from several of the Eagles’corporate partners (THE DAILY).

The U.S. Supreme Court will announce whether it will hear anappeal in a case in which a girls basketball coach said that he was “fired forcomplaining that girls did not get equal treatment at an Alabama highschool.  The case could extendprotection from retaliation to whistleblowers in Title IX cases” (USATODAY, 6/14).

Installation of SAFER barriers begins at ChicagolandSpeedway in advance of the July 11 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Tropicana 400 (DAILYSOUTHTOWN, 6/9).

The first of three community forums focusing on the downtownSacramento arena proposal and possible funding sources will be held at theSacramento Convention Center (SACRAMENTO BEE, 6/13).

NASCAR Driver Darrell Waltrip’s Toyota Tundra, a VIPtrip to the Craftsman Truck Series Toyota Tundra 200, a garage with more than500 Craftsman tools and a $1,000 gift certificate for Bass Pro Shops will go oneBay through June 24.  Proceeds willbenefit NASCAR driver Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction Gang Camp.  Viewthe auction here.

A Louisiana court will consider an objection filed by horseowners and trainers to the New Orleans Fair Gorunds’ bankruptcy disclosurestatement (AP, 6/9).

Golfonline.com will launch a U.S. Open section, where ContributingEditor & ABC Sports Producer Sal Johnson will post his tournamentpredictions.

THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…..

Thisweek’s cover story examines the 20 most influential people in golf, with Tiger Woods taking the top spot.

For these stories and more please visit the SportsBusiness Journal.

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Below are this week’s confirmed earnings announcements forsports-business related companies:

IN OTHER NEWS….

This week’s cover of “Time”examines “Faith, God & The Oval Office.” This week’s cover of “Newsweek” offers“Nancy’s Story.”

USA TODAY reports that the Cinema Advertising Council todaywill release the first industry tally of cinema advertising.  The study shows that marketers spent $356.1Mon theater ads in ’03, 37% more than in ’02. On-screen ad revenues in ’03 grew 45%, while in-lobby and otheroff-screen promotions jumped 79% (USATODAY, 6/14).

DAILY VARIETY reorts that wireless entertainment companyMforma has raised $44M in its first round of venture capital funding.  The funding came from General CatalystPartners, eFund and Bessemer Venture Partners (DAILYVARIETY, 6/14).

The N.Y. TIMES reported that Electronic Arts will “stoprunning advertisements for Internet casinos on its Web site,” following similarannouncements in recent months by Google and Yahoo (N.Y.TIMES, 6/12).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday's "Final Jeopardy!" category was"United Nations History." 

"In 1960, this new national leader made the longestspeech in United Nations history, 4 hours and 29 minutes." 

LAUGH TRACK

THEMONOLOGUES:

CBS'David Letterman: "It's my favorite time of the year and I think everybodyis like that.  Everybody loves to beoutside.  I was walking down FifthAvenue earlier today, and I saw a couple of nuns out in front of the cathedralhaving a cigarette. ... Mayor Bloomberg is cracking down.  Apparently, we have a problem with noisepollution.  Have you noticed some noisepollution since you've been in town?  Ithink they're on to something because you've got the car alarms, fire alarms,you've got the crazy boom boxes, people yelling all the time, gun shots andthat's just in the library. ... This week, OJ Simpson is doing a lot ofinterviews.  I think this is a mistakebecause with all of these distractions, it's going to take him even longer to findthe real killers" ("Late Show," CBS, 6/11).

NBC'sJay Leno: "Like most of you in town, I'm still a littleshell-shocked.  Did you all see theClippers...uh, Lakers game last night? ... The Lakers only scored 68points.  That's a great score if you're playinggolf!  Remember what Larry Birdsaid.  Forget white stars.  The Lakers need some more black stars.  Phil Jackson was upset.  He told Kobe, 'One more performancelike that and I'm testifying against you.' ... Kobe was so rattled by lastnight, he had a guy bring up his room service. ... Right now, I think JenniferLopez has a better chance of getting another ring than the Lakers do. ... PresidentBush is meeting with the G8 leaders all this week in Georgia.  When they asked President Bush about his thoughtsabout the G8, Bush said, 'I still like regular tomato juice’" ("TheTonight Show," NBC, 6/13).

SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s11:00pm ET edition of“SportsCenter” (late due to Dodgers-Red Sox) led with Reds-Indians,highlighted by Ken Griffey Jr.'s 499th career home run, followed by Padres-Yankeesand Cubs-Angels.  The firstnon-MLB report, at 13:10 into the broadcast, was the Nextel Cup Pocono 500.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that it was a “solid weekend at the box office as a record fivefilms grossed more than $20[M] each, and six grossed more than $10[M] each. Theestimated total for the session's top 12 films was $155.6[M], down just 1% fromthe third weekend of summer last year.” The total for all films is forecast to be in the high-$150M to low-$160Marea, close to last year's $162.9M (HOLLYWOODREPORTER, 6/14).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"Who was Fidel Castro?"

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

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