Morning Buzz, June 22, 2004

NHL BOG EXPECTED TO APPROVE DEVILS OWNERSHIP CHANGE

The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that the NHL BOG will gather today in N.Y. and is expected to approve the Devils ownership change to Jeffrey Vanderbeek. The board will also “hear updates on the non-existent contract talks, rule changes and a report on the World Cup of Hockey, which begins August 30.” One league governor said, “There won’t be any major announcements emanating from this get-together” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 6/22).

PASADENA LOOKS TO LAMBEAU FOR IDEAS ON RENOVATING ROSE BOWL

The L.A. TIMES reports that Rose Bowl and Pasadena officials will visit with NFL execs in Green Bay and tour Lambeau Field “in hopes of learning more about bringing historic football stadiums up to modern standards.” Among the officials making the trip are John Moag, who is leading the Rose Bowl renovation efforts, Rose Bowl GM Darryl Dunn, Pasadena City Manager Cynthia Kurtz and Pasadena City Council member Steve Madison. Meanwhile, Carson, CA, officials yesterday met with a group of NFL execs, including COO Roger Goodell, Exec VP Jeff Pash and Senior VP/Strategic Planning & Business Development Neil Glat (L.A. TIMES, 6/22).

NEW YORK SENATE COULD APPROVE JAVITS/WEST SIDE STADIUM BILL

The New York Legislative session ends today, and NEWSDAY reports that the New York Senate “could approve a version” of Gov. George Pataki’s bill that would “link expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center with the development” of the West Side stadium. Representatives from the “state Senate, Assembly and Pataki’s office met late into [last night] to reach a compromise before the close of legislative session.” Democrats have “dismissed the legislation … as a covert effort to authorize construction of a Jets stadium” (NEWSDAY, 6/22).

DICK’S SPORTING GOODS IN PROCESS OF ACQUIRING GALYAN’S FOR $362M

Pittsburgh-based Dick’s Sporting Goods late yesterday entered into an agreement to purchase all of the issued and outstanding stock of Galyan’s Trading Co. for approximately $362M, including the assumption of $57M in debt. Galyan’s shareholders will receive $16.75 per share, and Dick’s expects to close the sale on June 28. Upon completion of the acquisition, Dick’s will operate 216 stores in 32 states. The companies combined to generate revenue of approximately $2.2B in FY ’03 (Dick’s).

MORNING BRIEFS

The New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that with “less than an hour left in the legislative session Monday, lawmakers approved a plan that will allow Superdome Commission officials to borrow about $7[M] from the Department of Economic Development to make a $15[M] payment due” the Saints July 5 (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/22).

The AP reports that under a World Cup of Baseball proposal being formulated by the MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s office, the 16-nation tournament “would start on March 4 in Asia and begin in the [U.S.] and Puerto Rico on March 9.” There would be “four groups of four nations in the first round, and the top two teams in each group would advance” (AP, 6/22).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL reports that the Magic were working on a trade yesterday that would send G Tracy McGrady and “perhaps as many as three other Magic players” to the Rockets for Gs Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley and C Kelvin Cato and/or C Boston Nachbar. The deal “might not be finalized until July because of salary cap complications” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/22).

The N.Y. DAILY NEWS reports that the New Jersey Gaming Commission yesterday granted Mike Tyson a boxing license. Tyson: “This means I can start getting those $20 to $30 million paydays again” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/22).

According to documents obtained by the L.A. TIMES, the USADA alleges that sprinter Tim Montgomery “used five banned steroids as well as the blood-booster EPO, human growth hormone and insulin. USADA alleges Montgomery used banned substances as far back as 2000, two years before setting the 100-meter mark” (L.A. TIMES, 6/22).

The AP reports that WADA Exec Board members have asked Chair Dick Pound to “stay on through the 2006 Winter Olympics” in Turin. Pound is expected to be re-elected at a November 21 board meeting, and his candidacy is contingent on his reappointment by the IOC (AP, 6/21).

USA TODAY PROFILES MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL MARKETING

Reid Cherner writes of Minor League Baseball in a USA TODAY sports cover story, “For a sport that has gross revenue approaching $500[M] and draws 39 million fans a year, there's nothing minor about the business. Logos and team names certainly play a role in that. Introducing a nickname and a logo means a financial bump.” The following offers the top selling Minor League Baseball hats in ’03, according to New Era (USA TODAY, 6/22):

RK	CAP	RK	CAP
1)		4)
	Lake Elsinore Storm		Brooklyn Cyclones
2)		5)
	Albuquerque Isotopes		Lake County Captains
3)		6)
	Portland Sea Dogs		Lakewood Blue Claws

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The HOUSTON CHRONICLE reports that the Super Bowl XXXVIII streaker, Mark Roberts, yesterday was convicted of criminal trespassing for his Reliant Stadium prank. Roberts faces up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,000. The sentencing phase of his trial begins this morning at 10:00am CT. Roberts: “As far as I'm concerned, I just wanted to make people laugh. I didn't come to America to break any laws. I just came to entertain the good American public” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/22).

Former U.S. Olympian Kerri Strug will participate in the Meow Mix Gold Medal Games, where “feline fanatics will compete in a series of events designed to test their skill at keeping cats happy” (AP, 6/16).

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	Newsday

TODAY’S EVENTS

Evernham Motorsports will host an 11:00am ET conference call to unveil the primary sponsor for its third entry in the August 8 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Brickyard 400, which will be driven by Bill Elliott.

The MLB Rangers and Ameriquest will host a 3:00pm CT news conference to unveil a community initiative with Habitat for Humanity at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. Rangers COO Jeff Cogen and Ameriquest Managing Dir of Corporate Affairs & Industry Relations Paul Neal will attend.

The Children’s Mercy Hospital Golf Classic concludes its final charity event today at Blue Hills Country Club in K.C. Host Tom Watson will be joined by Davis Love III, Kenny Perry and Peter Jacobsen, among others.

U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen will appear on “Live! With Regis & Kelly,” “Fox News Live” and ESPN Radio’s “The Dan Patrick Show.”

Former Cavaliers G Mark Price is scheduled to audition for FSN Ohio’s analyst position for Cavaliers games. Price is expected to land the job “as long as he doesn’t flop spectacularly” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 6/21).

NASCAR driver Casey Mears will appear on Fox News’ “Daysidewith Linda Vester” at 1:00pm ET to discuss his participation in FX’ “NASCAR Drivers: 360.”

IN OTHER NEWS….

The L.A. TIMES reports that the newspaper has “cut about 160 jobs.” Roughly 60 of those positions “were held by reporters and others in the editorial operations of the Tribune Co.-owned paper – two thirds of whom took a voluntary buyout.” The cutbacks are part of a “broader cost-saving initiative across Tribune’s publishing operations” (L.A. TIMES, 6/22). Among the voluntary buyouts are pop culture writer Bob Baker and lead baseball writer Ross Newhan, who will “remain on the national baseball beat at least through this season” (LAObserved.com, 6/18).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Inventions."

"Josephine Cochrane's 1886 version of this consisted of a copper boiler, wire baskets and a pump."

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "It was so beautiful today in New York City, President Clinton was signing books naked. ... The Olympic torch came right through New York City this weekend. Police are still looking for the torch. ... Today is the summer solstice. You know what that means? It's the longest day of the year, next to yesterday trying to make conversation with your dad. ... Nothing says, ‘Thanks dad,’ like a turbo nose hair trimmer. ... It's my first Father's Day. As a father, my son gave me a lovely card containing several brochures for nursing homes. ... New York City is getting ready for the Republican National Convention, and by the way, I think this is the perfect city to kick-off a crooked election. ... Bill Clinton's autobiography, his memoir, is being published. It's 900-pages long. It's actually longer than the last Harry Potter book, and both of them I believe are stories about a boy and his wand" ("Late Show," CBS, 6/21).

NBC's Jay Leno: "Welcome to the first day of summer. It's also the longest day of the year, unless you're Hillary Clinton watching '60 Minutes' then yesterday was the longest day of the year. ... I love when Bill Clinton told Dan Rather that the worst day of his life was the day he told Hillary the truth. Well, he's not going to do that again! ... I felt sorry for President Bush. You know he missed Father's Day yesterday. According to the intelligence he received, Father's Day is next Sunday. ... John McCain was out campaigning with President Bush over the weekend. The White House said they're doing it because they're on the same team. Kind of the way Shaq and Kobe are on the same team. ... Still a lot of controversy about Game Five of the NBA Championship. At first, Pistons executives said Aretha Franklin sang the National Anthem live. Well, now the producer says, 'Okay, it was pre-recorded and she didn't really sing.' Which is okay with me, because hey, the Lakers didn't really play" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 6/21).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten Surprises In The Bill Clinton '60 Minutes' Interview” ("Late Show," CBS, 6/21).

LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

"What is a dishwasher?"

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