| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | In Deal To Be Announced Today, Mario Lemieux Buying Interest In USHL Team |
| • | Rapids Today To Unveil Site For Planned Soccer-Specific Stadium |
| • | Puma Cites Asti Leather Sneakers In Continued Growth Of Profits |
| • | Wells Fargo Close To Sponsorship Deal With The Seahawks |
| • | Cubs Order Safety Net To Protect Fans From Falling Concrete At Wrigley Field |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MARIO LEMIEUX BUYING MINORITY INTEREST IN USHL FRANCHISE
The Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW reports that the USHL River City Lancers today will announce that a group including Penguins Owner Mario Lemieux and Kings LW Luc Robitaille has purchased the team, which was put into emergency receivership last month when then-owner Pat Forciea “admitted to fraudulently obtaining a loan in order to buy the team.” inCode Telecom President & CEO John Donovan is leading the group (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 7/27). Other members of the ownership group are Sharks investor William Del Biaggio and Ben Robert (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 7/27).
RAPIDS TO UNVEIL SITE FOR PLANNED SOCCER-SPECIFIC STADIUM
The DENVER POST reports that the MLS Colorado Rapids today will announce the location of their planned soccer-specific stadium. Kroenke Sports Enterprises VP/New Business Development Charlie Wright previously confirmed that the team was “considering a site near the intersection of Interstate 70 and Interstate 270 in southwestern Adams County.” HOK is designing the project, which will be “surrounded by a large number of practice and training fields” (DENVER POST, 7/27).
PUMA TODAY REPORTS CONTINUED GROWTH IN PROFITS
Puma today reported that its Q2 ’04 profit rose 48% over the same period a year earlier, “helped by demand for products such as Asti leather sneakers and apparel bearing the company's leaping-cat logo.” Net income climbed to $67M, compared to $45.1M in the year ago period. Puma shares rose as much as 4.2% today on the news. Q2 apparel sales were up 26%, while footwear sales climbed 13% and accessories rose 19% (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 7/27).
WELLS FARGO NEGOTIATING SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH SEAHAWKS
The PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that Wells Fargo is expected to announce soon a sponsorship deal with the Seahawks that would put the company’s name somewhere on Qwest Field. Though the sponsorship would be secondary to Qwest’s naming-rights deal, “there are several areas [of the stadium] that could conceivably gain corporate backing, including the club level, the suites and the Hawk’s Nest section near the end zone” (PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 7/23 issue).
MORNING BRIEFS
Following the Tribune Co.’s inspection of the ballpark, the Cubs have “ordered a safety net to catch falling concrete” at Wrigley Field (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/27).
New South Wales Sport Minister Sandra Nori yesterday, in response to reports that state taxpayers were “propping up underused venues from the Sydney Games,” said that some of the venues “will take a decade to break even” (USA TODAY, 7/27).
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg “urged New Yorkers yesterday to travel to Athens next month for” the Olympics. Bloomberg: “A lot of us should go, particularly at this time, go to Athens, go to the Games, to show that we are not going to let terrorists rule our lives” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/27).
Greek officials yesterday declared victory in the “race to complete the reconstruction of the original Athens Olympic marathon route” (REUTERS, 7/26).
Smarty Jones will not enter the Pennsylvania Derby due to a bruised left hoof. Philadelphia Park is canceling plans for extra bleachers, air-conditioned tents, additional parking and an increased purse (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/27).
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer last night “denied the media’s emergency appeal to publish sealed transcripts in the Kobe Bryant case that had been mistakenly released” (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 7/27).
USA TODAY notes that retired RB Ricky Williams can collect $60,000 in severance under the NFL’s CBA. However, Williams could have earned roughly $18M by playing out the final three seasons of his contract with the Dolphins (USA TODAY, 7/27).
The Pittsburgh Sports & Exhibition Authority and Alleghany County DA Stephen Zappala are “reviewing claims that an authority accountant embezzled” more than $100,000 from agency over the past couple of years (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/27).
Univ. of Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer will not attend this week’s SEC media days after learning that attorneys in a lawsuit against the NCAA “plan to subpoena him at the event.” Fulmer is accused by a former Univ. of Alabama assistant coach of “conspiring with the NCAA in bringing down the [Alabama] football program” (AP, 7/26).
The U.S. Hockey HOF yesterday announced its ’04 class of inductees, including Red Wings Owner Mike Ilitch (U.S. Hockey HOF).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
FSN’s Tom Arnold appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” last night wearing a Shaquille O’Neal No. 32 Heat jersey. Arnold: “This is the first one. Shaq sent it to me. He was my next door neighbor. This whole town is in mourning.” NBC’s Jay Leno: “First of all, can I thank you for wearing a t-shirt under the jersey?” Arnold, on O’Neal selling his L.A. house for $7.5M: “That shows you how life has changed when a black guy’s house raises the value of the neighborhood” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/26).
The U.S. Olympic Synchronized Swimming Team performed last night on CBS’ “Late Show” in an AFLAC-sponsored pool outside the Ed Sullivan Theater. Paul Shaffer, on the pool: “Are we insured for that?” (“Late Show”, CBS, 7/26).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
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| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News |
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| Philadelphia Daily News | Newsday |
TODAY’S EVENTS
White House Drug Czar John Walters and USADA CEO Terry Madden will unveil two anti-doping spots featuring U.S. Olympic team members Tara Cunningham (weightlifting) and John Godina (track & field) during a 1:30pm ET press conference.
MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis, COO Mark Abbott, Earthquakes GM Alexi Lalas, F Landon Donovan and DC United F Alecko Eskandarian will ring the NYSE Opening Bell at 9:30am ET.
The Fifth Annual Houston Astros Bilingual Baseball Clinics series begins at charity centers around Houston. Minute Maid and Quizno’s Subs are sponsoring the clinics.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The Metropolitan Transit Authority this month issued RFPs from marketing firms that they “would charge with landing sponsorship deals that could include anything from renaming historic stations to attaching corporate monikers to building projects like the long-awaited Second Avenue subway” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/27).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “New Orleans.”
“At the end of the American Revolution, this country controlled New Orleans.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “I have to apologize to all you tourists because you picked a bad time to come to New York City. All of the hookers are now up in Boston. … How about that Lance Armstrong? He won his sixth consecutive big bike race over there, the Tour de France, and it’s a huge thing, and after the victory, President Bush called him to congratulate him on being the first man to walk on the moon. … This is what Saddam Hussein does during the day. He writes poetry, he eats muffins, a little water coloring and he works in a garden. It sounds like somebody has given this guy a queer makeover. … They say Saddam Hussein is demoralized and dejected. Hey, try a decade at CBS. … Today was like the first big day of the Democratic National Convention up there in Boston and while the Democrats are holding their convention in Boston the Republicans are down in Florida tinkering with the voting machines. … The big moment at the Democratic National Convention was the speech by Bill Clinton and this was what was exciting: Bill Clinton was introduced by his wife, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. It’s fascinating. Historians were saying after the speech they believe it’s the first in the history of political conventions that an introduction contained the phrase, ‘philandering weasel’” (“Late Show,” CBS, 7/26).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Congratulations to Lance Armstrong on winning his sixth Tour de France. President Bush phoned Lance immediately after his win which was a surprise. Not that Bush called him, but that he was able to get past the French operator without the operator hanging up. I guess President Bush asked Lance if he would be back next year, and Lance said he didn’t know, and Bush said, ‘I know how you feel.’ Both Bush and Kerry said they were very impressed by Lance’s accomplishment. Oh sure, neither one of them was able to stay on a bike all year. … Today, the Democrats opened their convention in Boston. I can’t wait to find out who they’re going to nominate. It is so exciting. … Boston is the perfect city for the Democrats because the Democrats are like the Red Sox. They’re optimistic in the spring, concerned in the summer and ready to choke in the fall” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/26).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs Your Convention Speech Is Boring.”
| 10) “You begin by thanking all 4,353 delegates by name.” |
| 9) “Your only applause comes when your microphone stops working.” |
| 8) “You’ve got the coveted 5:30am slot.” |
| 7) “Halfway through the speech, workmen begin dismantling the podium.” |
| 6) “You tried to punch it up by asking Joe Lieberman for some of his priceless quips.” |
| 5) “Every other sentence begins with ‘So anyway…’” |
| 4) “The ghost of Harry Truman is giving you the ‘wrap it up’ signal.” |
| 3) “Networks cut away to live coverage of delegates smoking on the sidewalk.” |
| 2) “Teresa Heinz Kerry gets a standing ovation when she tells you to ‘shove it.’” |
| 1) “You’re described as a duller Al Gore.” |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Dolphins RB Ricky Williams retiring | Yankees-Red Sox series; D’Backs P Randy Johnson |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Ricky Williams | Yankees-Red Sox series; D’Backs P Randy Johnson |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Mets-Expos | Yankees-Blue Jays; Yankees 1B Jason Giambi |
| FSN | “I, Max” | Ricky Williams | Lance Armstrong winning the Tour de France; Yankees-Red Sox |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Ricky Williams | Mike Tyson; former NFLer Robert Smith, who also retired early |
HOT TOPIC: Last night’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” first reported on Ricky Williams retiring at 29:45 into the broadcast, with 4:29 of total coverage.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Spain?”
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