| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | City Of Chicago Today To Get More Details On Mesh Netting At Wrigley Field |
| • | Packers To Announce Profits During Annual Shareholder Meeting Today |
| • | Changes On Tap As Saratoga Race Course Today Opens Its 136th Season |
| • | Whalers Founder Howard Baldwin Eyeing NHL Franchise For Kansas City |
| • | Levi Strauss, Procter & Gamble To Appear In EA Sports’ “NASCAR 2005” Game |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
CHICAGO WANTS MORE DETAILS ON WRIGLEY FIELD MESH NETTING
The AP reported that the City of Chicago today will “receive further details on the installation of the heavy mesh netting” that is expected to be in place at Wrigley Field prior to the Cubs’ game against the Phillies on Friday. The city has the power to prevent Friday’s game “if the netting is not fully installed or if city officials conclude the netting does not adequately protect fans” from falling chunks of concrete on the undersides of the ballpark’s upper deck (AP, 7/27).
Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek “gave the Cubs the go-ahead to begin” Friday’s game once the netting is installed (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/28).
PACKERS ANNOUNCING PROFITS DURING SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
The Packers today will host their annual shareholders meeting, and the Green Bay PRESS-GAZETTE noted that the team will report ’03 “net income of $20.8[M] for the fiscal year ending March 31. The team also added $30[M] to its corporate reserve, which grew to $84[M].” Additionally, the club placed third in NFL merchandise sales from April ’03-March ’04. Instead of ending the event with a public Q&A sessions, as the franchise has down in the past, shareholders “will be invited onto the stage to speak directly” to Packers execs (Green Bay PRESS-GAZETTE, 7/27).
Meanwhile, Packers VP/Football Operations Mark Hatley passed away yesterday at the age of 54 (Packers).
CHANGES ON TAP AS SARATOGA RACE COURSE OPENS 136th SEASON
Saratoga Race Course opens its 136th season today, and DAILY RACING FORM noted that there is a “change from a competitive standpoint for the gambling dollar as 1,300 video lottery terminals are located across the street at the harness track.” Additionally, a change in policy has “eliminated the issuance of free passes, which may affect attendance figures.” Average daily handle from all sources passed $16M the last two years, and average daily attendance was a record 29,147 last year (DAILY RACING FORM, 7/27).
Today’s opening day weather will “feel distressingly similar to last July’s. Yesterday’s heavy rains are expected to continue, and … it’s unlikely that the opening-day attendance record of 32,913 (set in 2002) will be threatened” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/28).
Outgoing NTRA Commissioner & CEO Tim Smith said that his decision on whether to join NYRA would be made “by the end of August, after discussing the position with New York racing officials, regulators, and legislators” (DAILY RACING FORM, 7/28).
NAME OF SPORTS MUSEUM NEAR CAMDEN YARDS TO BE UNVEILED
The Baltimore SUN reports that Maryland Lt. Governor Michael Steele today will announce Sports Legends at Camden Yards as the name for the museum going into Camden Station adjacent to the ballpark in Baltimore. The museum will “house all sorts of Maryland sports archives and memorabilia – from the Orioles Hall of Fame to Maryland amateur baseball, and from the Colts to the Ravens. The site will be an expansion of the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Museum” (Baltimore SUN, 7/28).
THE DAILY UNVEILS RESULTS OF MOST MARKETABLE OLYMPIAN SURVEY
Beginning in mid-June, THE DAILY asked over 60 marketers, sponsorship consultants and members of the media who they believe to be the most-marketable U.S. Summer Olympian in a traditional Olympic sport, thus eliminating sports such as basketball, soccer, tennis and others that are constantly part of the American consciousness, not just in Olympic years. Points were awarded on a sliding five-point scale. A first-place vote received five points, a second-place vote earned four points, and so on. Please see today’s Sponsorship, Advertising & Marketing section for the complete results.
MORNING BRIEFS
Hartford Whalers Founder & former Penguins minority Owner Howard Baldwin yesterday said that he “will begin the process of forming an ownership group that would seek [an NHL] franchise for Kansas City if the proposed arena is approved” (K.C. STAR, 7/28).
Levi Strauss and Procter & Gamble have paid to appear in EA Sports’ upcoming “NASCAR 2005: Chase for the Cup,” which is “generating over $1[M] million in ad revenue” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/28).
Pat Summerall yesterday said that he is “regaining his strength after [an April 10] liver transplant and may be in the broadcast booth for at least a few games this NFL season.” Summerall would like to return to a Fox booth (AP, 7/28).
Islanders co-Owner Charles Wang and GM Mike Milbury yesterday announced the team’s acquisition of its AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NHL).
After Smarty Jones was pulled from the Pennsylvania Derby due to a foot injury, trainer John Servis yesterday “did not rule out” that the horse may have raced for the last time (USA TODAY, 7/28).
ACC Commissioner John Swofford yesterday said that he hopes to give the initial host city of the league’s championship game “a two-year contract with a two-year league option” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 7/28).
Also, the ACC yesterday proposed to the NCAA that football and basketball athletes receive five years of eligibility (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 7/28).
The Redskins yesterday signed first-round draft pick Sean Taylor to a seven-year contract that could total $40M. The deal includes a $7.2M signing bonus, option/roster bonuses worth $6M and $22M in performance incentives (USA TODAY, 7/28).
About 20 interested bidders for the Miami Arena were briefed yesterday on procedures for the August 10 auction of the facility. Interested bidders “need to review or purchase a $280 information packet about the [arena] by Aug. 3, and bring two cashier's checks for $1[M] and $2[M] to the auction” (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 7/28).
U.S. District Judge John Heyburn II yesterday denied an injunction sought by Harold Weston, who wanted a hold placed on the proceeds of Friday’s Danny Williams-Mike Tyson bout. Weston claims he is owed $300,000 in connection with the fight (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 7/28).
ATTENDANCE WATCH
A sellout crowd of more than 6,500 attended last night’s Lilia Osterloh-Maria Sharapova Acura Classic match at La Costa Resort & Spa (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/28).
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
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Vikings officials will meet this morning to discuss issues for a new stadium (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/28).
Chargers President Dean Spanos will present the San Diego Fire-Rescue Dept. and the San Diego Police Dept. with money to buy equipment during a 10:00am PT news conference.
The 102nd Western Amateur golf tournament begins at Point O’Woods Golf & Country Club in Benton Harbor, MI, where former MLBer Mark McGwire will make his competitive golf debut (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/26).
ESPN RANKS THE BEST COACHES OF THE PAST 25 YEARS
Last night ESPN aired “ESPN25: Who’s #1? Best Coaches,” the net’s ranking of the best 25 coaches of the past 25 years (ESPN, 7/27):
| RK | COACH | RK | COACH |
| 1) | Dean Smith | 14) | Joe Gibbs |
| 2) | Scotty Bowman | 15) | Jimmy Johnson |
| 3) | Mike Krzyzewski | 16) | Dan Gable |
| 4) | Phil Jackson | 17) | Tom Osborne |
| 5) | Pat Summitt | 18) | Bela Karolyi |
| 6) | Bill Walsh | 19) | Bob Knight |
| 7) | Don Shula | 20) | Al Arbour |
| 8) | Joe Paterno | 21) | Bobby Bowden |
| 9) | Eddie Robinson | 22) | Larry Brown |
| 10) | Pat Riley | 23) | Steve Spurrier |
| 11) | Bill Parcells | 24) | Anson Dorrance |
| 12) | Geno Auriemma | 25) | Tony LaRussa |
| 13) | Joe Torre | | |
IN OTHER NEWS….
Overall viewership of the Democratic National Convention across broadcast and cable outlets dropped from an average of 20.09 million on the ’00 convention’s first day to 18.48 million Monday night. Broadcast networks experienced a drop from 17.19 million viewers in ’00, to 13.48 million this year. Cable viewership rose from 2.89 million in ’00 to roughly 5 million Monday night. ABC, CBS and NBC carried only one hour of convention coverage beginning at 10:00pm ET (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/28).
According to a JupiterResearch study released yesterday, online ad spending is expected to nearly double by ’09 to $16.1B and “represent a much higher proportion of marketers’ total budgets in that time.” Internet advertising will grow 27% this year to $8.4B (REUTERS, 7/27).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Big In The USA.”
“This state is home to the USA’s largest portrait busts.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “It’s really cool here in New York City, really cooler than it ought to be at this time of year, but I want to tell you something, not as chilly as that hug last night between Bill and Hillary. … How many folks saw the Democratic Convention last night on TV? To find this kind of excitement you’d have to go back to the Mondale/Ferraro era. … There was one uncomfortable moment at the Convention last night when Al Gore accepted the nomination. … Here was the line-up of speakers earlier tonight at the Democratic National Convention. You had Ted Kennedy kicking things off, then you had Howard Dean and then you had Teresa Heinz Kerry. Yes sir, it was Loose Cannon Tuesday. … Michael Moore was in attendance at the convention earlier tonight, which explains the extraordinarily tight security around the buffet. … How about former President Bill Clinton’s big speech last night? How about Bubba? He had to stop 23 times for applause and three times for sex” (“Late Show,” CBS, 7/27).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “It was so hot today, President Bush picked up a copy of the 9-11 report just to fan himself. I was sweating like John Kerry trying to come up with a personality before Thursday’s speech. … Former President Clinton did not give the keynote address. However, I understand he did give a key, a note and his address to a waitress who was working the concession stand. … Did you see Kerry trying to throw out the first pitch at the Yankees-Red Sox game the other night? … In fact, his pitch was so bad today he was offered a contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. … Lance Armstrong is on his way back to America for a well deserved rest. Do you know what I admire about Lance Armstrong? Finally, there’s an American in Europe who looks good in shorts. … President Bush invited Lance Armstrong to the White House. Not to congratulate him but to teach him how to ride a bike properly” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 7/27).
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Dolphins | Carmelo Anthony guaranteeing gold; Pirates trading P Kris Benson? |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Why Ricky Williams retired | Ravens RB Jamal Lewis; NFL starting the season later in the year |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Cubs-Brewers, Maddux Gets #299 | Twins-White Sox; Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez |
| FSN | “I, Max” | Falcons & Eagles at training camp | Ricky Williams’ retirement; Padres |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Twins-White Sox | Carmelo Anthony guaranteeing gold; Magic Johnson |
HOT TOPIC: Last night’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” first reported on USA Basketball at 37:52 into the broadcast, with 2:32 of total coverage.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is South Dakota?” The busts are located at Mount Rushmore.
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