Morning Buzz, August 9, 2004

COMCAST BECOMES BEARS TOP-SHELF SPONSOR IN SEVEN-FIGURE DEAL

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE reported that Chicago’s Comcast SportsNet has become the Bears’ fifth “Hall of Fame” partner. The net receives the “right to use the team’s name and logos for news programs and to cover game press conferences live with coaches and players.” The Bears “not only get an estimated seven-figure fee for the sponsorship but also a portion of the ad revenue of Comcast’s Bears’ programming.” Comcast has a similar deal with the Eagles (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/6).

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that the deal, which will be announced today, includes sponsorship of an area at Soldier Field detailing the franchise’s history, now titled the Comcast Bears Den (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/9 issue).

NFL ANNOUNCES PERFORMERS FOR 2004 NFL OPENING KICKOFF SHOW

The NFL today officially announced plans around its ’04 opener featuring Colts-Patriots Thursday, September 9, on ABC. The game will be preceded by a one-hour special – “NFL Opening Kickoff.” The show includes performances by Mary J. Blige, Destiny’s Child, Elton John, Toby Keith, Lenny Kravitz at Gillette Stadium, while Jessica Simpson performs from Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville. Top-tier sponsors for the kickoff show include Campbell’s, Canon, Coors, Pepsi and Sony PlayStation. Associate partners are Gatorade, Gillette and Visa (NFL).

The K.C. STAR reported that Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez, Colts QB Peyton Manning, Giants DE Michael Strahan and Cowboys S Roy Williams will star in four TV spots as a group auditioning to perform at the kickoff show. The spots will air during nationally televised preseason games (K.C. STAR, 8/8).

NIKE PUMPING ITS CHUCK TAYLOR LINE IN “BRAND DEMOCRACY”

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Nike today is breaking the “first big brand campaign in recent memory for its Chuck Taylor line.” Titled “Brand Democracy,” the ads feature “relatively unknown artists, designers, directors and musicians, waxing about Chuck Taylor shoes and Converse.” The campaign opened in Europe last week and hits Asia next spring. The ads begin airing tonight on MTV, ESPN, Cartoon Network, BET, Comedy Central and others (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/9).

ARLINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGAIN TO DISCUSS COWBOYS DIGS

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reported that the Arlington City Council today will hold its fourth closed-door meeting in the past 15 days to discuss the stadium agreement being negotiated with the Cowboys. On the agenda will be lease payments, city financing and the length of the lease. The city is considering raising its sales tax from 7.5-8%, its hotel occupancy tax from 13-15% and its car-rental tax from 10-15%. All three tax increases need voter approval. The city “would spend $325[M] in a 50-50 deal with the team” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/7).

MSNBC.COM LAUNCHES “BIG PICTURE” AND “HOW-TO” SECTIONS

MSNBC.com this morning launched “Big Picture” and “How-To” interactive features on the Athens Olympics. Both of the sections are sponsored by Hyundai Motor America. In “Big Picture,” users can become a virtual member of the IOC board, view a tutorial on the host city selection process, discuss definitions of Olympic sports and test their guesses against Olympic records. In the “How-To” section, users learn details of how to accomplish Olympic feats and judge performances (MSNBC.com).

MAPLE LEAFS FARM TEAM MOVING TO RICOH COLISEUM FOR ’05-06

The AHL will hold its annual BOG meeting today, and the TORONTO STAR reported that the Maple Leafs will “receive the rubber-stamp approval” to put their farm team – the St. John’s Maple Leafs – in the Ricoh Coliseum beginning with the ‘05-06 season. A source said, “The devil is in the details, but the deal (with Ricoh) is basically done.” The Leafs have “already told St. John’s they will not be returning” (TORONTO STAR, 8/7).

MORNING BRIEFS

Jerry Colangelo was “forced out Friday” as D’Backs CEO, as the team’s new ownership group hired agent Jeff Moorad to operate the franchise. Moorad will assume CEO duties at the beginning of the year and will “become an investor in the team” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/7).

Malcolm Glazer this week will “attempt to buy the 28.9[%] stake in Manchester United owned by the Irish racing moguls John Magnier and JP McManus” (London TELEGRAPH, 8/8).

The IOC has provisionally suspended Bulgarian member Ivan Slavkov, after he was “filmed secretly discussing how votes could be bought in the campaign to host the 2012 Olympics” (London TELEGRAPH, 8/7). IOC President Jacques Rogge, on the suspension: “I’m more than disappointed. I’m an angry man” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 8/7).

Athens Olympic ticket sales “averaged 28,000 a week in June, but 52,000 were sold Saturday and another 20,000 Sunday, even though bank outlets were closed. Fans could be seen lining up in the hot sun at downtown kiosks Sunday” (USA TODAY, 8/9).

Rogge, on the ’06 Olympics: “We have asked our friends in Turin to accelerate preparations. We are sure they will deliver, but a sense of urgency is needed. It is the same thing we asked our Athens friends” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/9).

Two unnamed Americans on the Greek national baseball team failed drug tests Thursday and could be banned from the Athens Games (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/9).

ATTENDANCE WATCH

This past weekend’s X Games X drew a four-day crowd of 170,471 in L.A., including a single-day record of 79,380 on Saturday (L.A. TIMES, 8/9).

The estimated crowd of 250,000 for yesterday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway was about 10,000 short of a sellout, the first time in 11 years all tickets have not been sold for the race (AP, 8/8).

A record crowd of 21,900 attended the Pro Football HOF induction of Bob Brown, Carl Eller, John Elway and Barry Sanders in Canton, OH, surpassing the ’02 crowd of 17,700 (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/9).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

The WINNIPEG SUN reports that a billboard supporting the CFL Saskatchewan Roughriders near Canad Inns Stadium, where the Winnepeg Blue Bombers play, has been “defaced with the words ‘Bomber Pride’ painted in black” (WINNIPEG SUN, 8/9).

WEEKEND RAP

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

• Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan, on the Braves staying in contention year after year: “Wasn’t this year the tyranny was absolutely, positively suppose to cease? But (Braves GM John) Schuerholz keeps finding appropriate players and he isn’t doing it by simply waving the magic checkbook either. He’s just the best at what he does and so is his manager. Who annually does a better job – and don’t forget what he did in Toronto – than Bobby Cox?”

• Miami Herald columnist Dan LeBatard, on Mike Williams: “He has been betrayed by the NCAA, the NFL and our court system. Somehow because of a conspiracy of stupidity created around Williams, but not by him, the wide receiver has become a multi-million dollar talent without a workplace, an education or a reason to believe in college or pro football.”

• K.C. Star columnist Jason Whitlock: “Ernie Els has been golf’s most impressive player this year … (because) despite his slip-ups, he’s demonstrated amazing resolve in the majors this season.”

• ESPN’s John Saunders, on Virginia Tech QB Marcus Vick being suspended for the season: “While Michael Vick has been running from linebackers, Marcus has been running from the law. … He may face a greater punishment for tarnishing a name that has become football royalty. Michael told reporters this week, ‘I don’t want to talk about Marcus.’ An older brother is supposed to lead while the younger follows. At least Michael did his part” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 8/8).

Heard elsewhere over the weekend:

• NBC’s Rehema Ellis, on steroid scandals at the Athens Games: “The Olympic image is taking a hit even before the games begin” (“Nightly News,” NBC, 8/7).

• ESPN’s Mark Schwarz, on sports agents Kevin and Carl Poston: “The Postons have six business degrees, 50 clients and a reputation for being the agents NFL teams love to hate” (“OTL,” ESPN, 8/8).

• Cubs VP/Marketing & Broadcasting John McDonough, on who would sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” at Cubs games after the death of Harry Caray: “It kind of made sense to me being around (Caray) all those years to get celebrities to come up and do the seventh inning stretch, … (and) honestly, we hope they’re bad, because it humanizes them” (“TWIB,” Fox, 8/7).

• Mike Ditka, on singing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” at Wrigley Field: “It was ridiculous. I sang it in about 30-seconds. I know how bad I sound, so I wanted to get it over with” (“TWIB,” Fox, 8/7).

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

The New Orleans Fair Grounds will file motions asking a bankruptcy judge to approve its $25M settlement with Louisiana horsemen, after a district judge ruled the venue was “improperly withholding video poker revenue from purse supplements.” The motions also ask the judge to dismiss the case and to “put off a court auction of the track scheduled for August 16,” in which Churchill Downs would be the opening bidder at $45M (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 8/8).

The Colts will begin “The Grand Finale,” their latest push to sell season tickets. The goal is to “sell 1,000 full- and mini-season ticket packages in 10 days” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/8).

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will begin preliminary work to repave the entire track, the first repaving since ’95 (AP, 8/8).

Disney Sports Attractions will announce the hiring Kellen Winslow as Dir of Planning & New Event Development. Winslow will be responsible for expanding on Disney’s “current holdings in the sports and recreation division.” Also today, Disney’s Wide World of Sports will unveil four new multi-sport fields, named Hess Fields (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/9).

Today is National Thoroughbred Racing HOF day at Saratoga Race Course. Trainer Shug McGaughey, jockeys Kent Desormeaux and the late Jimmy Winkfield, and equine champions Skip Away, Flawlessly and Bowl of Flowers will be inducted into the Hall. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is the keynote speaker (N.Y. POST, 8/9).

THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…..

This week’s cover story reveals that the NHL has advised its member clubs to avoid refunding sponsors unless 25% or more of the upcoming season is canceled.

For these stories and more, please visit the SportsBusiness Journal.

EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

IN OTHER NEWS….

Both TIME and NEWSWEEK this week offer cover stories on al Qaeda’s targeting of the U.S. TIME examines “al Qaeda in America,” while NEWSWEEK offers “Target: America.”

NEWSWEEK reports that Donald Trump will offer “Trump’s Signature Collection,” a clothing line for to-be-executives, as early as this fall. The collection features suits, shirts, ties, sport coats and possibly golf wear (NEWSWEEK, 8/16 issue).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Time Magazine Covers.”

“The two years the following covers hit the stands.”

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “You folks picked a good time to come to New York because there’s a big terror alert. Nice timing. Where are you going next week, Fallujah? … I don’t think it has anything to do with terrorism. The reason there’s so much tension in the city now because all of the shrinks and hookers are on vacation. … I believe from my own observations things are loosening up just a little, and I’ll tell you why. Today, no matter how hard I tried, I could not get strip searched. … There’s not a thing to worry about here in New York City. The city has 50,000 bomb-sniffing rats. … Everybody in New York City is getting ready for the Republican Convention. All the crack dealers, for example, are now selling Viagra. … ABC is going to start running commercials for breast enlargement. Actually, I believe the first one ever was run by CBS during the Super Bowl halftime. … The Statue of Liberty has been reopened. It underwent a two-year restoration and this was all paid for not by tax dollars, but by corporate sponsors, and I think that explains now why instead of a torch she’s holding a can of Red Bull” (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/6).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “In less than a year, Governor Schwarzenegger has learned a lot, he really has. He’s learned tax structure, he’s learned negotiation strategy. He’s learned the ins and outs of state government. The only thing he hasn’t learned is the correct way to pronounce California. … President Bush told the unemployed people in Ohio there are a lot of jobs out there you just have to be willing to commute to, you know, like India. … There’s more bad news for Ralph Nader today. According to the latest poll, he’s six points behind the ‘Manchurian Candidate.’ … You know that man who was accused of fondling a teenage girl at Disney World while wearing the Tigger costume? He was found not guilty. He was found not guilty after the guy’s lawyer put on the Tigger costume in court to show how difficult it would be to fondle someone in the Tigger costume. In Colorado today, Kobe Bryant was spotted in court dressed as Winnie the Pooh” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/6).

SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

Last night’s 11:00pm ET edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” anchored by Dan Patrick and Craig Kilborn as part of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” Old School, led with Red Sox-Tigers, followed by A’s-Twins and Rangers-Orioles.  The first non-MLB report, at 12:31 into the broadcast, was the USA-Turkey men’s basketball exhibition game.

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: COLLATERAL DAMAGE AT THE THEATER

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that DreamWorks’ “Collateral,” starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx topped the weekend box office with an estimated $24.4M at the gate – “on a par with Cruise’s previous R-rated openings.” Warner Bros.’ “The Last Samurai” opened to $24.3M last winter, while Paramount’s “Vanilla Sky” opened to $25M in ’01. Meanwhile, the top 12 films “collected an estimated $97.7[M]. That represented a sharp 31% downturn from the $142.4[M] that the top 12 capture the previous weekend” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/9).

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What are 1945 and 2003?”

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