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Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, August 13, 2004

The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, August 13, 2004
9:00am ET

All Eyes On Athens Today As Opening Ceremony Officially Begins ’04 Olympics

Arlington Study Today To Reveal Large Economic Boost From Cowboys Digs

Richard Childress Racing Today To Announce Deal With Driver Jeff Burton

Converse Today Unveiling The John Lennon All Star Peace Chuck Taylor

Prospective Expos Owner, Firm Hit With $250,000 Fine By The SEC

Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy!


THE WORLD’S EYES TURN TO ATHENS FOR OPENING CEREMONY

The ’04 Olympics officially begin with today’s Opening Ceremony at 8:00pm local time at Olympic Stadium in Athens. Greek English-language newspaper KATHIMERINI noted that the ceremony will “evoke a sense of Greek history through a ‘highly contemporary,’ technology-rich medium, using performers suspended from above and other elements ascending from the bowels below the stadium’s grassy surface.” The ceremony is expected to last 3.5 hours and will involve roughly 4,000 performers (KATHIMERINI, 8/12).

The TORONTO STAR noted that the show is “the invention of artistic director genius Dimitris Papaioannou and is designed to blend the ancient with the modern. … The sea is a primary motif [as part of the infield will be filled with water], as well as the pantheon of Greek deities that the original Olympians worshipped” (TORONTO STAR, 8/12).

Musician Bjork will perform “Oceania” at the finale of the parade of athletes. The song was written specifically for this occasion (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/13).

According to spectators at a dress rehearsal, organizers have “also planned a satirical pre-show that highlights Athens’ bumpy preparations” (AP, 8/12).

NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol: “No Opening Ceremony has ever had as unique an environment. It will really be breathtaking” (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 8/13).

Papaioannou: “It’s an announcement of the country’s spirit, the spirit of the hosts” (WASHINGTON POST, 8/13).

U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team G Dawn Staley will carry the American flag into the Opening Ceremony. USOC CEO Jim Scherr, Chair Peter Ueberroth and four other officials have decided “not to participate in the procession so the focus can be on the U.S. Olympians” (WASHINGTON POST, 8/13).

Scherr and U.S. Chef de Mission Herman Frazier have “expressed their dissatisfaction with what they called the chaotic fashion in which U.S. teams had marched in previous years. They are trying to impart a more disciplined attitude on the team, if only to help America’s sporting image” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/13).

For news on NBC’s coverage of the Opening Ceremony, see today’s Closing Bell.


Quote Of The Day From Athens

“I don’t mind the boos, just as long as nobody’s shooting at me.”

- U.S. gymnast Blaine Wilson, on the USOC recommending that American athletes keep a low profile in Athens (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/13).

OLYMPIC LINKS

STUDY: HEAVY ECONOMIC IMPACT WILL FOLLOW COWBOYS STADIUM

The FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM reports that the Economics Resources Associaties will present its findings on a cost-benefit study of a new Cowboys stadium to the Arlington City Council and the public during an 8:00am CT hearing at City Hall. According to the city-commissioned study, Arlington “stands to add $238[M] a year to its economy” by helping build the $650M stadium. Tarrant County would receive a $400M economic boost. Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck said that he will “vote to ask Arlington residents to approve tax increases and new taxes to pay the city’s $325[M] share” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/13).


TORONTO PROMISING C$1M IF AWARDED ’08 NBA ALL-STAR GAME

The TORONTO SUN reports that the Ontario government and Tourism Toronto today will promise C$1M in funding should Toronto be awarded the ’08 NBA All-Star Game. The funding is a condition of a bid by MLSE, which owns the Raptors. The All-Star Game would pump an estimated C$60M into the local economy and “put Toronto on display for 600 million TV viewers worldwide” (TORONTO SUN, 8/13).


CONVERSE UNVEILING JOHN LENNON ALL STAR PEACE CHUCK

The BOSTON GLOBE reports that Converse today will introduce the John Lennon All Star Peace Chuck, which will feature “a self portrait of the late musician.” The words “Imagine all the People Living Life in Peace” are embossed on the shoe’s toe cap. The sneaker is “part of a new collection intended to promote world peace.” The company will “issue a new artist-designed Peace Chuck every year till peace arrives” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/13).


PROPOSED NEWARK ARENA DEAL SET FOR CONDITIONAL ENDORSEMENT

The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports that the group evaluating Newark’s proposed arena deal is “expected to give its conditional endorsement of the project after a final closed-door debate today.” Among the conditions of the endorsements are that the city and the Devils “have to keep the project within the proposed $310[M] budget,” and the team has to “persuade fans to come to games in Newark and entice corporations to buy expensive luxury suites and club seats” and “prove to be a trustworthy partner that won’t abandon their lease if the arena is not a success” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/13).


SPONSOR-TROUBLED JEFF BURTON SIGNS WITH RICHARD CHILDRESS

Richard Childress Racing today will announce a multiyear agreement with driver Jeff Burton to drive its No. 30 AOL Chevy on the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. Burton will begin his stint in the car with the August 22 GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan Int’l Speedway. Burton drove for Roush Racing prior to this deal and has been unable to secure a permanent primary sponsor this season (THE DAILY).


MORNING BRIEFS

Prospective Expos owner Fred Malek and his DC-based investment firm, Thayer Capital Partners, received a $250,000 fine yesterday to “resolve a series of fraud charges involving the Connecticut state pension plan” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/13).

The White Sox’ latest planned renovations for U.S. Cellular Field consist of a “private upscale restaurant that includes in-game seat service [and] a left field double-decked practice field for kids” to be completed before the ’05 season (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/13).

The CFL yesterday announced a deal with Corus Entertainment to exclusively broadcast the November 21 Grey Cup from Frank Clair Stadium in Ottawa (CFL).


ATTENDANCE WATCH

A crowd of 69,299 attended last nights Falcons-Ravens game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, breaking the Ravens’ preseason attendance record of 68,550 set last year (WASHINGTON POST, 8/13).


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

Playboy’s ‘Women of the Olympics’ issue featuring USA high-jumper Amy Acuff on the cover hits newsstands today.

Horrow Sports Venture CEO Rick Horrow will debut as a sports business analyst during Westwood One’s Athens Olympic coverage.

The Miami Sports & Exhibition Authority, which oversees the Miami Arena, will consider Glenn Straub’s $28.1M bid to acquire the facility. If the sale is approved, closing is expected by September 21 (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 8/13).


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT…

Every Friday, the Morning Buzz highlights a video clip, chart or piece of information that might have fallen through the cracks. This week, six bachelors are surprised that their opponents in a 3-on-3 basketball game are not each other, as they battle for the affection of a 24-year-old model on UPN’s “The Player” (THE DAILY).


IN OTHER NEWS….

DAILY VARIETY reports that Craig Kilborn yesterday informed CBS execs that he is resigning his post as host of “The Late Late Show.” Kilborn: “I simply want to try something new. I can now focus on writing and producing different television projects I haven’t had time for.” Kilborn “probably will sign off by the end of this month or early next month” (DAILY VARIETY, 8/13).


FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Songs.”

“One of the first to sing it publicly was Baltimore actor Ferdinand Durang at Captain McCauley’s Tavern in October 1814.”


LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Free Mike Wallace! Free Mike Wallace! … Mike Wallace, who is 86-years-old, was arrested for disorderly conduct in New York City, after arguing with parking officials over where his limo driver had parked. Mike was mad. He was ready to fight. At one point he removed his jacket and his teeth. … Police officials said today this is the first time an 86-year-old man was handcuffed by someone other than Anna Nicole Smith. … Well folks, it’s that time again, everyone is going for the gold, but enough about Kobe’s accuser. … U.S. athletes have been warned against extravagant flag waving after winning Olympic medals or they will be dealt with. You can burn the American flag but if you wave it, oh my God, you’re in serious trouble. … For the first time in history, all 28 Olympic sports will be televised. They can televise all 28 because NBC has so many channels now. They got NBC, MSNBC, CNBC. We even have the Bravo Network for the gay sports like badminton and that ribbon thing. … Amy Acuff, who appears nude in the September issue of Playboy magazine, says one of the biggest misconceptions about the Olympics is that every athlete is 100% serious about being there. One of the biggest signs you‘re not serious, posing naked for Playboy” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/12).


LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

Net

Show

Lead

Next Items

ESPN

“Around The Horn”

Falcons QB Michael Vick

Reds CF Ken Griffey; Chargers

ESPN

“PTI”

PGA Championship

Michael Vick; Ken Griffey Jr.

ESPN

11:00pm ET “SportsCenter”

Yankees-Rangers

Devil Rays-Red Sox; Orioles-Angels

FSN

“I, Max”

Ken Griffey Jr.

Yankees 1B Jason Giambi; Michael Vick

FSN

“BDSSP”

Ken Griffey Jr.

Professional athletes’ retirement; George Brett

HOT TOPIC: Last night’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” first reported on the PGA Championship at 14:50 into the broadcast, with 2:14 of total coverage.


FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is the ‘Star Spangled Banner?’”


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

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