| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | The NHL And NHLPA Today Continuing CBA Discussions In Montreal |
| • | Jordan Brand Today Announces Addition Of Four NFL Stars To Endorser Roster |
| • | ESPN Radio Hits The South Florida Airwaves Today With Several Local Guests |
| • | Canada’s TSN Today Celebrating Its 20th Anniversary With Eight Million Subs |
| • | CBS, Paramount Television Exploring Sitcom Based On Bobby Knight’s Life |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NHL, NHLPA CONTINUING CBA NEGOTIATIONS TODAY IN MONTREAL
The WASHINGTON POST notes that the NHL and NHLPA “met for several hours in Montreal yesterday and are expected to continue talks today aimed at reaching a new labor agreement.” The sides have “failed to make much headway in recent meetings” (WASHINGTON POST, 9/1). NHL Exec VP & CLO Bill Daly late yesterday released a statement that read in part, “I will refrain from commenting on the substance of the meeting until the conclusion of [today’s] session” (NHL).
JORDAN BRAND ADDS FOUR NFL STARS TO ENDORSEMENT ROSTER
Nike’s Jordan Brand today announced the addition of Packers RB Ahman Green, Colts WR Marvin Harrison, Eagles WR Terrell Owens and Dolphins DE Jason Taylor as endorsers. Other NFL players that endorse the brand include Raiders DT Warren Sapp, Cowboys RB Eddie George and Vikings WR Randy Moss (Jordan Brand).
ESPN RADIO HITS THE SOUTH FLORIDA AIRWAVES ON WAXY-AM
ESPN Radio launched this morning on WAXY-AM in South Florida with “Mike & Mike” at 6:00am ET. The station will feature a mix of local and national programming. “The Dan Patrick Show” will “mark the occasion with interviews” of Heat President Pat Riley, former Dolphins coach Don Shula and Marlins P Josh Beckett (MIAMI HERALD, 9/1).
The station is owned by Primetime Media Group, which is headed by Capital Real Estate Group President & CEO Joel Feinberg and also includes Sports & Sponsorships President Scott Becher as CMO, Capital Real Estate Group VP Kurt Murphy as CFO, and popular sports radio personality Jon "Stugotz" Weiner as GM (THE DAILY).
TSN CELEBRATING 20th ANNIVERSARY WITH EIGHT MILLION SUBSCRIBERS
Canada’s TSN today celebrates its 20th anniversary, and the TORONTO SUN notes that the net has eight million homes on its full cable distribution subscriber list (TORONTO SUN, 9/1). The TORONTO STAR writes, "TSN has become a major business success story and the most-watched and most profitable TV channel in the country. In getting there, it has revolutionized the television business and the sports industry in Canada” (TORONTO STAR, 9/1).
MORNING BRIEFS
CBS and Paramount Television are “exploring the development of a half-hour sitcom based on the life” of Texas Tech hoops coach Bobby Knight (LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 8/31).
ABC Sports/ESPN President George Bodenheimer, on ESPN2: “We’re looking at ways to give it more of its own identity. One of the ways that we are looking at … is to put more of our [EOE] product on ESPN2 and hockey” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/1).
ESPN talk-show personality Jim Rome is “on the short list of potential guest hosts” for CBS’ “The Late Late Show” (DAILY VARIETY, 8/31).
While Flyers C Jeremy Roenick yesterday characterized his involvement with gambling firm National Sports Consultants as “dumb,” he denied betting on hockey, saying, “It would be the stupidest thing in the world. As an athlete, anyone who would think of doing what Pete Rose did or jeopardizing their career…I would never do that” (ESPN.com, 8/31).
The first IRL “edition of the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg has been set for April 3, with title sponsorship from Honda” (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 9/1).
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
The Grizzlies, Memphis Public Building Authority and the Univ. of Memphis will hold an exclusive media unveiling of FedExForum from 2:00-4:00pm CT.
Today marks the first day entries will be accepted for the random drawing for tickets for the '05 Solheim Cup. The INDIANAPOLIS STAR notes that it is the first time a random drawing has been used for tickets to the event. Corporate partners and Crooked Stick Golf Club members have already acquired roughly 10,000 tickets (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/1).
Tiki and Ronde Barber’s children’s book, “By My Brother’s Side,” hits retail for $16.95 (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 9/1).
The Ravens will formally introduce CB Deion Sanders during a news conference after the former CBS NFL analyst joined the team yesterday (Baltimore SUN, 9/1).
ESPN RANKS THE SPORTS CONTROVERSIES OF THE PAST 25 YEARS
ESPN aired “ESPN25: Who’s #1?; Biggest Controversies” last night, ranking the 25 largest controversies of the past 25 years. The following details the top five (ESPN, 8/31):
| RK | CONTROVERSY |
| 1) | Pete Rose banned from MLB for gambling |
| 2) | O.J. Simpson found not guilty of double-homicide |
| 3) | 1980 Olympics boycott by the U.S. |
| 4) | Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan |
| 5) | 1994 World Series canceled due to MLB player strike |
IN OTHER NEWS….
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that Microsoft Chair Bill Gates yesterday joined Redskins Owner Daniel Snyder in “pushing for change at Six Flags Inc., causing a 25% jump in shares of the ailing amusement park operator.” Gates’ investment vehicle, Cascade Investment, “intends to engage the company’s management or board in discussions about improving its performance, and may talk to other holders about possibilities that include nominating a director” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 9/1).
NEWSDAY reports that Acclaim Entertainment has “ceased operating and has let go of most of its staff.” As of Monday, the company had “made no bankruptcy filing” with the SEC (NEWSDAY, 8/31).
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that former Secretary of Agriculture and Kansas Congressman Dan Glickman today begins his reign as Motion Picture Association of America President (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/1).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Metals.”
“Element no. 79, it’s estimated that all of it ever mined would only make a cube about 50 feet across.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “A lot of Republicans are in New York City for the big convention, but don’t worry, they will only be here until we are capable of self-rule. … It’s the second day of the Republican Convention, and tonight’s theme was strength through…ah, who cares. … Tonight’s convention got off to a rousing start with the Log Cabin Republicans medley of Broadway showstoppers. … Michael Moore was at the Republican Convention last night, which explains the extraordinarily tight security around the buffet, and last night at the Convention, Michael Moore, just like here, was booed mercilessly and I thought to myself, ‘Hey, welcome to my world.’ … John Kerry yesterday went wind surfing, because when you’re in a statistical dead heat, it’s time to kick back and relax. … It’s been crazy here in New York City with the Convention. We have had naked people in the streets, we have had all-night parties, arrests, and that’s just the Bush twins” (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/31).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “What was it, 102 degrees? I can’t imagine what the women’s beach volley players are wearing today. People were sweating like William Kennedy Smith every time he runs into an old girlfriend. … NBC got huge ratings for the Olympics, huge! In fact, the only people not watching the Olympics were those gymnastics judges. … Some of the Olympic sports were sold-out, (but) many of the Olympic venues were just giving away tickets. I mean what kind of people wait in line in the heat to see something free. I mean how pathetic is that? (“The Tonight Show” tickets are free) … The Gold medal went to Cuba for baseball. I’m not surprised Cuba won the baseball. I’m surprised Cuba didn’t also win in rowing. … What is that one sport in gymnastics, that ribbon dancing? What is that? Is that a sport? Didn’t that use to be called playing with the cat?” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 8/31).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things I Can Say Now That I’ve Won A Gold Medal,” read by the U.S. Gold Medal-winning women’s soccer team (“Late Show,” CBS, 8/31).
| 10) “Thinking soccer ball was Letterman’s head made it more fun to kick.” |
| 9) “I’m saving on my Gold Medal insurance thanks to Geico!” |
| 8) “Now that the Olympics are over, it will be fun to use our hands again.” |
| 7) “I swiped a couple miniature bottles of shampoo from the Athens Marriott.” |
| 6) “We tested positive for being 18 really hot soccer babes.” |
| 5) “I regularly go to McDonald’s to satisfy my Olympic-sized appetite. I just made $10,000 for saying that.” |
| 4) “It was such an honor to play in front of dozens and dozens of crazed fans.” |
| 3) “Thank goodness I won this thing – on the way to the theater my medal stopped two bullets.” |
| 2) “I’m pleased to announce that I’m now Mrs. Bob Costas.” |
| 1) “It’s pretty clear who wears the pants in the family now, huh Nomar?” |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Titans-Cowboys | Angels-Red Sox; Serena Williams’ U.S. Open outfit |
| ESPN | “PTI” | Deion Sanders or Ray Lewis? | Cowboys; Bobby Knight |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Indians-Yankees | Angels-Red Sox; Deion Sanders joins Ravens |
| FSN | “I, Max” | Cowboys | Jets close to extending QB Chad Pennington’s contract; Angels-Red Sox |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Serena Williams’ U.S. Open outfit | Mike Williams and Jeremy Bloom being denied by the NCAA; A’s P Barry Zito |
HOT TOPIC: Last night’s edition of ESPN’s “SportsCenter” first reported on the U.S. Open at 51:31 into the broadcast, with a report on Andy Roddick’s first round match. The broadcast had 0:27 of total U.S. Open coverage.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is gold?”
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