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Morning Buzz

Morning Buzz, September 24, 2004

The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, September 24, 2004
9:00am ET

MLB Negotiating With Peter Angelos Over Expos Relocation Today Or Tomorrow

NBA Referees Meeting Today In Chicago To Discuss League’s Latest Proposal

Marge Schott’s Estate To Officially Sell Her Stake In The Reds Today

Raiders Need Blackout Extension Deadline For Sunday’s Marquee Bucs Matchup

Gary Bettman Fines Tim Leiweke For His Comments On The Lockout

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


MLB STILL TRYING TO CONVINCE PETER ANGELOS OF EXPOS MOVE

USA TODAY reports that negotiations with Orioles Owner Peter Angelos about relocating the Expos to DC will take place today or tomorrow, “including phone calls with Commissioner Bud Selig.” Although a vote was not taken in yesterday’s gathering of the MLB Executive Council, there was “strong sentiment that in the best interests of the industry the Expos be relocated in Washington. By the same token, there was great concern for the harm a team 35 miles from Baltimore’s Camden Yards would cause the Orioles” (USA TODAY, 9/24).

Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON TIMES reports that the DC Sports & Entertainment Commission will “meet in a closed session tonight to approve the memorandum of understanding being negotiated between the city and the relocation committee.” The meeting will “familiarize the commission board with the terms governing the proposed move” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/24).


NBA REFEREES CONTEMPLATING LATEST CONTRACT PROPOSAL

ESPN.com reported that NBA referees will meet in Chicago today to “decide whether to accept or reject the league’s latest contract proposal.” Sources on both sides “expect a deal by the weekend, after a collapse in talks last week.” The referees’ lead negotiator Lamell McMorris: “I would say we’re close, but not there. There’s no doubt that things are looking better.” If the referees refuse this proposal, NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik will move ahead with plans to hire replacement officials (ESPN.com, 9/22).


MARGE SCHOTT’S OWNERSHIP OF THE REDS OFFICIALLY OVER TODAY

The CINCINNATI ENQUIRER reported that Marge Schott’s ownership of the Reds officially ends today, as Schott’s estate “will sell her one-fifteenth stake in the team to the other owners for $6.1[M].”  The proceeds of the Reds sale will go toward the estate of the charitable foundation established by Schott and her late husband. The sale is not expected to “affect the day-to-day operations of the Reds or to significantly change the ownership stakes of the other owners” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 9/23).


RAIDERS YET TO SELL OUT SUNDAY NIGHT TILT AGAINST BUCS

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that the Raiders have until 5:30pm PT today to sell out their Sunday night game against the Buccaneers after receiving a 24-hour extension from the NFL yesterday. About 5,000 tickets remained as of yesterday afternoon. ESPN will carry the game nationally, and KTVU-Fox – which “already has filmed a pregame show in anticipation of the broadcast and has committed to a postgame show regardless – will broadcast it locally if the remaining tickets are bought” today (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/24).


THE DAILY CONCLUDES OUR 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION TODAY

The Sports Business Daily concludes our 10thanniversary celebration today, with the unveiling of the most influentialexecutive in sports business over the past decade. In “From the Executive Office,” MLSco-Founder Alan Rothenberg looksback at the early days of MLS, and sees the league’s future growth tied tofacility development.

In “Ten For Ten,” we look to the future with ten executivesand ten athletes to watch, as well as ten people we wish we heard more from;not to mention the ten people we’ve probably heard enough from. In “Factors OfTen,” we compare stock listings for sports companies from ’94 to ’04.

Finally, we take a look back at memorable quotes from thepast two years. Can you guess who saidthese gems?

“I’m pouring this into an NCAA-approved cup. If you
have any NCAA-approved ice, I would appreciate that.”

“When I run for office, I knock on hundreds of doors,
and nobody ever says we need arenas or stadiums.”


MORNING BRIEFS

NHL Commissioner GaryBettman yesterday fined Kings President Tim Leiweke an undisclosed amount for saying on L.A. radio that thelockout would last for a year and for calling Bob Goodenow “a bald-faced liar” (Mult., 9/24).

Saturday night’s Oscar De La Hoya-Bernard Hopkins middleweight title bout “drew one million [PPV] buyers and grossed $56[M],” making it the second-most-lucrative nonheavyweight fight. The De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad bout in ’99 was bought by 1.4 million homes and grossed $71M (N.Y. TIMES, 9/24).

Arizona entrepreneur and Vikings suitor Reggie Fowler “has not talked to Vikings Owner Red McCombs since Fowler held a news conference two weeks ago. And Fowler hasn’t put up the $50,000 necessary for the NFL to do a diligence study on Fowler’s financial ability to own the club” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/24).

L.A. Memorial Coliseum GM Pat Lynch “expressed optimism Thursday concerning the possibility of an NFL franchise playing there” in ’08. Lynch added that the NFL “wants to make a decision on a venue by next May” (AP, 9/23).

DC United is “working with a local developer to acquire land” for a new 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium on the shores of the Anacostia River (WASHINGTON POST, 9/24).

The National Park System Advisory Board's Landmarks Committee yesterday voted to “strip Soldier Field of its National Historic Landmark status, agreeing with architectural analysts that the flying-saucer shaped stadium wedged between the field's columns destroyed its historic character” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 9/24).

Kansas Speedway will add 1,600 seats for the ’05 season,bringing capacity to nearly 82,000 (KansasSpeedway).

Finish Line yesterday reported Q2 ’05 net income of $20.8M,a 19% increase over $17.5M in the year ago period. While overall sales increased 15% from$270.8M to $312.2M, same-store sales jumped 6% (Finish Line).

IRL driver Sarah Fisher will make her NASCAR debut October 3 in the West Series Subway 150 at Phoenix Int’l Raceway (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/24).


ATTENDANCE WATCH

With their 78th sellout of the year, the Red Sox last night “set a club attendance record for the fifth straight year at 2,732,844,” for an average of 35,036. The club drew 2,724,162 last year, for an average of 33,632 (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/24).


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

Construction on the $103M Plaza Midtown condo and retail complex begins in Atlanta. Magic Johnson is investing $12.5M in the project. Condos in the 20-story towers will sell for $180,000-400,000 (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/24).

The Steelers are flying to South Florida a day earlier than usual in case their game against the Dolphins is moved up to Saturday to avoid Hurricane Jeanne (ESPN.com, 9/23).

The Seahawks will unveil a steel “State of Football” monument at Qwest Field, which will be “permanently displayed in the stadium plaza. The structure features replica helmets from every state high-school football program” (SEATTLE TIMES, 9/24).

The T’Wolves will announce a deal with Sonics Exec VP and former T’Wolves Dir of Player Personnel Billy McKinney that will make him the radio analyst for the team’s games on KFAN-AM, replacing J.B. Bickerstaff. McKinney’s contract with the Sonics expired in June (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/24).

Giants Exec VP & COO Larry Baer and LF Barry Bonds will attend the 1:00pm PT dedication of the Bobby Bonds Memorial Field at JFK Elementary School in Daly City.


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. Thisweek, Mets C Mike Piazza – thanks toa $20,000 appearance fee – agrees to assist team Apex Corporation on NBC’s “TheApprentice.”


IN OTHER NEWS….

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that TiVo yesterday named Herbalife Int’l CMO Matt Wisk CMO. Wisk is an “award-winning marketing vet who helped turn Herbalife and Nokia into household names.” The company also announced yesterday that it has surpassed 2 million subscribers (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/24).

USA TODAY reports that the SEC yesterday issued a cease-and-desist order warning GE for “too vaguely disclosing that it gave Jack Welch perks including free use of a New York luxury apartment and a corporate jet after he retired as CEO” in ’01. GE neither admitted nor denied wrongdoing, “customary in such settlements” (USA TODAY, 9/24).


FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “20thCentury Ships.”

“This British ship was named for a Roman province established in the area of Portugal in 27 B.C.”


LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman:“I had a terrible day. I spent theentire afternoon at the airport waiting to pick up Cat Stevens. … Homeland Security pulled singer Cat Stevens off of aflight and deported him. … Also, earlier today at the airport in Frankfurt, we captured Weird Al Yankovic. President Bush says he’s very excitedabout Cat Stevens. He says it provesthat we’re winning the war against singer-songwriters. … These are dark dayshere at CBS. You got CBS making upstories on the ‘Evening News’ and earlier in the week, CBS was fined for the Janet Jackson Super Bowl thing. CBS now says that they were duped by a fakebreast. … Good news as they’ve scheduled the Presidential debates. It’ll be JohnKerry and George Bush. There’s goingto be three debates and there’s going to be categories. Each debate will have a separatecategory. First category is DomesticPolicy, second category will be Foreign Policy. The third category will be Girl Groups From the ‘60s” (“Late Show,” CBS, 9/23).

NBC’s Jay Leno:“HBO has a big special this weekend: Cat Stevens at Guantanamo Bay. He was questioned by the FBI after his planeto Washingtonwas diverted because his name was on a government terror list. It’s bad enough our two candidates forpresident are stuck in the ‘70s, apparently so is airport security. … One weekfrom tonight, John Kerry will debate President Bush in Florida. Right now, Kerry has a bad cold and you can barely understand what he’ssaying so it looks like it should be a fair fight. In fact, Kerry’s voice is so bad his doctorshave advised him to rest his throat and only give one position on each issue. …The company that makes Twinkies has filed for bankruptcy. But the good news: the last batch of Twinkiesthey made should last until the year 2057. … The Pentagon is now considering anew rule to court-martial any soldier who patronizes a prostitute whilestationed overseas. So in other words,buy American. You don’t want to have adishonorable discharge” (“The TonightShow,” NBC, 9/23).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Messages Left On CatStevens’ Answering Machine” (“Late Show,”CBS, 9/23).

10) “We at Iraq Airlines heard what happened, so we’d like to offer you 20,000 frequent-fatwa miles.”

9) “I’ve been waiting to pick you up at Dulles for three days. Where are you?”

8) “Hi, this is Hall and Oates. How can we go about joining al Qaeda?”

7) “It’s Johnnie Cochran. Without a trial in court, you must not deport. Call me.”

6) “I’m calling from CBS News to confirm reports of a cat that can fly a plane.”

5) “It’s Britney. Sorry you couldn’t make it to my fake wedding.”

4) “I must have the wrong number – I was looking for Steven Katz.”

3) “Dude, it’s Osama. I have an extra ticket to see James Taylor. You in?”

2) “It’s Casey Kasem. Good news! You’re on the jihad top 100.”

1) “It’s Sean Penn and Michael Moore. Wanna triple date with the Dixie Chicks?”


LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

Net

Show

Lead

Next Items

ESPN

10:30pm ET “SportsCenter”

A’s-Rangers

American League West standings; Cubs-Pirates

FSN

“I, Max”

Yankees and Cardinals

Giants LF Barry Bonds; A.L. MVP

FSN

“BDSSP”

James Toney-Rydell Booker bout


FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What was the Lusitania?”


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

TheMorning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Mondaythrough Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for ane-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.

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