| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Newark City Council Today Expected To Approve $210M In Spending On Arena |
| • | Snohomish Representatives Today Making First Proposal For Racetrack Financing |
| • | DC City Council Reviewing Document That Governs Expos Relocation Today |
| • | Mets Owner Not Interested In Listening To Offers To Move Team To Meadowlands |
| • | Grizzlies Launching RSN, But No Carriage Deal Yet For Time Warner In Memphis |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
NEWARK CITY COUNCIL TAKING UNUSUAL APPROACH TO NEW ARENA
The Newark STAR-LEDGER reports that the Newark City Council today is expected to approve a deal to spend $210M on a new arena for the Devils. The city is “taking a nontraditional approach to approving financing for the 18,000-seat arena by taking a vote on the expenditure and clearing the way for demolition with only a one-and-and-a-half-page ‘term sheet’ on the deal.” Most cities and counties have “reached more extensive agreements before a governing body” votes (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/6).
WASHINGTON LAWMAKERS COLD ON PUBLIC FINANCING FOR TRACK
The SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER reported that Snohomish County (WA) today will make its first proposal on financing options for a NASCAR track. However, there “appears to be little enthusiasm among lawmakers for a deal that would use public financing to construct the 75,000-seat racetrack proposed” by ISC. Snohomish County Exec Aaron Reardon “envisions the 850-acre site … as serving a larger public purpose – with ball fields, walking trails and as a venue for community events” (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 10/5).
DC CITY COUNCIL REVIEWING EXPOS RELOCATION AGREEMENT
The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that DC Sports & Entertainment Commission Chair Mark Tuohey is meeting today with DC City Council members to “review a 32-page agreement with MLB that governs the relocation of the Expos, short-term use of RFK Stadium and construction of the new ballpark.” Yesterday a group of roughly 75 gathered at City Hall to protest the ballpark proposal (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/6).
Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON POST reports that MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, President & COO Bob DuPuy and Orioles Owner Peter Angelos yesterday “met for several hours in Milwaukee” over relocation compensation for Angelos. The negotiations are expected to continue today over the phone (WASHINGTON POST, 10/6).
Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich’s Press Secretary Greg Massoni said of yesterday’s meeting in Milwaukee, “Hopefully, they’ll have a signed deal, and I believe that’s what Peter went out there for” (Baltimore SUN, 10/6).
LUMBER MAGNATE RICKY SMITH COULD FINALIZE WHA PURCHASE
The TORONTO SUN reports that the fate of the WHA could become more clear today as lumber magnate Ricky Smith “attempts to complete purchase of the paper league as a single entity.” Smith’s attorneys have been “studying documentation for the purchase of the WHA trademarks from co-Founders Allan Howell and Dr. Nick Vaccaro” (TORONTO SUN, 10/6).
ESPN.COM LAUNCHING OPRAH-LIKE BOOK CLUB TODAY ON PAGE 2
SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL reports that ESPN.com today will launch an online book club on its Page 2, “an outgrowth of efforts by the site’s executives to capitalize on heavy interest in books featured on the portal.” The section will “highlight one sports book each month, with excerpts, polls and chats. Over time, the section will expand to include lists and other features related to sports books” (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/4 issue).
MORNING BRIEFS
News Corp. Chair & CEO Rupert Murdoch, on the upcoming NFL TV rights negotiations: “If someone comes in and offers $300[M] more than we do for the NFC, we’ll walk, but I don’t think that’s going to happen” (DAILY VARIETY, 10/6).
Mets Owner Fred Wilpon yesterday released a statement saying that he is not interested in “listening to offers to move the team to the Meadowlands” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 10/6).
MLS Earthquakes suitor Tony Amanpour yesterday said that the team “will play at least one more season in the Bay Area” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/6).
The Grizzlies yesterday formally announced their RSN, Grizzlies Regional Sports Network, will launch on November 3 and carry 60 of the team’s games during the ’04-05 season. While GRSN has carriage deals in place with Comcast and Charter for parts of Tennessee, the team has yet to reach a deal with Time Warner for the Memphis area (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 10/6).
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will not punish Yankees RF Gary Sheffield over his admission of unknowingly taking steroids in ’02 (USA TODAY, 10/6).
Today’s Astros-Braves NLDS Game One at 50,091-seat Turner Field will not be a sellout, but the Braves are “expecting a crowd of more than 40,000” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 10/6).
Hockey commentator Don Cherry “feels he has been betrayed by the CBC” as their one-year contract offer “stipulates he will not be paid during the [NHL] lockout” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/6).
ATTENDANCE WATCH
The WNBA late yesterday announced that the league surpassed the 2 million mark in attendance this year for the sixth consecutive season (WNBA).
The SEATTLE TIMES’ Steve Kelley writes the crowd of 8,826 at last night’s WNBA Monarchs-Storm game at KeyArena “made the gym feel as loud and expectant as the NBA in June. … Yo Seattle! If you love basketball the way you did in 1979, the way you did in 1996, you should have been here” (SEATTLE TIMES, 10/6).
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
Congressional Country Club execs are expected to formally announce that the USGA has awarded the 2011 U.S. Open and ’09 U.S. Amateur Championships to the club. The 2011 event will be the third U.S. Open at Congressional (WASHINGTON POST, 10/5).
Electronic Arts will announce plans to “build a videogame studio in China, putting a stake in the ground in what is expected to become the world’s largest online games market by 2007” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/6).
Univ. of Texas President Larry Faulkner will present Vikings Owner & UT alum Red McCombs with its Presidential Citation Award for ’04 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/28).
ABC’s Al Michaels will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 11:30am PT in front of Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard.
The post-FIFA Exec Committee press conference will be Webcast live at 10:00am ET.
The MLS Utah expansion franchise will unveil their inaugural head coach at 2:00pm ET.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The WALL STREET JOURNAL notes that Adelphia Communications’ BOD today will “examine whether [an] auction would yield a higher price” if Comcast and Time Warner bid against each other rather than together. To increase competition, the Adelphia board “may decide not to allow Comcast and Time Warner to submit a joint bid” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/6).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that America Online tomorrow will launch a new ad campaign with a new logo and a “refocused brand promise, posed as a question to consumers: ‘Want a better Internet?’” The print ads were developed by the Martin Agency in Richmond, VA, while the TV spots were created by BBDO Worldwide in N.Y. The TV spots will launch Monday during the MLB Playoffs (N.Y. TIMES, 10/6).
The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports that News Corp. will “consider buying out the 18% of its Fox Entertainment Group unit it doesn’t already own.” News Corp. Chair & CEO Rupert Murdoch: “Fox would be very cheap” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/6).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Americana.”
“This Monsanto product was developed as a covering to turn asphalt lots in urban areas into playgrounds.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “I had a horrible day. My mom – God bless her – she’s out in the backyard all day building her private rocket ship. … I guess on Friday, Martha Stewart goes to prison. It’s sad. I think the world will be safer with her off the streets. It’s one of those minimum-security prisons. There’s no locked gates, no barbed wire fences. It’s just the opposite of her country estate. … She’s already beginning to get in that prison mindset. Earlier today at a gourmet market, she tried to pay for her groceries with cigarettes. … Mount St. Helens is getting ready to erupt and today, John Kerry said it’s proof that Bush is losing the war on volcanoes. … Earlier tonight, it was the Vice Presidential debates with John Edwards and Dick Cheney. I thought Dick Cheney did pretty well. He only flat-lined twice. But good news for John Edwards: if he does not win in November he has a firm offer to be the new host of ‘Family Feud’” (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/5).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Tonight of course is the big Vice Presidential debate between Dick Cheney and John Edwards: the litigator and the defibrillator. They’re calling it ‘The Battle of the Undisclosed Location.’ … Did you see Cheney and Edwards together? Doesn’t it look like Mr. Wilson yelling at Dennis the Menace? Here’s my question: if Cheney is debating tonight, who’s running the country? … President Bush called Dick Cheney and told him he might not be able to watch the debate tonight because it’s opposite baseball. … Both sides now are using every angle to try and get voters. Like today, they just released new x-rays that show shrapnel still lodged in John Kerry’s leg from Vietnam and of course, the White House is fighting back. Today, they released x-rays of bits of pretzel lodged in Bush’s throat” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 10/5).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Things Auto Racing Has Taught Me,” read on-stage by Mario Andretti (“Late Show,” CBS, 10/5).
| 10) “How to take the Arby’s drive-thru at 135 miles an hour.” |
| 9) “Chicks can’t resist a guy who smells like motor oil.” |
| 8) “How many of you losers know what a wicker bill is?” |
| 7) “You can go to some fancy racing school, but here’s all you need to know – stand on it.” |
| 6) “I’d trade everything for a talking car like Knight Rider.” |
| 5) “You can win the Daytona 500 and still have no idea how to check your oil.” |
| 4) “My grandkids could sleep in until two minutes before school starts and I’d still get them there on time.” |
| 3) “Even if you’re one of the best race car drivers of all time, you still have to do crap like this.” |
| 2) “Although it has nothing to do with racing, here’s one thing I know, the 2004 Yankees are going all the way, am I right, people?” |
| 1) “Never get in a car with Letterman – he’s nuts.” |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” | Red Sox-Angels | Ricky Williams trying to return?; Fantasy football report |
| FSN | “I, Max” | Dodgers-Cardinals | Twins-Yankees; Chiefs-Ravens |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Ravens RB Jamal Lewis | Dale Earnhardt Jr. being fined by NASCAR; Mike Ditka |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Astroturf?”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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