Morning Buzz, November 11, 2004

INSTANT REPLAY AMONG OTHER ITEMS ON TODAY’S MLB AGENDA

The AP reported that MLB GMs will continue to meet today in Key Biscayne, Florida, and “there seems to be growing support among teams to join the NFL, NBA and NHL in using instant replay on calls such as fair or foul and homer or not, but definitely not balls and strikes.” But even if replay comes up for a formal vote, there is “no assurance that it would show up during games anytime soon.” MLB VP/On-Field Operations Bob Watson: “I don’t see it and I don’t think the commissioner is in favor of it, either” (AP, 11/10).

The MIAMI HERALD reports that during yesterday’s meetings, GMs discussed a wide range of topics, “including international baseball, the June amateur draft and the possibility [an MLB] game” in Europe (MIAMI HERALD, 11/11).

IOC EYEING CANADIAN TV RIGHTS FOR UPWARDS OF $120 MILLION

IOC members today begin their tour of Canada’s sports networks, and the TORONTO STAR reports that the TV rights negotiations for the 2010 and 2012 Games “could be the most intense bidding since Calgary got the games” in ’88. The IOC is seeking a $120M payout from the nets “based on NBC’s record $2.2[B] deal for the 2010 and 2012 Games and the lure of the 2010” Vancouver Games. The previous deal was with CBC for $165M for five Olympics (TORONTO STAR, 11/11).

CHURCHILL MEET CONTINUES TODAY WITH NO JOCKEY DEAL IN SIGHT

The fall meet at Churchill Downs continues today and the LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER reports racing resumed as usual yesterday, despite a group of jockeys being banned from the track over an “insurance dispute.”  No meetings “were taking place with jockeys or officials of The Jockeys' Guild, although officers from the guild flew to Kentucky on Tuesday night” (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 11/11).  Churchill Downs Inc. President & CEO Tom Meeker said of the jockeys threatening to sit out races, “It wasn't a boycott, and now it's not a lockout.  It's just a case of some guys who don't want to ride" (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).

NFL BLACKOUT WATCH: JAGUARS EXPECTING BLACKOUT OF LIONS

The NFL’s blackout deadline looms at 1:00pm local time, and the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that the Jaguars need to sell 8,000 tickets to Sunday’s game against the Lions at Pro Player Stadium to avoid a blackout (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/11).

As of last night, the Saints needed to sell 4,629 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs at the SuperDome to air on local TV (AP, 11/10).

In Arizona, after two straight home wins, the Cardinals, as of last night, had distributed 35,312 tickets for Sunday’s game against the Giants at Cardinals Stadium (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/11).

TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE…

Which TV exec, after recently leaving FSN to join YES, home of his beloved Yankees, feels that the best thing about returning to N.Y. is the food at Shun Lee Palace on the East Side? To find out, read today’s Sports Industrialists section of The Daily.

MORNING BRIEFS

MSG Networks President Mike McCarthy yesterday announced his resignation after a 23-year tenure with the company. McCarthy will stay on as a consultant and participate in the search to find his successor (MULTICHANNEL.com, 11/11).

Angels President Dennis Kuhl yesterday agreed to meet with Anaheim city officials to discuss the renaming of the team to the Los Angeles Angels. No date has been set for the meeting (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency yesterday announced U.S. sprinter Jerome Young has been banned for life after testing positive for a banned blood booster EPO this summer (L.A. TIMES, 11/11).

The NHL and the Elite Ice Hockey League of Great Britain (EIHL) announced yesterday that Eliteleague.co.uk is joining the list of NHL.com affiliates. The EIHL represents the first international league site to join the network (NHL.com).

ATTENDANCE WATCH

Serena Williams defeated Anastasia Myskina at the WTA Championships in L.A. last night in front of 8,127 people, the “largest crowd for opening day in the tournament's three-year run at Staples Center.” Wednesday was “billed as ‘Singles Night,’ complete with a party in the upstairs restaurant that could be heard on the court. Several times in the first two matches, the chair umpires unsuccessfully asked the crowd to quiet” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 11/11).

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 Red Sox and the ‘04 World Series Trophy will visit Rhode Island’s State House in Providence at noon ET. Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino and P Bronson Arroyo will attend (Red Sox).

The 76ers will hold a Basketball 101 clinic at 4:30pm ET at Paley PAL in Philadelphia. 76ers Ambassador of Basketball World B. Free and radio announcer Tom McGinnis will participate (76ers).

Red Sox CF Johnny Damon’s hometown of Orlando has declared today “Johnny Damon Day” and will present him with a key to city (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/10).

NYC2012 will hold an 11:30am ET celebration on the Brooklyn Bridge in N.Y. to send off the city’s IOC bid. Governor George Pataki, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gold Medalist Justin Gatlin, among others, will participate (NYC2012).

Dolphins FB Rob Konrad will shoot the Dairy Farmers of America’s “Milk Mustache” ad at 11:00am ET at the Dolphins training facility at Nova Southeastern Univ. Posters of the ad will be distributed at the December 20 Patriots-Dolphins game.

IN OTHER NEWS….

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that 19 ABC affiliates tonight plan to pre-empt the net’s unedited broadcast of “Saving Private Ryan” because of the recent “FCC crackdown on indecent broadcasts” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/11).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "World Flags"

“Never directly seen in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s featured on the flags of five of the world’s countries.”

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “My name is Dave Letterman. I’m your new hard-ass Attorney General. Attorney General John Ashcroft has resigned, but he said he’s proud of his record: 3,000 arrests, no indictments. Commerce Secretary Don Evans has also resigned, and this really took Bush by surprise. He had no idea we had a Commerce Secretary. … It’s cold in New York City. It’s so cold the Polar Express stopped here and coming to work this morning, I took the subway, or as I call it the Bi-Polar Express. … Yasser Arafat is not dead, but he may not be well enough to attend his own funeral. Apparently, Arafat is technically alive. You know, like my chances of hosting the Academy Awards again. … CBS now has been fined $550,000 for that Janet Jackson episode at the Super Bowl. That’s the most money CBS has paid for a boob since they hired me” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/10).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “John Ashcroft has stepped down from his position as Attorney General. He said he wants to spend more time not dancing with his wife. Commerce Secretary Don Evans also resigned. Evans said he didn’t want to resign, but when your country doesn’t have anymore commerce, you don’t need a secretary. … French doctors say Yasser Arafat’s condition has dramatically worsened, which is pretty bad, because a couple of days ago, they said he was dead. Actually, what they said instead of looking like Ringo Starr, he now looks like Keith Richards. … Madonna said we should pull all of our troops out of Iraq. Today, Donald Rumsfeld said, ‘Well, we’re going to wait and hear what Britney Spears has to say.’ … (Dolphins head coach) Dave Wannstedt announced he is quitting. A lot of the Dolphins are very upset about it. Not that he quit, (but) that they couldn’t go with him” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/10).

LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is the Southern Cross?”

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

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