| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Thursday, November 18, 2004
9:00am ET | |
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| • | MLB Owners Today To Ratify The Decision To Move The Expos To Washington |
| • | City Council Speaker Today To Announce Opposition To West Side Stadium |
| • | IMG Unveiling Plans For Primus Worldstars Tour Featuring Locked-Out NHLers |
| • | Saints Seeking Blackout Deadline Extension While Jags Expect Fourth Blackout |
| • | Francesco Aquilini Signs Agreement To Acquire 50% Of Canucks & GM Place |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
EXPOS’ MOVE TO BE RATIFIED AT OWNERS MEETINGS IN CHICAGO
The MLB owners meetings begin today in Chicago, and the TORONTO STAR notes that the owners will ratify the decision to move the Expos to Washington, DC (TORONTO STAR, 11/18). USA TODAY reports the owners will be told that the Expos will be renamed the Nationals (USA TODAY, 11/18).
The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL reported that the owners “probably won’t vote on the ownership transfer of the [Brewers] to Mark Attanasio,” who will be in attendance. MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy said that approval is “expected shortly afterward.” DuPuy: “It’s just a matter of a couple of remaining details to be ironed out” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/16).
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reports that the owners will not vote on whether former agent Jeff Moorad can become a D’Backs Minority Owner “because the commissioner’s office is still reviewing his CEO application” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/18).
Meanwhile, the WASHINGTON TIMES notes that today marks the formal start of season-ticket sales for the Expos, as fans who previously registered for ticket information were sent emails yesterday allowing them “to submit $300 deposits for seats, a day earlier than the general public. Through November 24, those same early registrants will be given priority ordering status in the crush for tickets” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/18).
CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER TO OPPOSE PROPOSED WEST SIDE STADIUM
The N.Y. TIMES reports that N.Y. City Council Speaker Gifford Miller today will announce his opposition to the proposed $1.4B West Side stadium. Though Miller “supports the overall development of the West Side and an expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, he does not support the current plan for a stadium because of concerns about the financing.” Miller’s opposition is “more symbolic than anything else,” but he has been “repeatedly asked to take a position” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/18).
IMG TAPS NHL PLAYERS TO PLAY IN PRIMUS WORLDSTARS TOUR
The CP reports that IMG today at Wayne Gretzky’s restaurant in Toronto will unveil plans for the Primus Worldstars Tour, a ten-game tour from December 7-23 that will pit a team of locked-out NHLers against other all-star squads in Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden, Latvia, Norway and Poland. The players scheduled to participate include Martin Brodeur, Dominik Hasek, Mats Sundin, Sergei Fedorov and Joe Thornton. Gretzky and IMG organized a similar tour during the last NHL lockout in ‘94 (CP, 11/18).
‘05 LPGA TOUR SCHEDULE TO INCLUDE SECOND TRIP TO MEXICO
The ARIZONA DAILY STAR reports that the LPGA Tour will release its ‘05 schedule today, and it “will not include the Tucson Open.” The season will begin with the March 4-6 MasterCard Classic in Mexico City. It then will “skip a week – originally planned for Tucson – and resume” the following week in Phoenix. The Tucson Parks Foundation has until the end of the year to find a sponsor for the Tucson Open to return to the schedule. The schedule also is expected to include a second tournament in Mexico, the April 21-25 Corona Morelia Championship in Morelia (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 11/18).
The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports that the '05 schedule also will not include an event in the Chicago area. LPGA Tour Commissioner Ty Votaw said that the "inability to find a new title sponsor after Kellogg-Keebler chose not to renew its contract 'was the death knell' for the three-year old tournament" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/18).
SAINTS, JAGUARS IN DANGER OF LOCAL BLACKOUTS THIS WEEKEND
The NFL’s blackout deadline looms at 1:00pm local time, and the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE reports that approximately 4,460 tickets remain for Sunday’s Broncos-Saints game at the Superdome. The Saints are expected to ask the NFL for a 24-hour extension on the blackout deadline (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 11/18).
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION reports that about 5,800 tickets remain for Sunday’s Titans-Jaguars game, “making it all but certain to be blacked out.” The blackout will be the Jaguars’ fourth in five home games this year (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/18).
TODAY THE DAILY GOES ONE-ON-ONE WITH…
Which NASCAR driver got the winning streak he wanted out of his Packers to recover from a 1-4 start, and supports NASCAR’s decision to allow hard liquor sponsors? To find out, read today’s Sports Industrialists section of The Daily.
MORNING BRIEFS
Aquilini Investment Group Managing Dir Francesco Aquilini officially signed an agreement with Orca Bay Sports & Entertainment to acquire a 50% interest in the Canucks and GM Place (Canucks).
A New York Supreme Court judge yesterday “reserved decision on a request from [MSG] Networks for a preliminary injunction” that sought to block the Mets’ RSN. The team and its partners may “continue to develop the network” until a decision is made. There is “no indication when that would be” (NEWSDAY, 11/18).
The Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority yesterday confirmed that the NFL Cardinals’ $370M stadium in Glendale “is on budget and on schedule to open” for the ‘06 preseason (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/18).
Chief prosecutor Dimitris Papangelopoulos today charged Greek sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou with “avoiding a drug test on the eve of the Athens Olympics and faking a motorcycle accident hours later” (AP, 11/18).
Mark Grace yesterday inked a two-year extension to remain a D’Backs TV analyst. Former MLBer Matt Williams also will take on a part-time announcer’s role with the team (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/18).
Olathe, Kansas, is considering issuing $30-40M in general obligation bonds “to jump-start plans to build an [$339M] arena and shopping center” (K.C. STAR, 11/18).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
During a benefit for Joe Torre’s Safe at Home Foundation last week, comedian Billy Crystal joked of the ALCS, “All I remember is Curt Schilling and the bloody sock. Enough. Wash the sock. The last time someone kept a stain on clothes that long, a president was impeached.” More Crystal: “I was in Mr. Steinbrenner's box during Game 6 and Game 7. And it's part of my deal to call him 'Mister.' I have to say he was pretty calm. He didn't make videos of the beheadings. But after Johnny Damon hit the grand slam, it got a bit chilly. It was actually colder than Ted Williams in there” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/18).
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
Women in Sports & Events and the N.Y. Times will host a panel discussion, “Examining the Changing Landscape of Sports Coverage in the Digital Age,” this morning at the N.Y. Times offices in Times Square. N.Y. Times Sports Editor Tom Jolly will moderate a panel including NBAE Senior VP/Interactive Services Brenda Spoonemore, ABC Sports VP/Programming & Strategic Development Teri Wagner and N.Y. Times columnist Selena Roberts and reporter Lena Williams.
The Boy Scouts of America’s Greater New York Councils will present NBC Universal TV Group President Jeff Zucker with the Distinguished Citizen in Communication Arts “Good Scout” Award during a 12:30pm ET luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria in N.Y.
The second annual Sport Marketing Association Conference begins in Memphis, where FedEx Manager of Sponsorship Marketing Nancy Altenburg, Grizzlies President of Business Operations Andy Dolich, Coca-Cola North America Marketing Counsel Jim Dudukovich and others will discuss sports marketing. View the entire agenda.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The L.A. TIMES reported that by March, TiVo users “will see ‘billboards,’ or small logos, popping up over TV commercials as they fast-forward through them, offering contest entries, giveaways or links to other ads. If a viewer ‘opts in’ to the ad, their contact information will be downloaded to that advertiser — exclusively and by permission only — so even more direct marketing can take place. By late 2005, TiVo expects to roll out ‘couch commerce,’ a system that enables viewers to purchase products and participate in surveys using their remote controls” (L.A. TIMES, 11/17).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Science News.”
“In June 2000 Bill Clinton described it as ‘the most wondrous map ever produced.’”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “CBS had this big disaster movie. Three separate violent storm systems hit Chicago at the same time. It’s amazing. It’s all about violent weather. It stars Heather Locklear and Al Roker. It’s wonderful, and the weather systems are so violent in Chicago, they had to board up Oprah. … Playboy is going to have in the next issue a naked pictorial of McDonald’s employees. Honestly, how many times have you said to yourself, ‘Gee, this Big Mac is great, but boy I wish I could see those McDonald’s employees naked?’ … President Bush announced that he will not be burying anymore nuclear waste in the state of Nevada. He says he is looking for a new site in a blue state. … Today was the day President Bush was going to pardon the presidential turkey, but before he could pardon the turkey, it actually resigned. … So Colin Powell has resigned and Condoleezza Rice is replacing him, and in 2009 she’ll replace Jay Leno. … So the first thing you see on [‘MNF’] is the beautiful ABC actress Nicollette Sheridan, and she’s naked, and Terrell Owens is standing there, and so she jumps in his arms and now they’re in big trouble. There could be a fine. Think about it, that’s really more appropriate for halftime” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/17).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “How many watched that new reality show, ‘I’m A Cabinet Member: Get Me Out Of Here.’ Did you see what happened today? One of the Bush daughters resigned. … Colin Powell said today no one should be surprised that he is leaving. He said throughout his first term he always told President Bush that he always thought he’d only serve one term, and Bush said, ‘Me too!’ … Two White House turkeys were given a presidential pardon today, and afterwards, Scott Peterson went, ‘Gobble, gobble.’ … Kmart has announced plans to join forces with Sears. Their goal: to create the crappiest department store ever made. The total value of the deal: $125. … Contestants are now preparing for the 2005 Miss Vietnam USA pageant. That’s a real pageant. President Bush was going to be a judge but his dad got him out of it” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 11/17).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs You’re Watching A Bad Disaster Movie” (“Late Show,” CBS, 11/17).
| 10) “The big flood is averted thanks to half a squirt of Liquid Plummer.” |
| 9) “Actor playing seismologist hero has all the charisma of an actual seismologist.” |
| 8) “Climatic scene kills off half the regulars on ‘Hollywood Squares.’” |
| 7) “The big disaster? Duane Reade ran out of Bounce fabric softener.” |
| 6) “Not only is the killer storm leveling cities, it’s also haunted.” |
| 5) “Explosions are just crew members shouting, ‘Pcchewwwww!’” |
| 4) “Tornadoes suck up dozens of parked cars and gently put them down in less convenient parking spots.” |
| 3) “The film is directed by Stuart Spielberg.” |
| 2) “Dialogue includes many references to TGI Friday’s delicious mudslides.” |
| 1) “The Earth is saved by the hilarious antics of the Harlem Globetrotters.” |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Pedro Martinez talking to the Yankees | Controversial “MNF” intro; Colts WR Marvin Harrison |
| ESPN | “PTI” | “MNF” intro | Pedro Martinez; Bob Stoops suggesting ESPN is biased |
| ESPN | 11:30pm ET “SportsCenter” | Jazz-Magic | Sonics-Nets; Suns-Hornets |
| FSN | “I, Max” | “MNF” intro | Best player in the NBA?; Pedro Martinez |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Snoop Dogg practicing with USC | “MNF” intro; Red Sox P Curt Schilling |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is the Human Genome Project?”
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