Morning Buzz, December 3, 2004

MLB OWNERS EXPECTED TO APPROVE EXPOS’ MOVE TO WASHINGTON

The WASHINGTON POST reports that MLB owners today are expected to approve the decision to move the Expos from Montreal to Washington, DC, where they will become the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig yesterday during a speech at the Greater Washington Board of Trade said that the league “would not reopen negotiations with District officials over the terms of a signed agreement to build a stadium in Southeast Washington, even though city leaders intend to push for additional concessions” (WASHINGTON POST, 12/3).

BARRY BONDS' FEDERAL BALCO TESTIMONY SURFACES THIS MORNING

USA TODAY reports that WADA Chair & IOC Juridical Commission member Dick Pound today will bring up Marion Jones’ involvement BALCO case in a teleconference with other commission members. BALCO Founder Victor Conte during an interview on ABC’s “20/20,” which is scheduled to air tonight, admits to creating a doping regimen for Jones in the weeks before the 2000 Olympics.  Pound: “We would just look at it and say, ‘What advice do you give to Jacques Rogge’” (USA TODAY, 12/3).

The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that Giants LF Barry Bonds, during his testimony in the BALCO trial last December, said that he had “received and used clear and cream substances from his personal strength trainer, Greg Anderson, during the 2003 baseball season, but was told they were the nutritional supplement flaxseed oil and a rubbing balm for arthritis” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/3).

A baseball source told the S.F. CHRONICLE that Jason Giambi “faces possible discipline” from MLB for his use of steroids. Additionally, the Yankees “could argue that he breached his contract and terminate the rest of the agreement or at least make it nonguaranteed” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/3).

JACQUES ROGGE WANTS 2012 CANDIDATE CITIES TO COOL SNIPING

The LONDON TIMES reports that IOC President Jacques Rogge this morning in Croatia was to ask the leaders of the five candidate cities for the 2012 Olympics to “focus on their own strengths, to focus on their own message, on their proposal, on their bid.” Rogge said he wanted the candidates to “behave with respect for each other and with fair play, and to have a more constructive attitude.” After the “dressing-down,” the cities were to “plead for understanding on the difficulties of the bidding rules” (LONDON TIMES, 12/3).

TIM RUSSERT, SUSAN SAINT JAMES DISCUSS EBERSOL ON “TODAY”

NBC’s Tim Russert interviewed Susan Saint James, the wife of NBC Universal Sports & Olympics Chair Dick Ebersol, on “Today” this morning. Saint James, on Ebersol: “Dick, because he has a cracked sternum – it’s the same you’d feel if you had open-heart surgery, it’s hard to cough – so it’s hard for him to sob. It’s all very inside. But he’s so proud of Charlie because Charlie just dragged him out of the plane. … He’s still probably in shock a lot. He takes a lot of blood thinners. He’s on all kinds of medications.”

Following the interview, Russert talked with Katie Couric and confirmed that Ebersol is in a body cast. Russert: “He’s on his back as you might expect. But he’s drawing strength, as well, from the outpouring of good wishes” (“Today,” NBC, 12/3).

Those wishing to send condolences to Dick Ebersol and his family can do so via the following email address: ebersolfamily@nbcuni.com

MORNING BRIEFS

The NFL and City of Anaheim execs met yesterday and “discussed ideas for a stadium and details of a ‘term sheet,’ or contract outline.” No decisions were made (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/3).

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who is looking to build a new stadium for the Colts, this week at the National League of Cities conference will seek advice from DC Mayor Anthony Williams and others “to learn from those who have gone through recent stadium deals” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/3).

NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France, on TV rights negotiations, “It’s ongoing, and we’ll be easing into that later on in December and toward the first of the year” (USA TODAY, 12/3).

Tiger Woods appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning, and said of his future political ambitions: “I probably will have to become more political down the road when my playing days are done, because I will have to have the support of others to grow my foundation and grow what we are trying to do globally.  We are doing so many great things because of what I’ve been able to accomplish on the golf course.  That affects kids in so many ways” (“Today,” NBC, 12/3).

Auburn Hills police expect to send its investigation of the Pacers-Pistons brawl to Oakland County Prosecutor David Gorcyca on Monday.  The Pacers who could be charged are Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal, Stephen Jackson and David Harrison (DETROIT NEWS, 12/3).

The U.S. Ryder Cup team has “added emphasis on winning,” as players will “receive extra points for winning PGA Tour events, with the points being quadrupled in the year the Cup is played,” to qualify for the team (USA TODAY, 12/3).

The Dolphins have declared a sellout for Sunday’s game against the Bills, meaning the game will not be blacked out (MIAMI HERALD, 12/3).

The bat Babe Ruth used to hit the first home run in Yankee Stadium was auctioned yesterday for $1,265,000 to a private Babe Ruth collector in the N.Y. area, who was represented by MastroNet President Doug Allen (ESPN.com, 12/2).

ATTENDANCE WATCH

A crowd of 9,212 last night attended the final stop of the McDonald’s Williams Sisters Tour at Philips Arena (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 12/3).

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

NASCAR team owner Richard Childress will make an 11:00am ET sponsorship announcement, expected to be with Jack Daniel’s, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in N.Y.

The second AFL mini-movie, “Rumble in the Montecito,” which features Philadelphia Soul co-Owner Jon Bon Jovi, Colorado Crush co-Owner John Elway and members of the cast of NBC’s “Las Vegas,” will begin airing in Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres and run through until December 30.

The Expos will re-open the Olympic Stadium Team Store until December 18 for the club’s final sale of Expos inventory.

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. This week, during his final appearance on “Jeopardy!,” longtime champion Ken Jennings and his adversaries display a painfully low level of knowledge about sports teams and the buildings in which they play.

Click Here To View Clip

IN OTHER NEWS….

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Tom Brokaw’s final turn as anchor of “NBC Nightly News” Wednesday evening “crushed the competition and was the largest total audience to see the newscast” since January 16, 1997. According to fast-national data released yesterday by Nielsen Media Research, the broadcast averaged 15.36 million viewers. ABC and CBS averaged 9.2 million and 7.2 million, respectively, for their Wednesday evening newscasts (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/3).

DirecTV Vice Chair Eddy Hartenstein yesterday announced his retirement, effective December 31. Hartenstein will step down on the one-year anniversary of News Corp.’s takeover of DirecTV (MULTICHANNEL.com, 12/2).

FedEx runs a full-page ad in USA Today with a picture of Ken Jennings and his "What is FedEx?" answer to Tuesday's "Final Jeopardy!" question. Under the picture, the ad reads, "There's only one time FedEx has ever been the wrong answer" (THE DAILY).

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Vocabulary.”

“This adjective for scholars and ‘Jeopardy!’ champs is from the Latin ex, ‘out or away’ and rudis, ‘rudeness.’”

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “Everybody in New York City has the Christmas spirit. Earlier today, a mugger let me go without harming me because I promised to write him a check. … Last night, did you see the Nick and Jessica Christmas special? Apparently, the Bush administration knew all about it but did nothing to stop it. It was a wonderful special. The whole family gathered around the fireplace and lip-synched carols. … A stapler autographed by Paris Hilton is being auctioned, and the bids are over $1,000. I wonder where that thing’s been? … Earlier tonight down in Washington, they had the lighting of the national White House Christmas tree. They threw the switch and the tree came to life, and it worked so well, they’re going to try the same thing with Dick Cheney” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/2).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “In New York, they had the lighting of the Christmas tree, as opposed to L.A., where we’re working on the lighting of Scott Peterson. … An ugly, ugly incident happened last night in the NBA. It happened again. The Lakers got beat by the Chicago Bulls. Kobe was so upset after the game he couldn’t touch his food or the girl who brought it. In fact, the Lakers had several cups of beer thrown on them – by the coach. … The Indiana Pacers were in town last night to play the Clippers. They played before a crowd of 16,000 at Staples Center: 2,000 fans, 14,000 security people. In fact, it’s the only basketball game that would have Helmet Night” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 12/2).

LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is erudite?”

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

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