| • | MLB, Red Sox Today To Continue Investigation Into Sheffield Incident |
| • | OLN Takes Over Coverage From ESPN Of Today’s Boston Marathon |
| • | NFL Cardinals Object To Legislation For BCS Title Game In The Valley |
| • | USOC Officials Today Touring Venues In San Diego For Int’l Competitions |
| • | Glazer’s ManU Bid Meeting More Resistance This Week |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
MLB, RED SOX CONTINUING INVESTIGATION INTO LAST WEEK’S INCIDENT
NEWSDAY reports that MLB will continue its investigation today into the on-field altercation between Yankees RF Gary Sheffield and Red Sox fan Chris House at Fenway Park last Thursday night. MLBVP/On-Field Operations Bob Watson is “handling Sheffield’s situation,” while MLB VP/Security Kevin Hallinan “is addressing House’s case.” Watson plans to meet tomorrow with Sheffield, “who is expected to protest any attempt to suspend or fine him. Any punishment could be announced after the meeting” (NEWSDAY, 4/18).
The N.Y. POST cited sources as saying that Sheffield will not be suspended by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig (N.Y. POST, 4/17).
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that “it’s expected the Sox might render their verdict sometime today” on whether to revoke House’s season tickets (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/18).
OLN TAKING OVER FOR ESPN IN COVERAGE OF ’05 BOSTON MARATHON
USA TODAY reports that the Outdoor Life Network today will take over coverage of the Boston Marathon from ESPN, going live at 11:30am ET. As part of the coverage, OLN will air the first-ever “Iraq/Boston Marathon,” a race in Iraq with “about 150 runners from the U.S. military.” TV production in Iraq will be handled by the military (USA TODAY, 4/18).
Al Trautwig, Lewis Johnson and Dwight Stones will call the race for OLN (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 4/18).
Reebok is providing apparel and footwear to Shonda Schilling, the wife of Red Sox P and Reebok endorser Curt Schilling, and Team SHADE, Shonda’s charity for skin cancer, today at the Boston Marathon (Reebok).
The BOSTON GLOBE reported that also running for charity today will be Stacey Lucchino, wife of Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino, and Paul Epstein, brother of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. They will be part of Red-Sox sponsored “Team Nine,” which is “expected to raise $3.4M for the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/16).
NFL CARDINALS OBJECT TO LEGISLATION FOR BCS TITLE GAME IN THE VALLEY
The ARIZONA REPUBLIC reported that the Arizona House of Representatives may vote today on a bill that would allow the state to host a new college football BCS national title game at the NFL Cardinals’ new stadium in Glendale every four years. The game would rotate among BCS cities. But the Cardinals “say the legislation is unnecessary and unconstitutional,” and they are “exploring their options, which include a possible lawsuit.” The team said that the bill hurts its rights “to market luxury suites and requires the team to provide communications equipment without being paid” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/17).
Meanwhile, the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS reported that the NCAA Football Certification Subcommittee, which is meeting for three days outside Phoenix beginning today, “will consider 30 applications from cities that want to hold bowl games.” In addition to the 28 bowl games held during the ’04-05 season, San Diego, which already hosts the Holiday Bowl, is seeking a second game, and Toronto “hopes to become the first city outside the [U.S.] to hold one” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/14).
USOC IN SAN DIEGO TODAY SEARCHING FOR SUMMER COMPETITION VENUES
The SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE reports USOC officials will be touring San Diego venues today, “in hopes of holding international competitions,” perhaps as soon as June. This comes just four days after cancellation of the Pacific Rim Sports Summit, which was to be held June 7-12 in Seattle. USOC Chief Communications Officer Darryl Seibel “wouldn’t provide details about the scope, schedule or sites” in San Diego, but the sports are likely to include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s volleyball and softball. Seibel did indicate that any San Diego competitions “would not operate under an umbrella or as a multisport event” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/16).
MORNING BRIEFS
Manchester United’s board this week is expected to reject Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer’s $1.5B offer to purchase the club. The board’s main objection is that Glazer’s bid “carried too much borrowing, which could destabilise the club” (London INDEPENDENT, 4/16). Irish investors JP McManus and John Magnier, who own a 29% stake in the team, will “defend the club” if Glazer attempts a hostile takeover (London TELEGRAPH, 4/18).
N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg set a May 18 deadline for top state leaders to sign off on his plan to build a stadium on Manhattan’s West Side. The date is the next expected meeting of the state’s Public Authorities Control Board, which has final say over the project (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/17).
One hundred three-seat sets from Yankee Stadium will be offered today on a first-come, first-serve basis. The seats are from the ‘70s and will cost $1,500 plus tax and shipping (N.Y. POST, 4/5).
Television technician union IATSE Local 100 has ratified a contract between IATSE and the YES Network (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/18).
FSN will announce today plans for a reality show, tentatively titled “It Ain’t Easy,” based on former NFLer and MLBer Deion Sanders “hanging out” with pro athletes. The pilot show features Ravens LB Ray Lewis (USA TODAY, 4/18).
An arbitration panel will announce a decision today on cyclist Tyler Hamilton, who allegedly tested positive for blood doping last year (USA TODAY, 4/18).
After celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on Friday, Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt said, “I think it would be a great tribute to Jackie Robinson if we could celebrate this great day every year here in Dodger Stadium.” MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy responded, “It would be something we’d look at” (L.A. TIMES, 4/17).
Univ. of Louisville President James Ramsey said Friday that Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher and a task force he will appoint should decide the location of the new basketball arena (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 4/16).
ATTENDANCE WATCH
A crowd of 25,287 attended MLS expansion team Real Salt Lake’s home opener at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, and lines reportedly “continued to be 20 deep at ticket booths as the game neared halftime” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/17). Team officials ended up having to open “sections of the stadium they had planned to keep closed, to accommodate” the larger than expected crowd (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/17).
A three-day crowd of 116,002 -- 38,667 per game -- attended this weekend’s inaugural home series for the Nationals (WASHINGTON POST, 4/18).
A three-day crowd of 144,542 -- the third largest crowd for a three-game home series at Camden Yards -- attended the this weekend’s Orioles home stand against the Yankees (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/18).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
ESPN’s Stuart Scott appeared on NBC’s “Last Call” last Friday night where he was asked why fans riot in the city that wins a championship, like they did in Chapel Hill, NC, after North Carolina won the national basketball championship. Scott, a UNC alum, said, “Here’s what you should do: when your team wins, you go home and enjoy the win. Watch ‘SportsCenter.’ We’ll give you every highlight in the world. Was that a shameless plug or what?” (“Last Call,” NBC, 4/15).
WEEKEND RAP
The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “parting shots” from Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:
Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan, on the Pacers making the playoffs: “On paper they have no business being anywhere near the playoffs, not after the famous events of last November 19th. Now I’m not condoning what anyone did that messy evening in Auburn Hills, but I must salute the Pacers and in particular coach Rick Carlisle for never once giving in to self-pity.”
N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica: “The [N.Y.] Yankees are not just the first $200[M] payroll in all of recorded sports history, they are also nearly the first $100[M] pitching staff in baseball history. Michael Jackson doesn’t spend on legal fees the way Yankees spend on pitchers. ... As you watch the most expensive and famous team in history struggle [with their starting pitching] even this early in the season, you really can only come to one conclusion: Maybe $200[M] doesn’t buy you what it used to in sports.”
K.C. Star columnist Jason Whitlock: “America’s favorite bi-polar boxer announced his return to the ring last week. Mike Tyson has found yet another great white hope to line the IRS’ pocket. While you laugh, I have every intention of contacting my cable operator and plunking down thirty bucks to watch Iron Mike practice the sweet science. It’s rather sad to admit, but for guys who grew up playing Super Nintendo, Mike Tyson is all we know when it comes to heavyweight boxing. ... The heavyweight division has been down for so long that Mike Tyson is our Joe Louis.”
ESPN’s John Saunders, on Pacers F Jermaine O’Neal saying a potential 20-year-old age limit in the NBA is “racist”: “If ever there was an example of why high school players work in the NBA, it’s O’Neal. He struggled early with Portland, but has worked hard to become an All-Star and one of the league’s brighter players. But the reality is an age limit affects black players more only because most of the players are black. Any NBA rule affects black players the most, but O’Neal is right about one thing: You can’t take away individual opportunity because you think it makes the league better” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 4/17).
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 Tampa Sports Authority board will decide “how many tickets board members should get for the 36-seat luxury box valued at $140,000 for 10 Bucs games.” The meeting is in response to reports questioning whether board members “should have free access to suite tickets and gourmet food” (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 4/13).
The State Fair Park board will hold a 9:00am CT meeting to consider options on reducing the debt of the Milwaukee Mile. State Fair Park has “spent $20M on improvements” since acquiring the track in ’03 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL, 4/14).
The D’Backs and We Fix Ugly Pools will unveil the new Party Pool at Bank One Ballpark at 10:00am MT.
The funeral for AFL Avengers OL/DL Al Lucas, “who died April 10 of a spinal cord injury sustained during a game,” will be held at 2:00pm ET at the Macon (GA) City Auditorium (USA TODAY, 4/18).
OLN will provide live coverage today at 3:00pm ET of Lance Armstrong’s press conference to start the Tour de Georgia. Armstrong has indicated he would make a significant announcement before the race, and speculation has been that he would make a statement relating either to possible retirement, participation in the ’05 Tour de France or his relationship with Sheryl Crow (THE DAILY).
Nets Owner Bruce Ratner and F/C Jason Collins will be joined by the three top student investment earners and their teachers from the “Nets Investment Challenge” in ringing the NYSE closing bell at 4:00pm ET.
The first medallion in the N.Y. Post’s Yankees ’05 Immortals Medallion series, which features Lou Gehrig, is available at 1,500 dealers in the N.Y. market (N.Y. POST, 4/18).
THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…..
This week’s One-on-One features DeBartolo Holdings LLC Chair Edward DeBartolo.
- This week’s In-Depth examines sports agents and their influence on new labor agreements.
- USA Today, 7-Eleven flip over NBA coins.
- Fox plans new Spanish-language RSN in Los Angeles.
- NASCAR rolling into Wal-Mart’s town.
IN OTHER NEWS….
The Tribune Co. reported Q1 profit of $142.8M, up 18% from the year-ago period. Revenue fell 1% to $1.32B. Operating profit fell 31% in the broadcasting and entertainment division, “which was hit by expenses related to the trade of outfielder Sammy Sosa” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/18).
The N.Y. TIMES reports that Young & Rubican and Young & Rubican Brands Chair & CEO Ann Fudge “will cede control of [Young & Rubican] as soon as a successor is found but will remain in charge of Y&R Brands” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/18).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "British Royalty."
“When his tomb was opened in 1102, a fragrance filled the air and his body was perfectly preserved.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “It’s so sunny here in Manhattan today, the finger in my Wendy’s chili was wearing sun block. ... It’s so sunny in New York City today, that Martha Stewart convinced the judge to let her wear an electronic thong. ... A surefire way to tell its spring in New York City is the Mets have already been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. ... The big problem this week here in New York City is the subways are filled with garbage. But don’t worry, the city has plans. They’re bringing in 10,000 more rats. ... The University of Wisconsin is saying they have the world’s oldest object. It is a 4.4 billion-year-old rock. Wow! They’re claiming it is a Larry King kidney stone. ... On this day in 1912, 1,500 people went down on the Titanic. That record would later be broken by President Clinton” (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/15).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “Today (on tax day) is the day when most Americans realize just how expensive it is to bring democracy to the Middle East. As you know, the government takes 40% of what you make. The other 60%, of course, is taken by the gas station. ... Today on his taxes, Michael Jackson was able to claim his entire lifestyle as a liability. ... The accuser’s mother is now claiming that Michael Jackson licked her son’s head while flying in Michael’s private jet. Remember the good old days when Michael was doing normal stuff, like buying the remains of the Elephant Man. ... Last night, President Bush threw out the first pitch at the Washington Nationals first game at RFK Stadium. The umpire called it a ball, and then Bush appealed it to his friends on the Supreme Court. They made it a strike. They said the pitch was high and to the right, just like President Bush. ... At Fenway Park [Thursday] night, Yankees (RF) Gary Sheffield shoved a Red Sox fan that appeared to take a swing at him while he was fielding a ball. See that’s the bad side of getting steroids out of baseball. The fans aren’t afraid of the players anymore” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 4/15).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Friday’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Signs You’re At A Bad Hospital” (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/15).
| 10) “The emergency room closes at noon.” |
| 9) “To sterilize instruments, a dog licks them.” |
| 8) “In lieu of medical school, your doctor watched a lot of ‘General Hospital.’” |
| 7) “75% of all conditions are treated with Vicks Vap-O-Rub.” |
| 6) “The ‘heart monitor’ is just some nurse saying, ‘Boop...boop...boop.’” |
| 5) “On physician’s name tag, ‘Doctor’ is in quotation marks.” |
| 4) “Instead of anesthesia, patients told to inhale fumes from leaky gas pipes.” |
| 3) “Your I.V. is filled with Progresso Clam Chowder.” |
| 2) “Gift shop sells DVD of surgical staff’s funniest bloopers.” |
| 1) “They did Michael Jackson’s nose.” |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“Who was Edward the Confessor?”
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