| • | House Committee Hearing On Drug Free Sports Act of 2005 Begin Today |
| • | Vote Delayed On Jets’ West Side Stadium Proposal, Perhaps Until June |
| • | Buccaneers Owner Malcolm Glazer Today To Make Formal Offer For ManU |
| • | Big Ten Today To Discuss Adding Addtional Football Game To Schedule |
| • | Mets Today Begin "Broken Windshield" Campaign Around N.Y. |
| • | Street & Smith’s Sports Group’s Facilities & Franchises Concludes Today |
U.S. HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING ON DRUG FREE SPORTS ACT BEGINS TODAY
The U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection will begin a two-day hearing today at 10:00am ET on the Drug Free Sports Act of 2005, with the NHL, MLS and MLB commissioners, among others, scheduled to testify. There are two panels today and one on Thursday:
| Panel One |
| MLB Commissioner Bud Selig | MLBPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr |
| MLS Commissioner Don Garber | MLSPU Dir Robert Foose |
| NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman | NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow |
| Former USADA Chair Frank Shorter | |
| Panel Two |
| NBA Commissioner David Stern | NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter |
| Panel Three |
| NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue | NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw |
| NFL Exec VP/Labor Relations Harold Henderson | |
ESPNews will televise the hearing.
USA TODAY reports that under the Drug Free Sports Act, which is being proposed by Subcommittee Chair Cliff Stearns (R-FL), drug-testing rules would be overseen by the U.S. Commerce Secretary, and would “call for a two-year suspension for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second.” League non-compliance would result in a $5M fine (USA TODAY, 5/18).
Stearns: “I think we need the process to move forward. We have seen how baseball reacted the last few months just on me dropping the bill” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/18).
Meanwhile, the Baltimore SUN reports that Wizards G Juan Dixon “has agreed to testify” tomorrow at a U.S. House Government Reform Committee hearing on the NBA’s steroid-testing policy. The Committee invited Dixon and other NBA players “not because they are suspected” of using performance-enhancing drugs, but “because they have anti-steroids messages to convey.” Magic F Grant Hill is among those the panel has considered asking to testify, but it is unclear whether he has been “formally invited” (Baltimore SUN, 5/18).
Also, the L.A. TIMES reports that the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee will hold its own hearings next week. Among those expected to testify are USADA CEO Terry Madden, USOC CEO Jim Scherr and sprinter and admitted steroid abuser Kelli White (L.A. TIMES, 5/18).
VOTE DELAYED ON JETS’ WEST SIDE STADIUM PROPOSAL, PERHAPS UNTIL JUNE
 |
| Pataki Delays Vote On
West Side Stadium |
The N.Y. TIMES reports that New York Gov. George Pataki last night agreed to postpone the Public Authorities Control Board (PACB) vote on the West Side stadium proposal, which had been scheduled for today. Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno asked for a one-month delay, “raising concerns about financial and legal issues related to the project” (N.Y. TIMES, 5/18).
Meanwhile, the N.Y. POST reports that another reason for the delay is that state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver “raised concerns about the project’s security,” questioning whether the NYPD has “signed off” on a security plan. Pataki said that he will not wait the “traditional month” for the PACB to take up the proposal again, “pledging instead to call a special meeting possibly in just a week” (N.Y. POST, 5/18).
BUCCANEERS OWNER GLAZER’S FORMAL OFFER FOR MANU TO COME TODAY
The LONDON TIMES reported that Bucs Owner Malcolm Glazer’s “formal offer to [Manchester United] shareholders” will come today. In protest, the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association claimed that about 30,000 fans have cancelled mobile phone contracts with team sponsor Vodafone (LONDON TIMES, 5/17).
BRAND REPUBLIC reported that ManU Marketing Dir Peter Draper, in response to the Vodafone claim, “has appealed to fans not to join a boycott” of club sponsors. With the exception of Vodafone and Nike, all of the team’s sponsorship deals expire at the end of next season (BRAND REPUBLIC, 5/17).
Barclays Stockbrokers’ Hillary Cook, on Glazer’s next hurdle of gaining 90% of the team’s shares: “It’s never that easy to get over 90[%] and so it could take some time. But he’s got what he wants, and it has happened with astonishing speed” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/17).
Meanwhile, the London TELEGRAPH reported that Glazer “expects to save about [US$18.4M]” when he takes ManU private. Glazer will use the funds that had been used to pay dividends “to pay interest on the loans he is raising” for purchasing the team (London TELEGRAPH, 5/17).
METS TODAY BEGIN “BROKEN WINDSHIELD” CAMPAIGN AROUND N.Y.
The N.Y. POST reports that the Mets today will begin a “broken windshield” campaign in Queens, Manhattan and Long Island that features decals on car windows that make windshields appear cracked, as though “an errant baseball has crashed through.” A note written “in the style of [an] individual player” will be left at each car. For example, one note reads, “I’m new here and that left field wall at Shea is shorter than I thought. Again, my apologies. See you at the ballpark. Carlos Beltran.” The campaign is designed by ad agency Ogilvy & Mather (N.Y. POST, 5/18).
BIG TEN TODAY TO DISCUSS ADDING LEAGUE GAME, PAC-10 EXPECTED TO DO SO
USA TODAY reports that the Big Ten today at its spring meetings will consider adding a league game to its football schedules, since Division I-A will allow teams to add a 12th game beginning in ’06. Though the Big Ten is not expected to adopt the plan, the Pac-10’s presidents are expected to approve the addition of a conference game when they meet June 5. Its teams “will play a full round-robin” schedule, with each team having nine league games instead of eight (USA TODAY, 5/18).
STREET & SMITH’s SPORTS GROUP’S FACILITIES AND FRANCHISES CONCLUDES TODAY
Street & Smith's Sports Group's Sports Facilities & Franchises 2005 conference concludes today at the Westin Philadelphia. View the conference agenda.
During a panel session yesterday called “Premium Seating: New Trends that Help Create a Unique Fan Experience,” Mandalay Baseball Properties CEO Hank Stickney said, “The people are demanding that they have great access to the field, they have good service … for what they consider the premium place in the whole stadium. … The premium seating we have found is the first to sell, the easiest to sell and probably the most enjoyable to sell.”
Sportservice President Rick Abramson: “At one time you could just do a row around your arena … and call them club seats because there’s carpeting in there and there’s concession stands. Now people are looking for a more personalized service.”
Vikings VP/Sales & Marketing Steve LaCroix: “Whether it’s on-field for pre-game or … coming to a Thursday practice or catering a lunch and after a chalk talk, those are the kind of experiences that the premium fan and/or sponsors are looking for.”
For more from yesterday’s sessions, see today’s issue of The Daily.
MORNING BRIEFS
WADA yesterday set a deadline of September for FIFA to change its rules to come into compliance with World Anti-Doping Code. WADA leaders said failure to comply could force governments to prohibit FIFA tournaments (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 5/17).
The Minnesota House Committee on Local Government voted 12-7 yesterday to pass the Twins ballpark bill through to the Taxes Committee, which could hear testimony as soon as today. If the bill passes through Taxes, it then moves to the Ways & Means Committee, which derailed last year’s ballpark bill (MLB.com, 5/17).
Canucks C and player rep Brendan Morrison said of the NHLPA canceling its full membership meeting later this month, “I guess you can look at it two ways: (1) it’s negative because there’s nothing to talk about or (2) it’s positive because they’re getting somewhere” (VANCOUVER SUN, 5/17).
 |
| Ramirez To Auction
400th Home Run Ball |
The Hospitality Alliance of North Carolina and the N.C. Hotel & Lodging Association said that they will “aggressively fight Charlotte’s plan to own and operate” a proposed $137.5M NASCAR HOF, “arguing city officials can’t be trusted to spend state money wisely” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/18).
Red Sox LF Manny Ramirez said he plans to auction on eBay the baseball that he hit for his 400th home run and give the proceeds to an undisclosed charity (BOSTON HERALD, 5/18).
The NCAA today will announce the NCAA vice president for the new Office for Diversity and Inclusion (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/18).
Rahal Letterman Racing today will announce a replacement for injured driver and last year’s Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice for Indy 500 pole qualifying (USA TODAY, 5/18).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The N.Y. TIMES reports that as Suns players were shooting free throws at the end of yesterday’s practice, the Central High School marching band “intruded on their practice court.” The marching band was hired by Suns Owner Robert Sarver, and was supposed to surprise Suns President & GM Bryan Colangelo at a news conference at which he received the NBA Exec of the Year award. However, due to “a miscommunication, they ended up” interrupting practice (N.Y. TIMES, 5/18).
ATTENDANCE WATCH
A crowd of 37,481 attended Tuesday night’s Marlins-Dodgers game, about 5,500 less than the Dodgers averaged during the two “$2 Tuesdays” promotions (L.A. TIMES, 5/18).
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 Packers’ 45-member BOD will meet to elect two new Exec Committee members as Packers Treasurer John Underwood and Donald Harden have reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 5/18).
ESPN will conduct a noon ET conference call regarding French Open coverage, which will run from May 23- June 5 on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. Announcers Mary Carillo, Dick Enberg and Patrick McEnroe, as well as ESPN Senior VP/Programming Strategy Len Deluca and ESPN Coordinating Producer Bill Bonnell will participate.
TrendCast 2005, an event featuring the latest fitness and recreation trends from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), will take place at the L.A. Athletic Club from 11:00am-3:00pm PT. SGMA President Tom Cove will be the keynote speaker.
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Familiar Phrases.”
“This 5-word rule or maxim has been attributed to both H. Gordon Selfridge and John Wanamaker.”
LAUGH TRACK THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “I just hope the weather is as nice around the country as it is here in New York City. Everybody is in such a great mood in the spring. Have you noticed this? Here’s what I’m talking about. Early today, I was over at St. Patrick’s, and the priests were filling their Super-Soakers with holy water. How many of you folks have heard about this Newsweek scandal? Newsweek had to retract a report about the Koran, and the article sparked anti-American rioting in Muslin countries. That’s too bad, because up until now they really loved us. It is a very exciting time in television, when all the networks announce their new fall line-ups, programs and slogans. For example, NBC’s new slogan is ‘The Place To Be;’ ABC’s ‘We’re The One’ and CBS’ ‘Ask Your Doctor If Lipitor Is Right For You.’ I’ve never been more excited to work for CBS. They have some exciting new shows for the fall. They have a brand new ‘CSI’ show. … It is ‘CSI: L.A.” It is going to be very glamorous. Each week a different Hollywood celebrity is arrested, tried and acquitted (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/17).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS
Last night’s Top Ten Reasons To Watch Britney Spears And Kevin Federline's New Show, Presented by Britney and Kevin Federline (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/17).
| 10) Britney: "There's never-before-seen footage of me wrestling an alligator." |
| 9) Kevin: "Unlike those 'Desperate Housewives' chicks, we're not, like, 60-years old." |
| 8) Britney: "It's like 'American Idol' except no one sleeps with Paula Abdul." |
| 7) Kevin: "In the first episode, you can see my ass." |
| 6) Britney: "I'm hot." |
| 5) Kevin: "She's hot." |
| 4) Britney and Kevin: "We haven't had nearly enough media coverage." |
| 3) Britney: "It's gotta be better than this show." |
| 2) Kevin: "If enough people tune in, maybe my wife will make out with Madonna again." |
| 1) Britney: "In the season finale, you'll find out Dave is the father of my baby -- oops." |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Game 5 a must win for Spurs? | Pacers-Pistons; NFL free agent Jerry Rice wanting to play one more season |
| ESPN | “PTI” | NBA Playoffs | MLB Commissioner Bud Selig’s latest steroid stance; Pacers F Ron Artest |
| ESPN | “SportsCenter” | Pacers-Pistons | White Sox P Jon Garland; Marlins P Dontrelle Willis |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Packers WR Javon Walker holding out | MLB managers’ salaries; Deion Sanders likely to return to Ravens |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is ‘the customer is always right?’”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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