| • | NBA To Testify Today Before U.S. House Government Reform Committee |
| • | Ironman Triathlon, Ford Could Announce Title Sponsorship Deal Today |
| • | Fox To Utilize MLB Postseason As Part Of Upfront Presentation Today In N.Y. |
| • | NHL, NHLPA Focusing On Clubs’ Accounting In CBA Negotiations |
| • | Funding Bill For Charlotte’s NASCAR HOF Bid Today Goes To NC Senate |
| • | ESPN To Launch ESPN Deportes Radio As Full-Time National Network |
NBA TO TESTIFY TODAY BEFORE U.S. HOUSE GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE
 |
| Stern (l) And Hunter Hitting
Capitol Hill Again Today |
The NBA will testify today in the U.S. House Government Reform Committee hearing on steroid use in the league, beginning at 9:30am ET. Witnesses appearing today: NBA Commissioner David Stern; NBA Senior VP & General Counsel Richard Buchanan; NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter; Rockets VP/Operations & Trainer Keith Jones; and Wizards G Juan Dixon (THE DAILY).
Stern, in prepared testimony for today’s hearing that was released by the NBA: “The NBA is fully committed to a strong and effective drug testing program for steroids and performance-enhancing substances. We made a good start in this area with the creation of our first steroids program in 1999, but intend to do better by making improvements in this program prior to the start of next season (NBA).
The HOUSTON CHRONICLE noted Jones “is in the unusual position of having worked directly with players in the NFL and NBA” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/18).
Meanwhile, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection today will conclude its hearing on the Drug Free Sports Act of 2005 with its third panel, at which NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, NFL Exec VP/Labor Relations Harold Henderson and NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw will testify.
IRONMAN TRIATHLON, FORD COULD ANNOUNCE TITLE SPONSORSHIP DEAL TODAY
USA TODAY reports that Ironman Triathlon and Ford could announce a three-year, multimillion-dollar deal today that would give the series of competitions “its first title sponsor in a decade.” Under the deal’s terms, all eight U.S. Ironman events, including the world championship in Hawaii and other races in Florida, New York, Wisconsin and Idaho, will be called “Ford Ironman Triathlon.” The last title sponsor for Ironman was Gatorade, from ’90-95 (USA TODAY, 5/19).
FOX TO USE MLB POSTSEASON AS PART OF UPFRONT PRESENTATION TODAY
The fall advertising upfront period concludes today with presentations from Fox and UPN, and MEDIAWEEK reported that Fox Sports President Ed Goren plans a segment on Fox’ postseason MLB telecasts, “which pre-empts the prime-time lineup through October.” Goren will point out that the network’s baseball telecasts “deliver higher ratings than all October prime-time shows on competing networks cumulatively” in the adults 18-34 and 18-49 age groups. Additionally, Goren will note that the past four World Series on Fox rated in the top ten programs in the 18-49 group with “incomes over $75,000.” A Fox insider said that “postseason baseball is the only thing that kept Fox afloat last fall” (MEDIAWEEK.com, 5/16).
NHL, NHLPA TO CONTINUE CBA NEGOTIATIONS TODAY IN N.Y.
The NHL and NHLPA will resume CBA negotiations today, and the CP reports that during 8½-hours of talks yesterday, the sides examined “club-by-club accounting practices.” The two sides are looking to find a common formula for determining club revenues “in order to tie them to a floating club-by-club salary cap” (CP, 5/19).
Hockey analyst John Davidson, on the significance of today’s meeting: “I think it’s a really important day. Both sides are trying to gather important information, the [NHLPA] especially, on the financials. Then they’ll try to get down to formulating a system. The process can either plug along and get even more positive. Or it can hit a wall” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 5/19).
FUNDING BILL FOR CHARLOTTE’S NASCAR HOF BID TODAY GOES TO NC SENATE
The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that a funding bill allowing Charlotte to increase its hospitality tax from 6% to 8% to finance a NASCAR HOF goes to the full North Carolina Senate today, after the Senate Finance Committee “unanimously backed” it yesterday. If approved, the bill would give Charlotte “the highest room tax” in North Carolina, as the city works to get a $137.5M HOF proposal to NASCAR by the May 31 deadline (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/19).
ESPN TO LAUNCH ESPN DEPORTES RADIO AS FULL-TIME, NATIONAL NETWORK
ESPN, along with ABC Radio Networks and Lotus Communications, announces today ESPN Deportes Radio will launch in September as the first full-time, national Spanish-language sports radio network in the U.S. ABC Radio Networks will provide advertising sales, affiliate sales and marketing, while ESPN will provide programming. Lotus Communications’ L.A.-based KWKW-AM will serve as the flagship of the ESPN Deportes Radio Network. ESPN Deportes will launch on affiliates in Fresno, Las Vegas, Tucson, Bakersfield, Reno and Pomona, with additional affiliates to be announced at a later date (ESPN).
Additionally, ESPN Deportes will launch a Spanish-language version of ESPN’s “Dream Job,” tentatively to be called “Dream Job: Reportero.” Contestants in the program, which is scheduled to debut this fall, will compete for a chance to win a job covering the ’06 World Cup in Germany. Auditions will take place in N.Y., L.A., Chicago, Dallas and Miami, among others (ESPN).
MORNING BRIEFS
NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik announced that no further CBA negotiations are scheduled at this time, due to what the league claims is the NBPA’s recent reversal of its position on several key issues (NBA).
McDonald’s Latin America announced an agreement with the Copa Toyota Libertadores to hold exclusive rights in the foodservice company category. McDonald’s is also a sponsor of the FIFA World Cup (McDonald’s).
The AHL Utah Grizzlies and Cincinnati Mighty Ducks have been “granted the right to voluntarily suspend operations for one season.” Mighty Ducks President & CEO Pete Robinson said the team is “looking forward to returning in [‘06-07] under a new name and with a new NHL affiliate” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/18). Meanwhile, the Grizzlies “will most likely join either the ECHL or the CHL” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/19).
The WNBA today will launch a nationwide fitness initiative called “WNBA Be Smart-Be Fit-Be Yourself,” featuring community events, fitness clinics and workshops throughout the country (WNBA).
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 |
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Newsday |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Sports Lawyers Association will kick off its 31st Annual Conference at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix.
The Royals will host their Seventh Annual School Day, which will include an hour-long meteorology lesson from WDAF-Fox meteorologist Mike Thompson at Kauffman Stadium prior to the club’s 1:10pm CT game against the Orioles.
The San Antonio City Council will vote on whether to “authorize issuance of $2.9[M] in certificate of obligation bonds” to be used for Alamodome renovations (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/18).
The independent Frontier League Washington (PA) Wild Things’ eBay auction for a fan to participate in their May 21 exhibition game against the Chillicothe Paints will close at 2:00pm ET.
IN OTHER NEWS…
USA TODAY notes that CBS yesterday canceled “60 Minutes Wednesday” and “Listen Up,” among others, and will add four dramas and two comedies to fill the timeslots in its fall schedule. Viacom co-President & co-COO Leslie Moonves said that the scandal “in which Dan Rather used documents later found to be suspect to question President Bush’s National Guard service” did not play a part in the cancellation of “60 Minutes Wednesday” (USA TODAY, 5/19).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night's “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Words From Latin.”
“Some of the periods of time called this occurred in 304 A.D. (4 years), 1314 (2 years), 1958 (19 days), 1963 and 2005.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “What a beautiful day here in New York City. Wasn’t it heartbreakingly beautiful? Here’s how nice it was in New York City. It was so sunny today, that over there in the Star Wars line I saw a guy putting sun block on his lightsaber. At this time, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to retract last night’s show, and we apologize for the rioting that it has caused. It was such a slow news day that Newsweek couldn’t even make up a story today. They didn’t know what to do. … This is the time of year that all the networks announce their new fall programming. CBS has a tremendous show, a tremendous reality show, and it’s a combination of ‘The Bachelor’ and ‘Survivor.’ It’s called ‘Who Wants To Marry Robert Blake?’ The other night, Robert Blake was on Larry King’s show for a full hour … and he is crying the blues. He’s telling Larry he is broke, that he doesn’t have any money. In fact he is so broke that he had to put the murder weapon up on eBay. It was a fascinating interview. In fact, Blake told Larry that he would like to take a shot at marriage again (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/18).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “What a crowd. You guys sound like the guys at Time when they heard what happened at Newsweek. I’m sure that you’ve heard, but Newsweek magazine is in deep Shiite this week. As you know, Newsweek printed a story without checking the facts. It’s amazing. The last two years, the New York Times has had fake stories, CBS had fake stories and now Newsweek has fake stories. The only paper that hasn’t had to print a retraction is the National Enquirer; it’s our most reliable news source. President Bush is furious. He is so angry at Newsweek, he isn’t even going to pretend to read it anymore. … As you know, the Pentagon is shutting down 180 military bases around the country. The Bush administration says that these closings will save enough money to fund another unnecessary war. … Yesterday was a day that millions and millions of people here in L.A. voted, but enough about ‘American Idol.’ Yesterday, we voted for mayor, and not a lot of people turned out to vote. It is pretty depressing. I drove past a voting station, and it was emptier than the L.A. library” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 5/18).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Last night’s “Top Ten Signs Your Car Has To Be Recalled” (“Late Show,” CBS, 5/18).
| 10) Windshield wipers are on the inside. |
| 9) Salesman offered to knock $500 off your funeral. |
| 8) To make a right turn, you have to get out of car and physically turn wheels. |
| 7) You peel back the license plate and see "Saddam 1." |
| 6) Feature that sets it apart from other cars? It's always on fire! |
| 5) The "fan belt" spits venom and coils around your neck. |
| 4) Horn only audible to dogs. |
| 3) Bucket seats? Actual buckets. |
| 2) Dealer brags, "This is the car Stephen King owned when he wrote 'Christine.'" |
| 1) From transmission you hear the unmistakable cries of James Brolin. |
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
| Net | Show | Lead | Next Items |
| ESPN | “SportsCenter” | Possible NBA lockout | Giants LF Barry Bonds injury update; Yankees winning streak |
| FSN | “BDSSP” | Commissioners on Capitol Hill | NBA labor negotiations; Knicks, Lakers play during ’04-05 |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is interregnum?”
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com
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