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Larry Scott Leaving WTA Tour To Become Pac-10 Commissioner
IOC Exec Board To Meet As Criticism Of Revenue Deal Mounts
David Stern To Announce Details Of Jazz-Bulls Game In London
Prince George's County Council Opposes United Stadium Bill

LARRY SCOTT LEAVING WTA TOUR TO BECOME PAC-10 COMMISSIONER

Scott Leaving WTA Tour
To Become Pac-10 Commish
Following Larry Scott's announcement yesterday that he is leaving his position as Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Chair & CEO to become Pac-10 Conference Commissioner, Scott said he believes “that I maybe had done the most I could do in this sport.” Scott added the "achievement I'm most proud of is equal prize money," but he regrets "that I couldn't convince the men's tour that a merger with the women's tour would make sense." Scott will start his new job on July 1 (AP, 3/25).

The N.Y. TIMES’ Pete Thamel writes Scott’s "biggest strengths – television and marketing – matches the Pac-10’s greatest weakness," as the conference has a "low national profile and does not have as strong a television arrangement as other conferences." But the SEATTLE TIMES' Bob Condotta notes Scott "won't be able to do much about the TV situation for a while," as the current deals with Fox run through the '11-12 academic year.


IOC EXEC BOARD TO MEET AMID FURTHER CRITICISM OF USOC REVENUE DEAL

The IOC Exec Board today will convene in Denver, where controversy over the IOC's revenue-sharing agreement with the USOC has "dominated talk" during this week's Sportaccord conference. The Association of Summer Olympic Int'l Federations (ASOIF) yesterday passed a resolution to be submitted to the board and asking that the deal be "immediately terminated" (REUTERS, 3/24).

Exec Board member Denis Oswald, who was re-elected ASOIF President yesterday, said, "We are in a situation where we have not seen any gesture form the American side to come in our direction." But USOC VP/Int'l Relations Bob Ctvrtlik said, "We're looking for a long-term solution. It's probably not best to do it in an emotional or pressured environment" (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 3/24).


STERN TODAY EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF JAZZ-BULLS GAME IN LONDON

NBA Commissioner David Stern today is expected to announce details of a Jazz-Bulls preseason game to be played October 6 at London's O2 Arena. The Jazz are “expecting to play a second game in Berlin or Madrid, but those plans have yet to be finalized and won’t be announced in connection with the London game.” Bulls F Luol Deng is a British citizen and a member of the national team (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/25).


COUNTY COUNCIL COMMITTEE OPPOSES BILL ALLOWING DC UNITED STADIUM PLANNING

A Prince George's County (MD) Council committee has recommended that the county "oppose legislation that would launch planning" for a new MLS DC United stadium. The committee voted 5-0 to oppose a bill authorizing the Maryland Stadium Authority to "study the site and financing methods" for the $180-195M project. DC United VP/Communications Doug Hicks: "It's difficult to react to [yesterday's] vote, as we've not yet spoken to the legislators" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/25).


WPS INKS SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH S.F.-BASED FLAVORED WATER BRAND HINT

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Women's Professional Soccer signed its second partner, completing a deal with Hint Water, a flavored water company based in S.F. The company will become the official water and flavored water of WPS and will receive signage on fieldboards, entitlement at year-end awards and on-site activation rights. The deal, which is primarily a value-in-kind agreement, is valued in the low- to mid-six figures. Hint Water joins Puma as WPS' only partners at the start of its season. The company previously has sponsored equestrian events.


OXYGEN, NBC SPORTS TO BEGIN WORLD FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS COVERAGE

NBC, Oxygen To Air Combined 16 Hours Of
World Figure Skating Championships Coverage
NBC Sports and Oxygen Media beginning tonight will combine to air 16 hours of coverage from the World Figure Skating Championships from Staples Center. Oxygen will air 14 hours total, while NBC will wrap up coverage with the Ladies Free Skate from 9:00-11:00pm ET Saturday. Bob Costas will host NBC's live coverage and will be joined on-air by co-host Dick Button and analyst Michelle Kwan (NBC).

The L.A. TIMES' Helene Elliott notes yesterday's pairs short program is airing tonight via tape delay on Oxygen, and other coverage on Oxygen and NBC will air on a three-hour delay on the West Coast. Elliott: "That's how low figure skating has sunk on the TV/sports totem pole." The EDMONTON SUN's Terry Jones writes the idea of staging the event in L.A. was to "add some Hollywood glitter and glamour," but it has been "saddled … with start times which appear to make no sense."


RENO CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT

The Reno City Council today is scheduled to take a final vote on developer Nevada Land’s request for at least $10M in additional funding to for the “new entertainment district next to the city’s new minor-league” ballpark. The venue, “financed partly with about $30[M] of county-issued bonds,” is home to the Triple-A PCL Reno Aces and is slated to open next month (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/25).


CONSTRUCTION BEGINS TODAY ON VELODROME FOR '12 LONDON GAMES

Construction of the London Olympic velodrome begins today in preparation for cycling competitions at the '12 Games. The 6,000-seat venue was designed by Hopkins Architects and is being built by U.K.-based ISG. Organizers are promising "the fastest track the sport has yet seen." After the Games, the velodrome and BMX track will be joined by a road cycle circuit and mountain bike course (London TELEGRAPH, 3/25).


SPEED READS….

The O Property Collection (OPC) today announced that Caribbean resort area Dellis Cay has signed on as a host sponsor of the Sony Ericsson Open combined tennis tournament, which begins today in Key Biscayne, Florida (OPC).

EPL club Chelsea and the Baltimore Bays youth soccer club today will announce a partnership in which Chelsea coaches will provide instruction to Bays players and coaches (Baltimore SUN, 3/25).

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has named Mid-American Conference Associate Commissioner Dell Robinson its new Commissioner, replacing Tom Brown, who is retiring after 17 years in the position (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/24).

AFL Utah Blaze Owner John Garff said that “if there is a relaunch” of the AFL, the Blaze “will be a part of it” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 3/25).

Bristol Motor Speedway runs a full-page ad in the front section of USA Today thanking fans for making Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Food City 500 the track's 54th consecutive Cup-level sellout (THE DAILY).

The World Baseball Classic runs a full-page ad in the USA Today sports section congratulating '09 champions Team Japan (THE DAILY).


QUICK HITS….

“I don’t think it’s going to happen” – Architect Frank Gehry, on Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards development, which would include the Barclays Center (ARCHPAPER.com, 3/24).

“It had the feel of a super-big time event. … That was one of the most spectacular sporting events I’ve ever been to. It brought tears to my eyes” – MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on Sounders FC’s inaugural game against the Red Bulls (SEATTLEPI.com, 3/24).

“It gives us the opportunity to really capitalize on the growing support of the game” – EPL club Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon, on his team participating in the World Football Challenge in July (NYTIMES.com, 3/24).

“The Tour is really cool when he’s not here, but it’s way cooler when he is” – PGA Tour player Rocco Mediate, on Tiger Woods playing in this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/25).

“You can’t tell some visiting mayor, ‘We’d love to take you to this event but it’ll cost you $300” – Vancouver City Council member Geoff Meggs, on the city debating whether to spend C$340,000 to provide free ’10 Olympic tickets to visiting dignitaries (Vancouver PROVINCE, 3/25).

“It’s not like (Ovechkin) is going to score, pull out a Sharpie, sign his stick, then hand it to Ron (Wilson)” – Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau, on LW Alex Ovechkin receiving criticism for his post-goal celebrations (TORONTO SUN, 3/25).


TODAY’S EVENTS….

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour player Maria Sharapova will be at the Cole Haan store at the Village of Merrick Park in Miami to model apparel from Cole Haan Sporting, her new casual lifestyle line. Sharapova endorses both Cole Haan and parent company Nike.

NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly will speak at the Univ. of Victoria law school.


IN OTHER NEWS….

Fireman Capital Partners, former Reebok Chair Paul Fireman’s private equity firm, has joined with Waltham’s Webster Capital to buy an approximate $30M controlling stake in Hudson Jeans. The acquisition is the “first consumer product investment for Fireman Capital” (BOSTON HERALD, 3/25).


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
Newsday
Philadelphia Daily News
Boston Herald

FINAL JEOPARDY!

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

“Born in 1683, the second British king of this name was the last one not born in the British Isles.”

Last night’s edition of “Jeopardy,” the second of the two-day “Tournament of Champions” final, featured the category “Think You Know Baseball?”

For $400: “He hit the first home run in All-Star Game history (take a wild guess).”

For $800: “Their home parks have included the Union Grounds, Crosley Field and Riverfront Stadium.”

For $1200: “The New York Yankees have 26 World Series titles; these N.L. birds are a distant second, with 10.”

For $1600: “Researchers have knocked a point off his record lifetime batting average, reducing it to .366.”

For $2000: “‘Avian’ nickname of 1960s reliever Phil Regan, notorious for ‘stealing’ wins from starting pitchers.”


LAUGH TRACK….

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS’ David Letterman: “Let me tell you a couple things about myself. Last week I got married. Talk about your March Madness. Another success story for e-Harmony.com. I wanted to get married before my son did. We went to the courthouse. The guy says, ‘Are you the father of the bride?’ But if you don't know about this, I married the octomom. We couldn't be happier. How about that octomom? What a gal, huh? She was cleaning around the house today behind the couch and found two more kids. By the way, celebrity birthday: Happy birthday to magician Harry Houdini, born on this date in 1874. He is considered to be the world's greatest escape artist, other than the octopuplet dad. … People have been coming up to me and saying, ‘Dave, did you have a bachelor party?’ Yes, I did. Get ready to call the cops. It was crazy. Here's what happened. My cardiologist jumped out of a cake naked. … If you want it now, you can buy five square feet of sod that they use at Yankee Stadium, the same stuff. … You can go to the same groundskeeper place and they'll sell you for $7.50 five square feet of sod. Tremendous. You know, it's the thing that Donald Trump wears on his head. You can't go wrong with it. It's great. … The grass at Yankee Stadium is a wonderful thing if you're a Yankee fan or a baseball fan. Try to get this grass. … It's very expensive and it dies in October. It's a great idea” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/24).

NBC’s Jay Leno: “Welcome on the first full week of spring. You happy spring is here? Very exciting. You know how I can tell spring is officially here? Today, I saw Alex Rodriguez gazing at his own reflection in a pool of fresh rain water. … A lot of people get spring fever, which is normal this time of year. Now, if you're on spring break and the spring fever is accompanied by blisters, check it out. … A very strange incident at JFK airport in New York City today. An AIG executive going through security had to empty out all his pockets. You know what fell out? Senator Chris Dodd. … The market rallied yesterday after the Treasury said it was going to help banks sell off their toxic assets. That's the big problem, banks can't sell toxic assets. Well, duh. I mean, I'm no economist, but maybe you should stop calling them toxic assets. Huh? Isn't that like KFC advertising salmonella chicken or McDonald’s syphilitic hamburgers. … Because of the bad economy and a lot of layoffs, a lot of women in white-collar jobs are working at strip clubs. They're stripping to earn a living. Women at strip clubs, they are having the same problem women in corporate America are having. They can only climb so high on that brass pole until they hit that mirrored ceiling. … Profits for Tiffany Jewelers are way down as well. Experts think either people don't have as much disposable income to spend on jewelry or a lot less guys are getting caught cheating. … People are outraged in a move that will cost 300 American jobs. The Federal government announced it will no longer buy condoms made in the great state of Alabama. It will now buy cheaper condoms made in China, and that's what you're looking for in a condom, isn't it, really? Cheaper materials and shoddy workmanship. Yeah, that's what you want. Between this and USC this past weekend, it's a bad time to be a Trojan. … Congratulations to Japan for winning the World Baseball Classic right here in Dodger Stadium. Yeah, they beat Korea 5-3, which is perfect: the Japanese playing the Koreans in a city full of Mexicans to determine who's best at America's pastime. According to the New York Post, Hulk Hogan is about to write a tell-all autobiography. Well thank God, because you know, when you're on TMZ every day and have your own reality show, we don't learn enough about him. The book is 320 pages, or 180 without steroids” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 3/24).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night’s Top Ten list was “Top Ten Reasons I Got Married.” CBS’ David Letterman was referring to himself after he wed longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko last week in Montana (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/24).

10) “Poconos offers newlyweds free room with champagne-glass Jacuzzi.”
9) “If I’m gonna catch Larry King, I’d better get going.”
8) “Still drunk from St. Patty’s, dude!”
7) “She needed a green card.”
6) “When you’re my age and look like I do, if someone says they’ll marry you, you do it.”
5) “Don’t have to listen to any more crap from that quack Dr. Phil.”
4) “I finally fit into my dream dress!”
3) “Free cake.”
2) “Got tired of waiting for Paris Hilton.”
1) “Figured at the least we’d get a mediocre Top Ten out of it.”

Letterman said of Ball State, his alma mater, “This almost got by my attention because I was so excited last winter, last fall about the Ball State Fighting Cardinals because they went undefeated. It looked like my old alma mater was a sure bet to go to the Super Bowl. But they were defeated, and they didn't win the conference. They ended up playing some school down in Oklahoma. They got smacked around because their coach got scared and quit. So it was a great run but here, look at this. I pick up the thing. You know the NCAA Tournament, the March Madness, that's going on now? All of my picks are out. If you want a sure thing put all your money, if you have any money -- I know you don't have any money -- put your money on the Ball State women’s basketball team. The Ball State Fighting Lady Cardinals because, listen to this, on Sunday they defeated two-time defending champion Tennessee, the Lady Volunteers. They defeated them, 71-55. People tell me that the Lady Volunteers at halftime, many of them were sobbing, saying to their coach, ‘Could we just get back on the bus?’ Now, I made that up. So anyway, the next game was earlier tonight. Ball State played the Iowa State Cyclones. Call your bookie. Call your neighbor. Do whatever you can. Get a bundle down on the Ball State Fighting Lady Cardinals. By the way, no need to thank me” (“Late Show,” CBS, 3/24).

Versus’ Matt Iseman: “It’s been a busy preseason for Manny Ramirez. First, he had to find a mattress big enough to stuff $45(M) into and then he had to go shoot a commercial for DirecTV in which he played – get this – cricket. That is something you never see. Manny actually playing during Spring Training. … Moving to the NFL, this month’s GQ magazine shows off Reggie Bush’s secret to staying in shape during the offseason: the Kim Kardashian work out. … March Madness can make people do some crazy things. Case in point: Digger Phelps wooing ‘Sportscenter’s’ Sage Steele. … Sage, if you didn’t come to dance, why’d you come at all? You know how Digger parties” (“Sports Soup,” Versus, 3/24).


FINAL JEOPARDY….

“What is George?”

For $400: “Who was Babe Ruth?”

For $800: “Who are the Reds?”

For $1200: “Who are the Cardinals?”

For $1600: “Who was Ty Cobb?”

For $2000: “What is the ‘Vulture?’”


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

The Morning Buzz provides an early update of the news and headlines each Monday through Friday at approximately 9:00am ET. If you would like to sign up for an e-mail alert to the Morning Buzz, go to My Account and personalize your e-mail alert options.

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NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

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SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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