Morning Buzz

MARINERS' HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER DAVE NIEHAUS DIES AT AGE 75

Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus died yesterday of a heart attack at his home at the age of 75. Niehaus called the team's games "for 34 years in Seattle – the entirety of the Mariners' life span,” broadcasting 5,284 of the 5,385 games played by the franchise. He was awarded the Baseball HOF's Ford C. Frick Award in '08. Service details for Niehaus “are pending” (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/11).

A photo of Niehaus "could be seen on the big screen from outside an empty Safeco Field" last night, and it read "Dave Niehaus, 1935-2010" (SEATTLEPI.com, 11/10).

Hear a collection of some of Niehaus' most memorable calls.

UT PRESIDENT TO GET GO-AHEAD TO FIND LONGHORN NETWORK TV PARTNER

The Univ. of Texas System Board of Regents today is expected to approve a recommendation giving UT President William Powers Jr. "the power to find a broadcast partner for the proposed Longhorn Network." ESPN "appears to be the frontrunner for the media partnership, though neither ESPN nor UT has confirmed a deal." Powers said that the net would be a "platform to broadcast nonathletic events, as well as showcasing Longhorns sports" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 11/11).

WAC'S KARL BENSON EXPECTED TO ADDRESS CONFERENCE'S FUTURE MEMBERSHIP

Benson Today Will Discuss Future Of WAC During Press Conference

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson today will hold a press conference to address "the future of the WAC" in light of the upcoming departures of Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State. Benson said that "if Montana is willing to move up" to the FBS, it would be "high on the WAC's list of prospective new members"
(ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL, 11/11). Sources indicated that the WAC's "perfect scenario" is to have "nine football schools, including Montana, and 10 basketball schools"
(ESPN.com, 11/10).

Two more FCS schools – Univ. of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State – are "expected to accept invitations" to join the WAC for the '12-13 season (Honolulu STAR-ADVERTISER, 11/11). UTSA has tentatively scheduled an "on-campus function" for today, "possibly for the purpose of publicly announcing" its invitation to the WAC (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 11/10).

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR REPORTS LOSS OF $10M-PLUS DESPITE RECORD REVENUES

EPL club Tottenham Hotspur today reported annual losses of US$10.6M, "despite announcing record revenues” of US$193.2M. The club said that it made US$36.6M on operations, excluding player trading, but overall profits were down and the "value of a single share dropped" by US$0.09. Club Chair Daniel Levy said, "This period has seen the club produce a record turnover and a 23 per cent increase in operating profit" (THETIMES.co.uk, 11/11).

Meanwhile, U.K. businessmen Assem and Ehab Allam have "agreed to buy a controlling interest" in English soccer club Hull City, which was relegated from the EPL last year. Per the deal, the brothers will take on a majority stake in both the team and the KC Stadium management company. The Allams said that their "priority is to help the club deal with their sizeable debt," understood to be about US$56M (LONDON TIMES, 11/11).

KNICKS' DONNIE WALSH TO UNDERGO HIP REPLACEMENT SURGERY NEXT WEEK

Knicks President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh said that he will undergo hip replacement surgery next week "and will be away from the Garden ... for about two weeks." Doctors told him that "he needs the surgery to be able to walk again without use of a walker in the wake of his June spinal-cord surgery." Knicks Senior VP/Basketball Operations Glen Grunwald and Dir of Pro Scouting & Free Agency John Gabriel "will pick up the slack in Walsh's absence" (N.Y. POST, 11/11).

SPORTSFIELD SPECIALTIES AGREES TO SPONSOR YANKEE STADIUM BOWL GAME

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

New York-based Sportsfield Specialties has struck a sponsorship deal with the Yankees for the New Era Pinstripe Bowl that also involves Sportsfield installing the goalposts, end zone pylons, sideline yardage markers and other gameday field equipment for both the Dec. 28 bowl game and the Nov. 20 Notre Dame-Army college football game at Yankee Stadium. Preliminary work on the goalpost installation began during the MLB All-Star break, with formal creation of the football field beginning on Oct. 29 following the Yankees’ ousting from the MLB Playoffs.

CMA AWARDS TELECAST FEATURES SPORTS JOKES, JEFF GORDON APPEARANCE

Gordon (l) Makes Appearance On Last Night's "CMA Awards"

Last night's "CMA Awards" telecast on ABC was hosted by country singers Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, who performed a short monologue to open the broadcast. Paisley: "2010 has also been a big year for infidelity." Underwood and Paisley sang the following to a country music riff:

Underwood and Paisley: “She caught Tiger with some tail it's plain to see. Brett Favre's taking on photography.” Paisley: “Is it me or have pro sports gone straight to hell?” Underwood and Paisley: “Ever since they caught ole Tiger with some tail."

Later in the show, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon appeared on-stage with Underwood. The cowboy hat and suit he was wearing were similar to the ones worn by Paisley, with Underwood telling the crowd, "I'm Carrie Underwood and this is Brad Paisley and we're here to say that identity theft is a big problem." At this point, Paisley walked on-stage and confronted Gordon: "Jeff, what do you think you're doing?" Gordon: "I'm not Jeff Gordon. I'm Brad Paisley." Paisley: "Alright, prove it. Sing something right now." Gordon: "Come on, man. Everybody knows Brad Paisley lip-syncs." Paisley: "I'll make you a deal. You give me the keys to the 48 car, you can stay." Gordon: "I drive the 24 car." Paisley: "I know" ("The 44^th Annual CMA Awards," ABC, 11/10).

SPEED READS….

A group of former Univ. of Minnesota football players is running an ad in today’s Minnesota Daily questioning AD Joel Maturi’s “ability to hire the next football coach.” The ad, with the headline, “President (Bob) Bruininks: How much will Maturi cost us this time?,” shows a “receipt listing the buyout payments” for several former football and basketball coaches (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS).

Pastrana Leaving Subaru Team For Possible NASCAR Career

Subaru of America has bid farewell to Travis Pastrana as the company’s lead driver on the Subaru Rally Team USA (Subaru). Pastrana is in talks to drive for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (JALOPNIK.com, 11/10).

A TV blackout of Sunday’s Lions-Bills game in the Buffalo market is “probable,” as the team must sell “a few thousand tickets” before today’s 1:00pm ET deadline (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 11/11).

The Texans are the latest team to give the NFLPA "permission to decertify" if there is a lockout. The team voted unanimously for the authorization during a meeting with NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith at Reliant Stadium (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/11).

Virgin Racing has announced that Russian car manufacturer Marussia Motors “has bought a ‘significant’ stake” in the F1 team (AP, 11/11).

QUICK HITS….

“There is definitely more media in this locker room than I’ve [ever] seen. But that’s what he brings” – Titans QB Kerry Collins, on WR Randy Moss meeting with the media for the first time since being picked up by the Titans (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/11).

“I like to think we put sports on a better trajectory and left it better than before. But the opportunity to work for an iconic broadcaster like Rogers and with Keith Pelley was too good to turn down” – Former CBC Sports Exec Dir Scott Moore, on his new Rogers Media job (GLOBE & MAIL, 11/11).

“I looked at the list of 16 voters. Jim Palmer was a great pitcher, but he was an anti-union sonuvabitch. There are others, not in Palmer’s class but in the doubtful class” – Former MLBPA Exec Dir Marvin Miller, on his chances of being elected to the Baseball HOF by the veterans committee (MURRAYCHASS.com, 11/10).

“We keep upping the income and we keep losing more money. It’s ridiculous” – EPL club Bolton Wanderers Chair Phil Gartside, on the EPL debating a proposal similar to UEFA’s plan to limit teams’ spending to what they earn (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/11).

TWITTER ME THIS….

WPS Dir of Communications & Broadcast Relations Robert Penner: “We found our All-Star Pick 'Em event fun & our fans/media enjoyed it. Players didn't like idea of going last, however, & captains colluded.”

CBS Sports’ Steve Elling: “If Westy holds his spot, the last time the PGA Tour started a season without the reigning world No. 1 as member was in '94 (Nick Faldo).”

Yahoo Sports’ Jay Busbee: “You know, if RPM really wants to save $, forget haulers. I'll volunteer to drive the 9 car from Texas to Phoenix. Who's with me?”

FanHouse’s Chris Botta: “Isles broadcast just took a quote from me without attribution and never mentions the blog. Good work, Mr. Producer.”

If you see a tweet we won’t want to miss, send it to us at editorial@sportsbusinessdaily.com.

A LIGHTER BUZZ….

Jets Owner Woody Johnson joined players and staff yesterday in a "surreal scene" at practice, which featured "more than 70 grown men doing push-ups at the same time." The incident was part of an effort by coach Rex Ryan to "curb the penalty plague that has overcome the team." When there was a penalty, practice was stopped, and "every member of the organization was required to drop and do 10 push-ups" (ESPNNEWYORK.com, 11/10).

TODAY'S EVENTS….

Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos will receive the Placemaker Award from the Detroit District Council of the Urban Land Institute. The award is given to business owners who make a positive impact on Detroit communities.

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 "Words In 20^th Century Novels."

"Words found in this 1945 fable include brood, baying, bleating, comrade, tyranny and rebellion."

Last night's edition of "Jeopardy" featured the category "Basketball."

For $200: "He's been made an honorary ambassador to the city in Japan that shares his name."

For $400 (Video answer read by "Clue Crew" member Jimmy McGuire): "If I hang on the rim after one of my thunderous dunks I'll be hit with this two-word infraction."

For $600: "In 1994 he hit three home runs for the Double-A Birmingham Barons; in 1996 he was the NBA's season and finals MVP."

For $800 (Video answer read by "Clue Crew" member Jimmy McGuire): "The alliterative action that I'm demonstrating results in this infraction and puts my team on defense."

For $1000: "Though he didn't play organized hoops until 9^th grade, this Spurs center is a three-time NBA Finals MVP."

LAUGH TRACK….

IndyCar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick appeared on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" last night, and host Jimmy Kimmel introduced her by saying, "Our next guest tonight proves that everything you learned in Driver's Ed is a lie.” Kimmel asked Patrick, "Will you have to choose between Indy and NASCAR at some point?" Patrick: "Some people think I might have to at some point. … It's like having kids. You can't choose. That's pretty much what I say. They're both fun but for different reasons." Kimmel: "Every mother secretly makes a choice and makes it known in different various ways." Patrick: "What did your mother choose?" Kimmel: "Well, I was the favorite, of course. I mean, none of my siblings have a television show." Patrick will appear on the Nov. 28 episode of Fox’ “The Simpsons,” and she said, "I thought being on the Wheaties box would mean that I've made it, but 'Simpsons,' 'South Park,' all in one year and an Hannah Montana reference: Done" ("Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC, 11/10).

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "This is the 'Late Show,' television equivalent of a stranded cruise ship. I mean, think about this. The Carnival cruise is called Splendour of the Seas, and they're out there cruising and it's two years old and the engine explodes and strands everybody. They've got no power, no plumbing, no food, no water. There's a call already into the Somali pirates. They're on their way. … New York City is the most stressful place to live in the United States, and it's true. I was saying the same thing this morning to my bartender. So much stress in New York City. Just little things you don't realize. You don't have these problems in other parts of the country. For example, trying to remember, 'Did I hear five or six shots?' … Bush has the new memoir. It's called 'Decision Points' and I've already made the decision not to buy it. … Bush said he's happy, spends a lot of his time on the ranch down there in Texas. He's glad to be out of the Oval Office and here's why: Because he does not have to think all the time. It's a great relief to be out of the office after eight years. He doesn't have to think all the time and I'm thinking, 'Wait a minute? That was him thinking all the time?'" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/10).

NBC's Jay Leno: "President Obama is still out of the country, but he's keeping in contact with Vice President Joe Biden. He'll find out when it's safe to come back home. … While in Indonesia, President Obama said he is making progress toward ending people's misunderstanding about Muslims, like the fact that he isn't one. … Carnival cruise line has a new slogan: 'Mayday! Abandon Ship!' What a nightmare. Everybody on this Carnival cruise ship is stranded off the coast of Mexico due to a fire in the engine room. There's no power, there's no air conditioning, the toilets aren't working. Throw in a couple of toothless felons running the tilt-a-whirl, it's just like a real carnival. … They're towing the ship to San Diego. Here's an interesting fact. While the ship was stranded off the coast of Mexico, it had 4,500 passengers. By the time it reaches the U.S. it's expected to have 10,000. … Police in Haverhill, Mass, which is just one town over from where I'm from – Andover – have charged a 59-year-old priest with stealing $83,000 from his parish to buy online pornography. Imagine that, he was robbing Peter to pay porn. … We have on the show tonight, David Spade. We also have Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell. We have David Spade and Christine O'Donnell. So we have both sides of the masturbation argument here" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/10).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night's Top Ten List was "Top Ten Things You Don't Want To Hear While Stranded On A Cruise Ship" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/10).

FINAL JEOPARDY….

"What is 'Animal Farm?'"

Correct responses to the "Basketball" category:

For $200: "Who is Kobe Bryant?"

For $400: "What is a technical foul?"

For $600: "Who is Michael Jordan?"

For $800: "What is a double-dribble?"

For $1000: "Who is Tim Duncan?"

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

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