Morning Buzz

MLB RANGERS RAISING TICKET PRICES BY LESS THAN 5% AFTER WS APPEARANCE

MLB Rangers season tickets go on sale today, and the team is raising prices by less than 5% for '11. Rangers Owner Chuck Greenberg said that "prices for some season tickets are actually going down while others are going up." Greenberg said, "We're not trying to exploit the tidal wave of enthusiasm for the Rangers by dramatically increasing prices." Standard parking prices "will remain $10 next season, and $5 on Fireworks Fridays" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/12).

ESPN ASSIGNS MUSBURGER/HERBSTREIT TEAM TO BCS TITLE GAME, ROSE BOWL

ESPN today will formally announce its on-air talent assignments for BCS bowl game coverage. The net's top team of Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit, plus reporter Erin Andrews, will call the BCS title game and the Rose Bowl. The "MNF" crew of Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski will call the Discover Orange Bowl. Brad Nessler and Todd Blackledge will call the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Sean McDonough and Matt Millen will call the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
(USA TODAY, 11/12).

TRAVIS PASTRANA TO ENTER NATIONWIDE SERIES AS DRIVER, CO-OWNER

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Watch The Spot

Travis Pastrana is coming to NASCAR as a driver and co-team owner in '11. Pastrana, Michael Waltrip Racing and Wasserman Media Group yesterday announced the news with a viral video posted at pastranawaltrip.com. Pastrana, who will race seven Nationwide Series races next year, currently does not have a primary sponsor. WMG, which represents him, hopes to finalize his sponsorship support by mid-January.

Pastrana will drive the No. 99 car, though WMG execs are in talks with NASCAR about allowing Pastrana to drive the No. 199 car, which is the same number he wore in supercross. The Pastrana-branded car unveiled in the video will be the No. 00 car in the Nationwide race at Phoenix Int'l Raceway tomorrow.

For more on this story, see today's issue of THE DAILY.

FEHR WRAPPING UP MEETINGS WITH NHL TEAMS AHEAD OF EXEC DIR VOTE

Donald Fehr today is scheduled to meet with Canucks players, "the last of 30 meetings he is conducting with the players of every NHL team ahead of their vote on whether to approve him" as the NHLPA's next Exec Dir. The vote will be conducted on a team-by-team basis and is "expected to be completed later this month." NHLPA Communications Dir Jonathan Weatherdon said that Fehr would meet with the Canucks "on their swing through Ontario" to play the Senators and Maple Leafs (NYTIMES.com, 11/11).

GOODELL DISCUSSES CBA, FAVRE SITUATION PRIOR TO THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

Goodell Sits For Interview Prior To Last Night's Game On NFL Network

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell discussed numerous current topics with NFL Network's Rich Eisen prior to last night's Ravens-Falcons game. Goodell said of CBA talks, "There needs to be more sense of urgency. There are discussions going on. I think they have to be more productive, though. It's not just about whether you're having meetings."

Former Jets employee Jenn Sterger yesterday met with NFL officials regarding the Brett Favre situation, and Goodell said, "I think what we need to do here is make sure we have all those facts from as many different sources as we can." Goodell will receive an update on the matter today ("Thursday Night Kickoff," NFL Network, 11/11).

Meanwhile, NFLPA Exec Dir DeMaurice Smith yesterday met with the Patriots, who following the meeting “voted to decertify the union in the case of a lockout” (BOSTON HERALD, 11/12).

BUCCANEERS' STREAK OF BLACKED OUT HOME GAMES CONTINUES ON SUNDAY

Sunday's Panthers-Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium will be blacked out in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market. The Bucs "haven't backed off their prediction that each of the club's eight home games will not be shown on local television" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 11/12). The blackouts in Tampa-St. Pete and Buffalo "will raise the season total across the league to 15." There were 22 blackouts all last season (USATODAY.com, 11/11).

SPEED READS….

Mrs. Fields To Begin Offering MLB-Themed Cookies

The ACC announced that AT&T has agreed to sponsor the conference through the end of '11. The deal includes category exclusivity in communications (ACC).

Levy Restaurants, AEG Facilities and KeyArena have agreed to a dining and hospitality deal for the Seattle venue. Levy and AEG partner at several other venues, including Staples Center, American Airlines Arena and Time Warner Cable Arena (AEG).

Mrs. Fields Famous Brands has inked its first-ever sports-league licensing agreement with MLB Properties. The deal allows for the manufacture and sale of cookie tins and individually wrapped cookies outfitted with MLB club logos (MLB).

IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has agreed to drive for Dreyer & Reinbold Racing in ’11, marking “the first time Wilson has driven for the same IndyCar team two seasons in a row”
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/12).

QUICK HITS….

“The way things are right now, if you’re not on the ESPN family of networks, you’re not on television” – Mountain West Conference Associate Commissioner Javan Hedlund, on Versus airing the TCU-San Diego State game on Saturday (L.A. TIMES, 11/12).

“I definitely think that something needed to be changed because I didn’t mind watching the skills competition but the game, in my opinion, was absolutely horrendous” – Thrashers G Chris Mason, on the NHL tweaking the format for how teams are selected for the All-Star Game (AJC.com, 11/11).

“For me it’s a question of when, not if” – Int’l Rugby Board CEO Mike Miller, on whether the U.S. would ever host a rugby World Cup (TELEGRAPH.co.uk, 11/11).

TWITTER ME THIS….

Sports business writer Tim Lemke: “Thank you, Matt Millen and Joe Theismann for three hours of delightful palpable tension!”

USA Today’s Nate Ryan: “W/demographics trending older, NASCAR must love Pastrana news. Wonder what Daytona brass thought of the redneck stereotype in intro video?”

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst: “Doc Rivers must not be worried about much right now, took time during timeout to have his TNT mic fixed.”

SB Nation’s Jeff Gluck: “We all know the Jimmie at the track. But if fans could somehow see the JJ away from the track...man, he'd be super popular. Cool dude, IMO.”

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

TODAY'S EVENTS….

The New York Law School Institute for Information Law & Policy and the New York Law School Sports Law Society will stage the second annual Sports Law Symposium. Panelists include Nets Assistant GM Bobby Marks, MLB VP/Labor Economics and Deputy General Counsel/Labor Chris Park, ESPN Assistant General Counsel Lisa Stancati, Reebok Senior Counsel Sarah Stuart and Celtics Assistant GM and Associate Counsel Mike Zarren.

The Izod IndyCar Series has scheduled a press conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where General Motors and its Chevrolet division “are expected to announce their re-entry into the IndyCar Series as an engine supplier in 2012” (ESPN.com, 11/11).

IN OTHER NEWS….

Newsweek and TheDailyBeast.com have agreed to “combine the two groups in a 50-50 join venture called the Newsweek Daily Beast Company.” Daily Beast co-Founder Tina Brown will be Editor-in-Chief of the group. Newsweek "has been without an editor" since Harman Kardon Founder Sidney Harman bought the magazine for $1 from the Washington Post in September (REUTERS, 11/12).

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 "The 1930s."

"In April 1935 in Oklahoma, when blowing soil darkened the sky, a reporter coined this term for the region."

Last night's edition of "Jeopardy" featured the category "Describing The Olympic Sport."

For $400: "Synchronized springboard is one event in this sport."

For $800: "Stand 70 meters away from target that is 1.22 meters in diameter and let fly."

For $1200: "Three disciplines: rhythmic, artistic and trampoline."

For $1600 (DAILY DOUBLE): "Categories in this sport include coxless pairs and single sculls."

For $2000: "This martial art is the only Olympic sport to originate in Korea."

LAUGH TRACK….

UFC fighter Rampage Jackson appeared on CBS' "The Late Late Show" last night, where host Craig Ferguson asked whether Rampage was a "family name." Jackson: "My cousin gave me the name when I was a little kid. It's been my name since I was about 8 years old." Ferguson: "Is it temper-related?" Jackson: "I used to have a bad temper when I was a kid, but since I've grown up I saw a psychiatrist." Ferguson said, "I know very little about fighting except how to lose, but do you, when you're fighting in a sport like this, do you get angry?" Jackson: "Sometimes you do. I mostly get angry in sparring with my sparring partners more than fights. But one fight I did lose my temper really bad, only one fight." Jackson he has watched tapes of his next opponent, Lyoto Machida, but he "can't stay up. He's so boring, I go to sleep, man" ("The Late Late Show," CBS, 11/12).

THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "You know that stranded cruise ship? … They say that the stench on this boat, it was like rotting food and urine. New Yorkers recognize that, of course, as the subway. … You folks, as you know, are in New York City, the greatest city in the world, and one of the reasons it's the greatest city is the mayor of this wonderful town, Mayor Bloomberg. He has declared war on soup because it's too salty, proclaimed that soup is too salty. Who does this guy think he is, the Sheriff of Nottingham? Don't laugh, that's how it starts. First, they take away your soup. Next they take away your gravy. See where this is going? It's like prohibition. Earlier today, Paris Hilton was arrested because she had bullion cubes in her purse. … George W. Bush has a memoir about his eight years in office. It's called 'Decision Points.' Many have already decided not to buy it. The President looks great now and he's everywhere talking being his book and he's being very candid. In one interview, he said that he used to do stupid things while he was drunk. But think about it, who among us hasn't done a couple of drinks and invaded Iraq? You know Bush's wife, Laura, was a librarian and coincidentally, she's the only thing he ever checked out at the library" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/11).

NBC's Jay Leno: "We have an all-military audience tonight, if you're watching at home. In fact, a lot of these young men and women have seen more action than Charlie Sheen. … Looking around I see some of the younger recruits, maybe it's your first time in L.A. A little tip: If you're visiting Hollywood Boulevard and you see a guy selling hummers for $100 that is not a military vehicle. … We have Kim Kardashian on the show tonight or as she's known in the military: the 'Rear Admiral.' … Some good news today from President Obama: You know how he's been trying for two years to shutdown Guantanamo Bay. They finally found a place to put the terrorists. They're going to stick them on the Carnival cruise. … The FDA has proposed new tougher warning labels on cigarettes. They already say they cause death, how much worse can it be really? What, plus tickling? What's next? The White House wants us to stop smoking. We can't get President Obama to stop smoking." The show then went "live via satellite" to a staffer portraying the captain of Carnival’s Splendour of the Seas ship that had been stranded at sea. Leno: "Captain, what caused the accident? Were you texting at the helm?" Captain: "Absolutely not, Jay. I was sexting at the helm. It gets lonely out at sea. I had to send a shot of the old 'Brett Favre' to my wife, if you get my drift" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/11).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night's Top Ten List was "Top Ten Ways To Make The G20 Summit More Exciting" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/11).

FINAL JEOPARDY….

"What is the 'Dust Bowl?'"

Correct responses to the "Describing The Olympic Sport" category:

For $400: "What is diving?"

For $800: "What is archery?"

For $1200: "What is gymnastics?"

For $1600: "What is rowing?"

For $2000: "What is taekwondo?"

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.