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Morning Buzz

FSA Sports Media & Technology Conference Begins In N.Y.
ManU Parent Company To Pay Off Loan Of More Than $350M
MLS Dynamo To Name COO Chris Canetti Team President
Brand Research Firms Repucom, Sport+Markt Join Forces

SBJ/SBD KICK OFF ANNUAL FSA SPORTS MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

 

SportsBusiness Journal/Daily’s 12th annual FSA Sports Media & Technology conference kicks off today at the N.Y. Marriott Marquis. The morning session will feature panel discussions titled “Sports Media Executives Speak Out” and “Social Media: Building Audience and Building Revenue,” followed by an interview with CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus and Turner President of Sales, Distribution & Sports David Levy regarding the CBS/Turner March Madness deal.

Sponsors for this year's event include Popsy Interactive, Digitaria, O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Proskauer, CSG Systems, Covington & Burling LLP, Dow Lohnes, Getty Images, Omnigon, Tennis Channel and Level.

See a full agenda for the event and read today’s issue of THE DAILY for more from the conference.


MANCHESTER UNITED PARENT TO PAY DOWN MORE THAN $350M IN DEBT

EPL club Manchester United’s parent company has “agreed to pay off a payment-in-kind loan” worth about US$353M. Red Football Joint Venture Ltd. in a filing said it will “prepay 100 percent from the outstanding loan on Nov. 22.” The controlling Glazers “aren’t going to take any money out of the club to pay down the debt” (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 11/15). This comes as Red Football today is scheduled to release its latest set of accounts (CP, 11/15).   


MLS DYNAMO SET TO NAME COO CHRIS CANETTI NEW TEAM PRESIDENT

The MLS Dynamo today will name COO Chris Canetti the team’s new President. Canetti “has handled all the team president’s responsibilities” since June, when the job was left vacant after original President Oliver Luck left the team to become West Virginia AD. Canetti has been COO since May ’06, moving from the N.Y./N.J. MetroStars to the Dynamo when the franchise relocated from San Jose. He was named MLS team exec of the year in ’08 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 11/16).


MARKETING RESEARCH FIRMS REPUCOM, SPORT+MARKT FORM ALLIANCE

Brand exposure measurement firm Repucom and research/consultancy company Sport+Markt AG today announced that they have formed a strategic alliance with the assistance of N.Y.-based investment group GF Capital. Both Repucom and Sport+Markt will continue to operate under their respective brands, as will other companies that may join the group. GF Capital funded the deal, and the private equity firm becomes a shareholder in the new group (Repucom/Sport+Markt).


DAVID STERN, STEPHEN COLBERT DISCUSS NBA’S INTERNATIONAL APPEAL

David Stern Discusses NBA's Int'l Appeal
During Appearance On "The Colbert Report"

NBA Commissioner David Stern last night appeared on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." Host Stephen Colbert said in introducing Stern, "I'm going to nail him from the three-point line." Below are some highlights from the interview ("The Colbert Report," Comedy Central, 11/15).

Colbert: "Sir, I am a huge, huge fan of the basketball. I am such an enormous fan that I haven't watched any this year. Has the season started?"
Stern: "Yes."

Colbert: "How much of the season is going to be just LeBron making up his mind again, because that was such a highlight last year? You must be incredibly proud that that was the story of the year for the NBA last year."
Stern said James "did sign a contract, so he's made up his mind for a while, several years."

Colbert: "Basketball has become so enormous everywhere in the world. Is it a major export for the United States?"
Stern: "It is one of our leading cultural exports."

Colbert: "Really? Can we put tariffs on it in some way? Can we like put a tariff on like the windmill dunk and somehow get some of that money back from China?"
Stern: "It actually travels well, so we can sell enough to bring the money home."


QUICK HIT INC. SIGNS DEAL TO DISTRIBUTE FOOTBALL GAME WITHIN FOXSPORTS.COM

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Online video game outfit Quick Hit Inc. has signed a partnership with Fox Sports Interactive Media to distribute "Quick Hit NFL Football" within FoxSports.com. The deal, placing the browser-based game within what is typically a top-five rated sports site in traffic, adds to a similar distribution pact with NFL.com. Quick Hit has nearly tripled its user base this year to more than 3 million users, company officials said, with the number aided significantly by a new game license with the NFL to use league and team marks.


U.S. SEN. OPPOSES COMCAST-NBCU DEAL AHEAD OF MANAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Comcast as soon as tomorrow is expected to announce management changes for NBC Universal “in anticipation of completing its takeover of the company by the end of the year or early next year.” But U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said that the deal “should be blocked” by the FCC. Sanders, in a letter to be delivered today to FCC commissioners, says that the acquisition “would lead to higher costs … would damage competition and would limit the diversity of voices in the media” (NYTIMES.com, 11/15).


SPEED READS….

The Asian Tour has partnered with IMG Media in a 12-year deal for a joint venture designed to help further develop the game of golf throughout Asia. IMG has held the tour’s media rights since January ‘09 (IMG).

adidas today announced a deal with the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, making it the ’11 high school all-star football game’s exclusive supplier of footwear, compression apparel and gloves (adidas).

A sellout crowd of 3,017 attended World TeamTennis Smash Hits last night at American Univ.’s Bender Arena. The annual charitable exhibition organized by Billie Jean King and Sir Elton John raised roughly $500,000 for the fight against HIV/AIDS (WASHINGTON POST, 11/16).


QUICK HITS….

“We’re not the cure for cancer, but we might be the cure for Cohan” – Warriors co-Owner Peter Guber, on formally closing on his group’s acquisition of the team from Sonic Communications Founder Chris Cohan (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/16).

“This is the closest L.A. has been since the Raiders and Rams left” – L.A. Coliseum Commission member David Israel, on AEG’s proposal to build an NFL-ready downtown stadium (FANHOUSE.com, 11/15).

“What if the ball had hiked and a tight end or somebody was running across the middle about to catch a ball? That would have been a terrible collision. It would have been something serious” – Giants DE Justin Tuck, on New Meadowlands Stadium having a power outage during Sunday’s game against the Cowboys (NJ.com, 11/16). 

“He’s the Kenny Powers of the NHL” – ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser, on NHL Rangers LW Sean Avery, after Avery hit Oilers D Ladislav Smid with what the Oilers are calling a sucker punch (“PTI,” ESPN, 11/15).

“I’m pretty sure Octane is taking a look at it, but the first priority is to make sure Indy happens” – Go Indy committee Chair Richard Wong, on the possibility of bringing back the Honda Indy Edmonton in ’11 and a possible NASCAR Nationwide Series race in ’12 (EDMONTON SUN, 11/16).


TWITTER ME THIS….

 

Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s Jaymee Sire: “Warriors fans give new owners a standing ovation as they address the crowd after 1st quarter.”

Yahoo Sports’ Marc Spears: “Wonder if Warriors owner know team plays in Oakland. They keep making San Fran references at San Fran restaurant.”

ESPN’s John Hollinger: “Hadn't realized Isiah Thomas was the new GM of my Redskins. These next five years should be a hoot.”

Bengals WR Terrell Owens: “How do u justify a 78 million dollar contract w/this type of performance?”


TODAY’S EVENTS….

Warner Bros. Home Video will release “Alex Ovechkin: The Gr8” on DVD. The film chronicles the career of the Capitals LW so far.


IN OTHER NEWS….

Apple today is expected to “disclose that its iTunes Store will soon start carrying music by the Beatles.” The move would “fill a glaring gap in the collection of the world’s largest music retailer.” Talks have been ongoing between Apple, representatives of the Beatles and their record label, EMI Group (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/16).


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
Newsday
Philadelphia Daily News
Boston Herald

FINAL JEOPARDY!

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Sports In America."

"Seen with a piece of equipment, Bryn Mawr's first phys ed director brought this sport to the U.S.; it shares part of its name with another sport."


LAUGH TRACK….

Former U.S. sprinter Marion Jones appeared on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" last night to promote her new book, "On The Right Track." Jones said of her PED use, "Before the 2000 Games, I was given these performance-enhancing drugs and I trained and trained and won these medals and found out in 2003 that indeed all along that's what I had been given. So in 2007, I gave them all back." Host Jon Stewart: "I didn't realize this, this was not something you knew about." Jones: "That's correct." Stewart: "For me that's the part that's probably hard to imagine. I imagine these athletes at the level that you're at, you know everything that you're putting in your body. Are you getting vials of stuff and you're like, 'I like the clear stuff'?" Jones: "I like to tell people that (as) elite athletes, you trust your inner circle" ("The Daly Show," Comedy Central, 11/15).

Actor Russell Crowe appeared on NBC's "The Tonight Show" last night, where he discussed the Australian rugby team he owns, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Crowe said since acquiring the team in '06, "we've gone from being an absolute basket case to being competitive, and the next step is to go from competitive to dominant." Crowe said the Rabbitohs just signed Greg Inglis, so "in order to put it in perspective for you guys, it's like we just got LeBron James." Crowe said Inglis' contract "is nothing compared to American money, but he's got a three-year deal that's worth roughly about $1.8 million." Leno: "Do you have to raise beer prices and ticket prices?" Crowe: "Man, I just wish I could. It would be so good if it was that easy. A season ticket for a Rabbitohs supporter – you guys will laugh at this – is $280 … and you know what the Rabbitohs members continuously do? They complain about how expensive it is" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/15).

 THE MONOLOGUES:

CBS' David Letterman: "Sarah Palin, the part-time governor of Alaska, has her own weekly show now … and every week Sarah Palin shows you around Alaska. And they do a lot of fishing, obviously. And in Alaska and a lot of places, it's catch and release. Catch and release. You know what that is? It's like what they do with Lindsay Lohan. Sarah Palin on the show – by the way beautiful, incredible, beautiful scenery – and Sarah Palin says, 'Well we're going to do a lot of huntin'. We're going to do a lot of fishin'. Going to do a lot of hikin'.' I won't be watchin'. … You can go over to Rockefeller Plaza and see the brand-new Christmas tree. It is a 76-foot Norway spruce. They drive up to, I don't know Armonk or someplace, and they pay a guy 80 bucks and they hack down his tree. Then they put it on a big truck, one of those super-wide load, extra-long things with the flags and you’ve got to move over when you see it coming. It's the same company that takes Kirstie Alley to spin class. … See the ball game last night at the Meadowlands, the Giants and Cowboys? Right in the middle of the game the lights went out twice. Did you see that? Well, they figured out what it was. It was Rex Ryan's refrigerator. … They had the big blackout during the game, and today Carnival cruise has apologized" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/16).

NBC's Jay Leno: "This is going to be a rough week for President Obama. He has to pardon a turkey, he's got to deal with a lame-duck Congress, he's got to eat crow and the Chinese just flipped him the bird. … President Obama is back home after his ten-day trip to Asia. On the way back yesterday, Air Force One made a stop in Anchorage, Alaska, which is hopefully the only time we'll hear Air Force One and Anchorage, Alaska, in the same sentence. … A lot of controversy over the new body scanning machines at the airport. This has been on the news all day today. People say they invade their privacy. Have you seen the images? They are so graphic. Today, Brett Favre texted one to a female reporter.Facebook has now introduced what it calls the next generation modern messaging system. It incorporates e-mail, instant messages and text messaging all at one. They say their goal is to create a world where nothing gets done at the workplace ever again. ... We finally learned this week which company is the worst for sending out spam. It turns out it is Carnival cruise lines. You know what two words people fear the most when they see a Carnival cruise ship: 'Welcome aboard.' … The Gap has opened its first store in China. There was strong opposition from China's officials who felt the country of China was becoming too Americanized, but then they relented when they realized all The Gap's clothes were made in China" ("The Tonight Show," NBC, 11/16).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:

Last night's Top Ten list was "Top Ten New Words Of 2010." Letterman: "In its annual survey the Global Language Monitor announced spillcam and vuvuzela are new words of 2010. It's a living organism the English language, constantly changing. Communication changes each and every day. It's fluid, it's dynamic and that's the way it should be" ("Late Show," CBS, 11/16).

10) "Lohab."
9) "Obamamess."
8) "Baba-bookdeal."
7) "Foxitious."
6) "Sheentoxicated."
5) "Witchcrap."
4) "Baconfetti."
3) "Opraholic."
2) "Leno'd."
1) "Palincoherent."

FINAL JEOPARDY….

"What is field hockey?"


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

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

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

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