Closing Bell, January 30, 2004

PAUL TAGLIABUE DELIVERS STATE OF THE LEAGUE ADDRESS

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue today delivered hisannual State of the League address in Houston. Tagliabue spoke and took questions for about 60 minutes in front of mediamembers, as well as league and team execs including Patriots Owner RobertKraft, Redskins Owner Dan Snyder, Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt,Giants Chair Robert Tisch, Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver and BrownsPresident Carmen Policy.         

Tagliabue, when asked if he envisions a time when the SuperBowl is "truly a global tournament," where teams from all over theworld are involved:  "It's going tobe after I'm six-feet under.  But I'm afirm believer that sports will migrate around the globe and that they're doingthat right now, and that at some point, we'll have a quarterback from Chinanamed 'Yao Fling' or something similar to that." Tagliabue noted severalof the league's initiatives in China and that there would be another pressconference at 4:30pm CT today to discuss int'l issues.

Tagilabue, on the NFL-to-L.A. situation: "We'reoptimistic that we can have some concrete things to present to our owners thisspring, either at the March meeting or the May meeting.  In terms of the issues I alluded earlier to– constructibility, financing, environmental and so forth – it doesn't reallyserve any purpose to go into all the details. But those are the kinds of issues we're discussing.  That includes private financing arrangementsas well as some ancillary public financing arrangements in some of thelocations. ... I think we're making progress.”

ELSEWHERE AROUND HOUSTON – SECURITY DETAIL

The Panthers and Patriots will square off in Super BowlXXXVIII Sunday at 6:25pm ET at Reliant Stadium in Houston, and Houston PoliceDepartment Exec Assistant Dennis Storemski said that the venue will be“one of the most secure places in the country” when the game is played.  Storemski added that no “credible threats”had been received, but a “wide range of security measures will be inplace.  These range from a no-fly zoneover the site to a prohibition of tailgating in an effort to coax fans to passthrough security checkpoints early” (USATODAY, 1/30).

The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER reports that among the items thatwill not be allowed in Reliant Stadium include backpacks, camera cases,noisemakers and umbrellas.  The leaguealso plans to “thoroughly inspect any electronic devices, such as pagers,radios and phones before letting [fans] through” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER, 1/30).

The SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS reports that the Super Bowl isnotching $1.2M in overtime for the Houston Fire and Police Departments (SANANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 1/30).

ELSEWHERE AROUND HOUSTON – SUPERBOWL COVERAGE

Jim Nantz will anchor CBS’ four-hour pregame show,which begins at 2:00pm ET, with Boomer Esiason, Dan Marino and DeionSanders providing analysis.

CBS runs a full-page ad in USA Today touting its Super Bowlcoverage and its “Survivor: All-Stars” broadcast to follow the game (THEDAILY).

Beyonce Knowles will perform the national anthem, andother live pregame entertainers include Aerosmith, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and Walter Suhrand Mango Punch.  JanetJackson, P. Diddy, Nelly and Kid Rock will performduring the halftime show.

A total of 47 int’l broadcasters will televise the game in229 countries and territories in 21 different languages.  Fourteen TV and radio stations from tencountries will be broadcasting the game on-site, including the first-everChinese broadcast team, CCTV, to attend the Super Bowl.  Several former and current NFLers will serveas analysts for various broadcasters in foreign languages (NFL).

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and head coach BillParcells will join 12 NFL players in singing “Tomorrow” from the musical“Annie” in a 60-second commercial for NFL Network to air during halftime (NFLNetwork).

NFL Network will air “Super Bowl XXXVIII CommercialsPresented by AOL” at 11:00pm ET Sunday, featuring select commercials that randuring CBS’ broadcast of the game (NFL Network).

Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports will air exclusive livecoverage of the game on more than 625 radio stations nationwide and on AmericanForces Radio Network.

RCN Corp Thursday “joined the list of MSOs that have reacheddeals with Viacom” to carry CBS’ HD feed (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 1/29).

COUNTER-PROGRAMMING FOR CBS’ SUPER BOWLBROADCAST

USA TODAY notes that not “since Fox recorded a 13.4 ratingfor an ‘In Living Color’ episode at halftime of CBS’ Super Bowl in 1992 hascompetitive programming had genuine success.” However, Lingerie Bowl Producer Mitch Mortaza “insists he isserious in forecasting [1-1.5] million PPV buys live at halftime and [1.5-3.5]million worldwide.” NBC Senior VP John Miller “expects a 1.5-2.0 ratingfor the ‘World Poker Tour Battle of Champions’” from 4:00-6:00pm ET againstCBS’ pregame show (USA TODAY, 1/30).

Following Super Bowl pregame coverage, ESPN “goes to tapedfigure skating and ESPN2 to motocross, followed by lots of poker” during CBS’broadcast of the game (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/30).

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that with distributors “cedingmuch of Sunday’s business to Super Bowl XXXVIII,” Hollywood is not “deployingany championship-caliber” movies (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/30).

ELSEWHERE AROUND HOUSTON – SUPER BOWL EVENTS

The Super Celebrity Fashion Extravaganza begins at 6:00pm CTat the Downtown Aquarium, where Pamela Anderson, Vivica A. Fox, CarmenElectra, Kim Cattrall, Rockets G Steve Francis and Astros P RogerClemens will model fashions byTootsies and Festari for Men. The event benefits Angel of Mercy CommunityCenter, and tickets cost $1,000.

The SuperStyle Celebrity Fashion Show will take place at7:00pm CT at M Bar in Houston.  Theevent benefits the Teresita Foundation for Women and the Fashion DesignDepartment of Houston Community College.

Former NFLer Ed“Too Tall” Jones, Astros C Gregg Zuan and actress ShannonElizabeth will host Ecobowl ‘04 at Wild West Houston at 9:00pm CT.  Tickets are $40, and the event benefitsenvironmental conscious charity Ecolutions.

Bart Starr will present the 16^th annualBart Starr Award at the NFL-sanctioned Super Bowl Breakfast from 8:00-10:00amCT at the Hilton Americas Houston. Finalists for the award, which recognizes community leadership, areGiants LB Michael Barrow, Bengals QB Jon Kitna, Buccaneers LB DerrickBrooks and Eagles CB Troy Vincent.

NFL Gridiron Glamour, a celebrity fashion show hosted by MarcusAllen and Kelly Rowland, will begin at 9:00am CT.

Tony Siragusa will host the Houston Celebrity Partyat the Point After at 9:00pm CT at M Bar, where invited guests include the 38“Super Bowl XXXVIII: A Houston Salute” participants.  Tickets cost $250.

ESPN TURNING BACK THE CLOCK FOR INDIANA-MICHIGAN STATE

ESPN will air Indiana-Michigan State men’s basketball at8:00pm ET Saturday, featuring a “Turn Back the Clock” event as part of thenet’s celebration of 25 years of college basketball telecasts.  The S.F. CHRONICLE reports that the teams“will wear uniforms similar to the ones their predecessors wore in the 1979-80season.  Indiana coach Mike Davis,Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and their staffs are supposed to dress inthe styles of ’79.”  Concessions at thegame will be sold at ’79 prices (S.F.CHRONICLE, 1/30).

The HARTFORD COURANT reports that play-by-play announcer DanShulman, analyst Dick Vitale and sideline reporter Doris Burke“will wear 1979 duds” for the telecast (HARTFORDCOURANT, 1/30).

RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES BCS SPONSORSHIP

As first reported in sister publication SportsBusinessJournal, Russell Athletic today announced an agreement to renew its BCSsponsorship with ESPN/ABC Sports through the January ’06 championshipgame.  The renewal gives RussellAthletic the exclusive presenting sponsorship of the “The Road to the BowlChampionship Series,” including “Russell Athletic Player of the Game” segmentson select ESPN college football games. Russell also receives category exclusivity.  Financial terms were not disclosed (Russell Athletic).

BUZZER BEATERS

The NBAtoday fined the Jazz $15,000 for a skit ridiculing Lakers F Karl Maloneand G Kobe Bryant during last Saturday's Lakers-Jazz game at the DeltaCenter (NBA).

The N.Y. POST’s Page Six reports that former NBAer DennisRodman has signed “a blockbuster endorsement deal” with an herbal virilityelixir sold on www.enjoyrx.com (N.Y.POST, 1/30).

The FINANCIAL TIMES reports that the IOC announced yesterday that it will “begin seeking bids for the European media rights” for the 2010 and 2012 Olympics in early March. IOC President Jacques Rogge indicated that there was “no question of the games not being shown on free-to-air television” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 1/30).

The WNBA Lynx unveiled partial season ticket packages forthe first time in franchise history. The team will offer nine-game and five-game packages, both of whichfeature lower-level seating (Lynx).

The AP reports that Iraq Thursday elected a new Olympiccommittee, naming Ahmed al-Sammarai as President.  The move “could pave the way” for Iraqiathletes to participate in the ’04 Athens Games (AP, 1/30).

The Red Wings celebrated 25 seasons of hockey at Joe LouisArena, where Gaylord Day of Swartz Creek, MI, was deemed the20-millionth fan during Thursday night’s game against the Devils.  Day was awarded a variety of gifts from clubsponsors (Red Wings).

Churchill Downs Inc. this week launched the official Web site for the ’04 Kentucky Derby, www.kentuckyderby.com (CD).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

New Media Strategies Thursday released a study of 254 likelySuper Bowl XXXVIII viewers in popular sports, entertainment, women’s andmainstream online communities.  Whenasked about the ads during the Super Bowl broadcast that had sexualimplications as well as erectile dysfunction ads, 57% of the respondents saidthat they are more likely to have sex after seeing the ads (New MediaStrategies).

WEEKEND EVENTS

Friday

The White Sox are hosting their 12th annual SoxFest at the Hyatt Regency Chicago today through Sunday. The team is “expecting close to 15,000 fans to attend” over the three days. Saturday’s session is sold out (DAILY SOUTHTOWN, 1/30).

ESPN NHL analyst & UHL Adirondack IceHawks co-Owner BarryMelrose will serve as the team’s head coach during the team’s 7:35pm ETgame against the Richmond RiverDogs at the Glenn Falls Civic Center in GlennFalls, NY.  IceHawks head coach BryanWells Thursday was relieved of his duties, and the club has scheduled anews conference to introduce the new coach Monday.

Dennis Rodman is expected to be the main attractionin Kansas City for the ABA Long Beach Jam-K.C. Knights 7:15pm CT game at HaleArena.  Approximately 2,500 tickets havealready been sold and the Knights “expect a large number of walk-ups to fillthe 4,800-seat arena” (KANSASCITY STAR, 1/30).

Southwest Atlanta Christian high school faces LandmarkChristian high school in “The Battle of the Big Men” at 8:00pm ET at 9,000-seatAlexander Memorial Coliseum on Georgia Tech’s campus in Atlanta, where highlytouted high school seniors Dwight Howard and Randolph Morrissquare off.  The event “bears moreresemblance to a big-time college basketball game than the standard prepaffair.”  ESPN2 will televise the event,and tickets cost as much as $15 (ATLANTAJOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/30).

Maple Leafs announcer Joe Bowen will be sellingautographed T-shirts bearing his signature “Holy Mackinaw” call prior to theteam’s 7:00pm ET game against the Senators at the Air Canada Centre.  Proceeds go toward research for leukemia (TORONTOSTAR, 1/30).

Bank of America, Infinity Broadcasting and Edge Marketingwill host the Bank of America Uptown Countdown to the Showdown from3:00-11:00pm ET at Founders Hall in Charlotte.

The ‘04 PGA Merchandise Show continues at the Orange CountyConvention Center in Orlando, where The PGA of America will host the PGABusiness of Golf Conference at 1:00pm ET.

The ’04 Annual Conference of the National Consortium forAcademics & Sports begins at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.  Speakers for the three-day program includeMLB Commissioner Bud Selig, USATF CEO Craig Masback, three-timeOlympic gold medalist Nancy Hogshead-Makar and NCAA Senior VP BernardFranklin.

Reebok launches “Triple T,” a four-minute online filmfeaturing Terry Tate, on its official Web site.  Arnell Group, N.Y. and Hypnotic, L.A.developed the film (Reebok).

CHANNEL SURFING

ESPNwill air Hornets-76ers at 7:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air high school basketball: LandmarkChristian-Southwest Christian at 8:00pm ET.

ESPNClassic’s “SportsCentury” will profile AlDavis at 8:00pm ET.

Patriots Owner RobertKraft, Panthers Owner JerryRichardson and NFL Head of Officiating MikePereira will appear on NFL Network’s “NFL Total Access” at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN will air the women’s final of the Australian Open at 9:30pm ET.

FoodNetwork will air an encore presentation of “Emeril’s Manly Man Tailgate” at 8:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air Cavaliers-Bucks at 9:30pmET.

RedskinsLB LaVar Arrington, Giants DE Michael Strahan, Raiders DT Dana Stubblefield, former NFLer Barry Sanders, actor Ice Cube and actresses Pam Anderson, Brooke Burns, Leeann Tweedenand Elisha Cuthbert are scheduled toappear on FSN’s “BDSSP.”

BuccaneersDT Warren Sapp will appear on ABC’s“Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 11:35pm ET.

ESPNwill air NCAA football: “GridironClassic” at 12:00pm ET.

ABC willair front nine coverage of the SkinsGame at 12:30pm ET.

MTV willair a Super Bowl edition of “TRL” at 1:00pm ET.

MTV willair “Rock n’ Jock Super Bowl 2004”at 2:00pm ET.

ABC willair third round coverage of the PGA Tour’sFBR Open at 3:00pm ET.

CBS will air “Road to the Super Bowl” at 4:00pm ET.

ESPNClassic will air “Super Bowl Road Show”at 4:00pm ET.

CBS will air coverage oftriathlon’s “Xterra World Championship”at 5:00pm ET.

NBC will air coverage ofthe “Vans Pipeline Masters” at5:00pm ET.

FoodNetwork will air “Al Roker’s TailgatingParty” at 6:00pm ET.

ESPN2will air Hurricanes-Red Wings at7:00pm ET.

NBA TV will air Suns-Knicksat 7:30pm ET.

Devils DScott Stevens and will appear on“Emeril Live” at 8:00pm ET.

CBS willair “Super Bowl’s Greatest Commercials”at 9:00pm ET.

HBO will air boxing: Kyvelos-Margaritoand Frissina-Marquez at 9:30pm ET.

ESPN will air the men’s final of the Australian Open at 10:00pm ET.

CMTVwill air “Toby Keith’s Super Bowl Party”at 10:00pm ET.

HistoryChannel will air “Presidents on SuperSunday” at 10:00pm ET.

SUNDAY

ABC willair back nine coverage of the “SkinsGame” at 12:30pm ET.

Fox willair “College Football All-Star Challenge”at 12:30pm ET.

ESPN will air 76ers-T’Wolvesat 2:00pm ET.

NBC will air snowboarding’s “USSA Grand Prix” at 2:30pm ET.

ABC willair final round coverage of the PGA Tour’sFBR Open at 3:00pm ET.

NBC will air “World Poker Tour Battle of Champions”at 4:00pm ET.

ESPN will air coverage ofthe PBA’s Reno Open at 4:30pm ET.

NBA TV’s “ScreeningRoom” will air the ‘96 Emmy Award-winning original, “NBA at 50” at 9:00pm ET.

TODAY’S TEASER…

General: Houston will host its second Super BowlSunday.  How many cities have hostedonly one Super Bowl?

THE DAILY STAT: 

Of the 37 Super Bowls, 30 were played after a two-weekwindow following the conference championship games, like this year’s contest.The Super Bowls played a week after the conference championship games have beencloser in average margin of victory (AP, 1/29):

CRITICS WEIGH IN: “THE BIG BOUNCE” & “THE PERFECT SCORE”

Owen Wilson, Charlie Sheen and MorganFreeman are among the stars with feature roles in “The Big Bounce,” a crimecaper adapted from Leonard Elmore’s book by the same name.  Erika Christensen and ScarlettJohansson star, while Trail Blazers F Darius Miles plays acomplimentary role, in “The Perfect Score,” a high school heist flick, in whicha group of high school students attempt to steal the answers to the SAT.:

…TODAY’S ANSWER

Four – Tempe, AZ; Minneapolis, MN; Stanford, CA; andPontiac, MI.

If you haveany questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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