| • | Bud Selig Officially Announces George Mitchell-Led Steroids Probe |
| • | Anheuser-Busch Unveils MLB Promotions, Ad Creative |
| • | Britain Formally Establishes Olympic Delivery Authority For 2012 Games |
| • | British Racing Drivers’ Club Abandons Plans To Re-Develop Silverstone |
SELIG OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES GEORGE MITCHELL-LED STEROIDS PROBE
By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal
As expected, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig today announced an investigation into allegations of steroid use by players connected to BALCO, to be led by former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell (D-ME). Among those aiding Mitchell will be Foley & Lardner LLP attorneys Thomas Carlucci and Jeffrey Collins.
The investigation, to which Selig has assigned no due date for findings, will initially focus on BALCO’s alleged infiltration into baseball subsequent to the signing of the ’02 CBA. If findings lead Mitchell to go back further in time, Selig has granted him authority to do so. Players under investigation will continue to play during Mitchell’s probe, and the commissioner said no prospective penalties have been determined for those found to be using steroids.
Selig was pressed to act after the publication of “Game of Shadows,” a new book by two S.F. Chronicle reporters detailing extensive steroid use by Barry Bonds and other players.
“The book raises ethical issues that must be confronted head on,” Selig said. “The specificity of these charges said to me it’s time to begin an investigation.”
Meanwhile, BALCO Founder Victor Conte was released from prison today. He told the AP, "I plan to provide evidence in the near future to prove that much of what is written in the book [‘Game of Shadows’] is untrue." He declined to list specific inaccuracies or what evidence he would provide, but said, "It's about the character assassination of Barry Bonds and myself."
ANHEUSER-BUSCH UNVEILS MLB PROMOTIONS, AD CREATIVE
 |
| Anheuser-Busch Unveils MLB
Team-Specific Packaging |
Anheuser-Busch announced that Budweiser and Bud Light, official beer sponsors of MLB and 26 teams, will introduce team-specific packaging in team markets nationwide. The campaign will produce 52 packaging combinations of 18-, 20- and 24-pack bottles of the two brands. Also, A-B will debut a new baseball-themed creative, offer team-specific promotional items and partner with Education Is Freedom to expand its “Homerunazo” Latino scholarship program.
The new creative, via DDB, Chicago, will debut this season with a spot titled “Lockerroom,” which features a post-game celebration with a guest who is “just there for the Bud Light.”
Meanwhile, the Cubs today announced a deal with A-B to officially name the newly-renovated Wrigley Field bleachers the “Bud Light Bleachers.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed (THE DAILY).
BRITAIN TODAY OFFICIALLY CREATES THE OLYMPIC DELIVERY AUTHORITY
The London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill today received Royal Assent and has become an Act of Parliament. The bill creates the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), a public body that will be responsible for building the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 Games. The ODA will also manage the government’s interest in the Olympic project and protect public funds that go into it (U.K. Department for Culture, Media & Sport).
BRITISH RACING DRIVERS’ CLUB ABANDONS PLANS TO RE-DEVELOP SILVERSTONE
The British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) BOD, which sought to lease Silverstone race track to developer St Modwen for 150 years “to help pay for the redevelopment” of the venue, has abandoned the plan after some BRDC members opposed the move. BRDC Chair Stuart Rolt wrote to members, “It is clear there is strong opposition to these plans even in their un-finalised form. … The scheme has no hope of success.” The deal would have included building a luxury hotel and houses on the track’s site (BBC.co.uk, 3/30).
GIVE YOUR OPINION ON THE UPCOMING MLB SEASON....
Take part in SportsBusiness Daily's MLB Survey, where you can give your opinion on:
- The most pressing issue facing MLB
- What new owner faces the biggest challenge?
- Who will MLB select to be the owner of the Nationals?
Go to www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/mlbsurvey and offer your take on the state of MLB. Look for the results in upcoming issues of SBD.
BUZZER BEATERS….
ESPN’s Andy Katz reported the city of Indianapolis has renamed a street in the city “George Mason Drive” for a few days during the Final Four, which he said the team called “probably the coolest thing they’ve seen so far” (ESPNews, 3/30).
The MLB Rangers today announced a partnership with Chase Paymentech Solutions to offer contactless Visa and MasterCard terminals at Ameriquest Field concession stands (Rangers).
Western Union has extended its presenting sponsorship of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Passback Program, a grassroots initiative to provide new or gently used soccer equipment to disadvantaged community organizations and their soccer players (Western Union).
XELR8 Holdings today announced that it has inked Buccaneers RB Carnell Williams to a three-year endorsement deal. As part of the deal, Williams will appear in print advertising, participate in company events and wear XELR8 clothing (XELR8).
Herbalife today announced an endorsement deal with AVP player Sean Scott, who will be featured with AVP players Elaine Youngs and Rachel Wacholder in various promotions for Herbalife and its Liftoff brand (Herbalife).
QUICK HITS....
“If they want to start naming every name this is going to be a potentially disastrous scandal for baseball (and) extremely embarrassing to Bud Selig” -- ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, on today’s announcement of the investigation into steroids in MLB (ESPNews, 3/30).
“They are moving in the direction of putting these quarterbacks in the Popemobile” – NFL Network’s Adam Schefter, on the league banning hits below the knees on QBs (“NFL Total Access,” NFL Network, 3/29).
“If you get really (close), competitive games, the ratings almost always hold up” - CBS News & Sports President Sean McManus, on the impact of lesser-known teams playing in the Final Four (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 3/30).
ARTICLES OF INTEREST….
The N.Y. DAILY NEWS’ Bill Madden writes of proposed new ballparks for the Yankees and Mets, “The time has come to finally get the shovels into the ground” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS).
In a front-page story in the WALL STREET JOURNAL, Ryan Chittum writes Boone Pickens’ $165M gift to Oklahoma State Univ. “has plunged him into a different kind of battle, with residents of a low-income neighborhood” (WALL STREET JOURNAL).
Also:
- Why is MLS having a tough time gaining traction with Hispanic fans?
- Columnist says that without a ballpark deal, Marlins should trade top players.
- Profile of Red Sox Senior Baseball Operations Adviser Bill James.
- Profile of NFLPA Exec Dir Gene Upshaw.
See the Articles of Interest section for more sports business-related links.
TONIGHT’S EVENTS….
SI’s Frank Deford will be the guest speaker at N.C. State Friends of the Library’s Annual Spring Dinner at 6:00pm ET at the McKimmon Conference & Training Center.
A memorial service for late IRL driver Paul Dana will be held at 5:15pm ET at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Dana family has asked that all donations be sent to:
The Paul Dana Memorial Fund For Renewable Energy
c/o National Bank of Indianapolis
107 N. Pennsylvania St.
Suite 100
Indianapolis, IN 46204
CHANNEL SURF….
 |
| AHL Jersey Appears In NBC's "The Office" |
Marlins players Dontrelle Willis, Jason Vargas, Mike Jacobs and Jeremy Hermida will appear on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” at 8:00pm ET. In the episode, the players help renovate a youth baseball field in Boynton Beach, Florida.
Steve Carell’s character receives an AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins jersey as a birthday gift on NBC’s “The Office” at 9:30pm ET.
Poker player Annie Duke will appear on CBS’ “The Late Late Show” at 12:35am ET.
HEADLINERS….
Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:
| “Late Show” | Antonio Banderas |
| “The Tonight Show” | Ryan Seacrest |
| “Late Night” | Josh Hartnett |
| “The Late Late Show” | Frankie Muniz |
| “Jimmy Kimmel Live” | Adam Brody (r) |
CLOSING STAT: TOP TEN BRANDS AND TV PROGRAMS WITH PRODUCT PLACEMENT
The following presents Nielsen Monitor-Plus data detailing the top ten brands and television programs with product placement, based on total occurrences in ’05 (Nielsen Monitor-Plus).
| TOP TEN BRANDS AND PROGRAMS WITH PRODUCT PLACEMENT IN '05 |
| BRAND | OCCUR. | | PROGRAM (NET) | OCCUR. |
| Coca-Cola Classic | 2,814 | | "The Contender" (NBC) | 7,502 |
| Everlast Apparel | 1,655 | | "The Apprentice" (NBC) | 3,577 |
| Everlast Sporting Equipment | 1,403 | | "American Idol" (Fox) | 3,481 |
| Nike Apparel | 1,389 | | "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" (ABC) | 3,223 |
| Gatorade | 1,233 | | "What I Like About You" (WB) | 2,927 |
| The Home Depot | 1,217 | | "King Of Queens" (CBS) | 2,709 |
| 24 Hour Fitness | 1,074 | | "America's Next Top Model" (UPN) | 2,533 |
| Chef Revival Apparel | 973 | | "Eve" (UPN) | 1,991 |
| SLS Electronic Equipment | 860 | | "Amazing Race Family Edition" (CBS) | 1,889 |
| Toyota | 829 | | "The Apprentice Martha Stewar" (NBC) | 1,841 |
| TOTAL | 13,447 | | TOTAL | 31,673 |
NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….
2005
“Conventional wisdom is saying Paris … but London is also performing very, very well” - Australian IOC VP Kevan Gosper, on a draft report from the IOC Evaluation Commission having Paris, London and N.Y. ahead of Madrid and Moscow in the race to host the 2012 Olympics.
2000
NBC and the WWF announce a partnership to jointly own and run the XFL, which will begin play in February ’01. NBC Sports Chair Dick Ebersol: “It will stress individuality. There will be no meetings of a competition committee to remove celebrations of more than one player.” The league would fold after just one season.
1999
“TV Ratings are a concern, but so is Nabisco, our sponsor” – LPGA Tour Commissioner Ty Votaw, on low ratings for the Nabisco Dinah Shore Classic, which is forced to compete with the PGA Tour Players Championship and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament’s Final Four.
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