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USOC Begins Series Of Layoffs Designed To Trim Budget By $7.1M
IOC Says It May End USOC Revenue Deal If It Is Not Revised
NBC Again Teaming With Microsoft, MSN For Olympic Web Site
Reports Point To Friday Announcement On MLS In Portland

USOC BEGINS LAYOFFS TO TRIM $7.1M FROM BUDGET; SHORT LEAVES ORGANIZATION

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

 
The USOC today began making a series of layoffs designed to help it save $7.1M on its budget of $135M. The layoffs were expected to impact as many as 63 employees on the 425-person staff. Among those who lost their jobs were employees in licensing, design, administration and sports performance.

In a move unrelated to the layoffs, Chief Information Officer Damani Short has left the organization. He joins former CEO Jim Scherr and CMO Rick Burton as the third top executive to leave the organization since the Beijing Olympics. At press time, there were no details available as to why he left.


IOC SAYS IT COULD END REVENUE AGREEMENT WITH USOC IF NOT REVISED

The IOC "could end its revenue-sharing deal" with the USOC "unless the Americans agree to a revised formula and smaller share of the money." IOC Exec Board member Denis Oswald today said that the USOC "must make concessions at a key meeting in Denver next week or face possible cancellation" of the revenue deal, in which it receives nearly 13% of Olympic TV rights fees and 20% of global marketing revenues. The issue "threatens to hinder" Chicago's '16 Games bid (AP, 3/18). 

Oswald last March sent a letter to IOC President Jacques Rogge criticizing the USOC share. Then-USOC Chair Peter Ueberroth later called the letter “badly spirited” (THE DAILY).


NBC AGAIN PARTNERING WITH MICROSOFT AND MSN FOR NBCOLYMPICS.COM

By Eric Fisher, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

NBC Sports & Olympics today announced it has renewed its exclusive deal with Microsoft to use the software giant's Silverlight media player for the '10 Games in Vancouver, as well as distribute live and on-demand Olympic content through the MSN portal. The pact extends an alliance first struck early last year for the Beijing Games and which helped fuel an online audience of more than 52 million unique users for the event.

The net discussed potential alignments with several major online portals – including Yahoo, its partner for online distribution of "Sunday Night Football" – in an effort to boost traffic and exposure during the Vancouver Games before re-upping with Microsoft. "For the Beijing Olympics, Microsoft Silverlight technology set the standard by helping deliver the most dynamic online viewing experience to date. With the Vancouver version of NBCOlympics.com on MSN, we plan to raise the bar even higher," said NBC Olympics President Gary Zenkel.


INTERNET REPORTS POINT TO FRIDAY ANNOUNCEMENT ON MLS IN PORTLAND

Recent Web reports indicate that the USL Portland Timbers and MLS will hold a press conference Friday, presumably to announce that the city has been awarded an MLS expansion team. The news was first circulated on the Internet by Timbers fans "urging up to 300 supporters to attend the news conference" reportedly scheduled for 9:30am PT. Neither an MLS spokesperson nor Timbers Owner Merritt Paulson "would confirm the news conference" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/18).



SUNS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR ANOTHER OUTDOOR PRESEASON GAME AT INDIAN WELLS

Welts (l) Is Joined By Indian Wells, Suns Officials
In Announcing Outdoor Game Against Warriors 
The Suns as expected today announced that they will play another outdoor preseason game at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Suns will play the Warriors on Saturday, October 10, at Indian Wells, with the game televised on TNT. The Suns last year played the Nuggets at the same venue. Suns President & COO Rick Welts said in a statement, "The response from our fans, the Indian Wells community and TNT viewers made it an easy decision to return" (John Lombardo, SportsBusiness Journal).

Last year's game sold out at the 16,000-plus-seat venue, drawing a "large contingent of fans who made the drive of three to four hours from the Phoenix area" (AZCENTRAL.com, 3/18).


NFLPA EXEC DIR DEMAURICE SMITH NOT ANNOUNCING TRANSITION TEAM TODAY

By Liz Mullen, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

Information about the team that will help DeMaurice Smith transition into his new job as NFLPA Exec Dir will not be announced today, a source said. It may be announced Thursday, the source added. The delay comes because Smith is traveling back from Hawaii, where he was elected to the post Sunday.

The list may include the names of the three candidates who competed against Smith for the job: former NFLPA Presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong and player attorney David Cornwell.


FRANCE'S OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHOOSES CITY OF ANNECY FOR '18 GAMES BID

The French Olympic Committee today announced that it has selected the city of Annecy as its candidate to host the '18 Games. The IOC will select the winning city in July '11. Located in the French Alps, Annecy beat out rival bids from Grenoble, Nice and Pelvoux-les-Ecrins (REUTERS, 3/18). Annecy has "enjoyed large popular support" in France as a potential Olympic city. Cities in South Korea, Germany, Norway and possibly the U.S. are also expected to bid (AP, 3/18).


OBAMA FILLS OUT NCAA BRACKET FOR SEGMENT ON ESPN'S "SPORTSCENTER"

Obama Discuses His March
Madness Bracket With ESPN's Andy Katz
President Obama appeared on ESPN's "SportsCenter" today in a taped segment from the White House in which he filled out his NCAA Tournament bracket.

Obama, on picking VCU over UCLA, "I hate to say this because my brother-in-law [Oregon State coach Craig Robinson] is in the Pac-10 right now, but the Pac-10 has been looking pretty weak this year."

Obama, on picking Gonzaga over Illinois: "I hate to do this to my home-state team, but I think Gonzaga is a little stronger."

Obama said of picking Utah over Arizona in the first round: "It has nothing to do with McCain. I think Arizona is a great state. I love playing golf there, but they just squeaked in based on reputation."

When asked if he saw the Syracuse-Connecticut six-overtime Big East Tournament game, Obama said, "I watched the highlights on ESPN. I can't be staying up until two in the morning. I've got work to do."

Obama, on picking North Carolina to win the national championship: "To the Tar Heels that are watching, I picked you all last year. You let me down. This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation."

Obama said that he would watch some of the late-round games while traveling on Air Force One to and from the NATO summit April 3-4 in Germany and France: "We will be trying to catch as much of this as possible. Air Force One does have DirecTV" (ESPN, 3/18).


COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN DISCUSSES FUTURE OF FIGHTING IN THE NHL

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman appeared on ESPN2's "First Take" today and discussed the future of fighting in the league. Bettman: “Interestingly enough, there really wasn’t much of a sentiment either at (last week’s GM) meetings or leading into them by any ... constituent groups of the league – be it the managers, the coaches, the players, or our fans – to do anything significant about fighting, other than perhaps address some safety issues because it's part of the game.”

Bettman said that an outright ban on fighting “is not going to happen,” adding there “doesn’t seem to be any appetite by anyone who has any connection to the game, most especially our fans, to do that” (“First Take,” ESPN2, 3/18).


BUZZER BEATERS….

The Cubs today received final approval from the Chicago City Council to hold three concerts this summer at Wrigley Field (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 3/18).

Fox Soccer Channel today announced its on-air talent for its coverage of the inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season, beginning with L.A. Sol-Washington Freedom on March 29. Mark Rogondino will be the play-by-play announcer, with Jenn Hildreth as the color commentator (FSC).

The Chevron World Challenge, the charity golf tournament hosted by Tiger Woods originally scheduled for the week before Christmas, has been moved to December 3-6, “which tournament organizers hope will attract an even stronger field” (AP, 3/18).

 
Franklin Circuit Court Judge Phillip Shephard has overturned the suspensions “given to three jockeys for wearing unapproved advertisements” during the ’05 Kentucky Derby (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 3/18).

Riddell, the official helmet of the NFL, has signed on as the official hardgoods supplier of American Youth Football (Riddell).

Bass officials have announced that the ’10 Bassmaster Classic will be held February 19-21 at Lay Lake near Birmingham, Alabama (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 3/18).

SI this week features five regional covers of its annual collage of players, coaches, fans, mascots and cheerleaders from all 65 teams in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, with the billing “March Madness: Where’s Your Team?” (THE DAILY)


FACILITY NOTES….

The MLB Cardinals today announced that they will break ground soon on a temporary softball field and parking lot expansion at the future site of the Ballpark Village ahead of hosting this year’s All-Star Game (Cardinals).

Birdair, Inc. has been awarded the design-build contract to provide the roof and façade cladding systems for Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey (Birdair).


QUICK HITS….

“You’re going to get a lot of guys that don’t really know too much about the game just going online and just saying, ‘Let’s get this guy out.’ I think it’s a stupid idea” – Toronto FC D Jim Brennan, on the Seattle Sounders fan club having the power to fire the team’s GM (NATIONAL POST, 3/18).

“There is no God-given right for the World Cup to be held in a certain continent. I think both World Cups 2018 and 2022 must be open to everybody” – Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam, on UEFA pushing to have Europe host the ’18 event (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/18).

“For time constraints alone, he’s a one-sheet guy” – ESPN’s Mike Greenberg, on whether President Obama fills out more than one March Madness bracket (“Mike and Mike in the Morning, ESPN, 3/18).


A LIGHTER BUZZ….

Netherlands-based energy company Essent has agreed to discontinue its "Svencouver" campaign in support of Dutch Olympic speed skater Sven Kramer. The Dutch Olympic Committee "got upset" because Essent, which is not an official Olympic Sponsor, referenced the '10 Vancouver Games and in one ad partially displayed the Olympic rings. The campaign "will be re-launched with the name 'Svenergy'" (THESTAR.com, 3/17).


THE DAILY'S HOT READS….

The N.Y. TIMES' Ellen Barry writes, "The season's most sensational political sideshow is gearing up in the southern Russian city of Sochi, where a series of national figures are bidding to become mayor leading up to the 2014 Winter Games" (N.Y. TIMES).

The ORLANDO SENTINEL's David Whitley writes of Tiger Woods, "The worst thing about golf is that it depends so much on one person. The best thing is the one person is Woods, who never met a challenge he didn't relish" (ORLANDO SENTINEL).

Also:

See the Hot Reads section for more sports business-related links.


IN OTHER NEWS….

Crocs has disclosed that its independent accounting firm Deloitte & Touche has “substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern” (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 3/17).


DAILY DOWNLOAD….

Univ. of Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl offers up his first-round upset picks for the NCAA Tournament in this online video sponsored by LifeLock.

Watch The Clip

CHANNEL SURF….

ESPN’s Hannah Storm and Josh Elliott will appear on ABC’s “Scrubs” at 8:00pm ET. In the episode, Chris Turk (Donald Faison) attempts a risky procedure that may restore a paralyzed teenager’s ability to walk from watching “SportsCenter.”

Jets Owner Woody Johnson and Yankees President Randy Levine will appear on Fox Business’ “America’s Nightly Scoreboard” at 7:00pm ET.

MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann will appear on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” at 11:35pm ET.


HEADLINERS….

 Here are tonight’s headline guests on the following talk shows:

“Late Show” Craig Ferguson
“Tonight Show” Reese Witherspoon
“Late Late Show” Steven Wright
“Late Night” Clive Owen
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” Andy Samberg

DAILY DIGIT….

145 – The number of men's basketball players majoring in business, economics or finance out of the 636 players participating in this month's NCAA Tournament whose majors were identified (WSJ.com, 3/16).   


NOTES & QUOTES FROM THIS DAY IN SBD HISTORY….

2001
"Everything feels different for the Falcons, and that's because everything is different. Whether any of this will translate into victories for the Falcons as early as this season is debatable, but this isn't: Blank definitely will keep things interesting along the way" – The ATLANTA CONSTITUTION'S Terence Moore, on what he viewed as the franchise's bright future under new Owner Arthur Blank.  


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

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