The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Friday, July 6, 2001
9:00am ET
| • | Roger Marino To Pass On Red Sox |
| • | NHL & SLOC Proclaim "Hockey Rules" |
| • | SMI Orders Cuts Despite Netting $45M |
| • | NBC Pumps Up NASCAR |
| • | Who’s The New Editor at FT? |
| • | "Cold War" Sets Hockey Attendance Record |
FORMER PENS OWNER MARINO PULLS OUT OF RED SOX SWEEPSTAKES
The BOSTON GLOBE reports that former Penguins Owner Roger Marino yesterday "notified the Red Sox that he will not be making a bid to be the team’s new general partner." Marino withdrew his bid to focus on "his budding career as a film producer." With the decision to drop out, Marino forfeits his $25,000 application bid. Marino, on his decision to withdraw, "I’ve made a big commitment to the film industry and it’s a full-time job. But I could end up partnering with someone later in the game" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/6).
NHL TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT MARKETING INVESTMENT WITH SLOC
USA TODAY reports that the NHL and the SLOC will "announce a sweeping marketing deal promoting the NHL’s participation" in the ’02 Winter Games. The agreement will be "the first such deal between a pro league and Olympic organizer." While no money is involved in the deal, the two bodies "effectively agree to promote each other’s brand over the coming months." The agreement "includes the creation of a jointly licensed logo with the NHL shield and Olympic rings" (USA TODAY, 7/6).
SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS INC. TO SLASH BUDGET
The LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL reports that despite netting $45M last year, SMI "has ordered its tracks, including Las Vegas Motor Speedway [LVMS], to slash budgets." LVMS has recently fired "at least two employees" while cutting "about" $500,000 from its budget. SMI’s cuts "apparently result from the racing conglomerate’s forecast that it will not meet year-end projections" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/6).
NBC PUMPING UP NASCAR LIKE ANY GOOD PARTNER WOULD
NBC continued to promote its coverage of NASCAR, which begins this weekend with the Pepsi 400 on Saturday night. Jeff Gordon was a guest on NBC’s "Today" show and interviewed by Matt Lauer this morning. While Lauer asked Gordon about the state of NASCAR and issues of safety, he concluded the interview on a friendly note by saying, "Well, I know NBC is excited about its relationship with NASCAR." Gordon: "Well, thanks a lot. We’re looking forward to it, being on NBC, and I just want to say congratulations to you. It’s good to have you back and I hope all is well with you and the family." Lauer is a new father, as his wife Annette gave birth to a baby boy last week ("Today," NBC, 7/6).
GOWERS APPOINTED EDITOR OF FINANCIAL TIMES
The FINANCIAL TIMES reports in a front-page story that Richard Lambert has resigned as Editor of the paper, while Andrew Gowers was named as his replacement. Previously, Gowers was the Editor of FT Deutschland. Lambert will stay until December to oversee the transition (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/6).
MICHIGAN STATE BREAKS WORLD TICKET RECORD FOR HOCKEY
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that MI State Univ. (MSU) has "eclipsed the world record" for tickets sold for a hockey game, as 56,100 tickets have been sold for their October 6th game versus the Univ. of MI (UM). The previous record of 55,000 was set in ‘57 for a World Championship game between the Soviet Union and Sweden. The UM-MSU game will be played outdoors at 72,027-seat Spartan Stadium. The game is being dubbed the "Cold War" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/6).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
Venus Williams, on reports that quote her father as saying she’s giving up the sport, "I’m too young to be thinking about retiring" (USA TODAY, 7/6)….Beach volleyball star Gabrielle Reece denies rumors that she’s dating golfer Tiger Woods and says she "has reunited with her husband, surfer Laird Hamilton" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/6)….Racer Dave Marcis "will attempt to run in only six more races" before retiring at the Daytona 500 in February. The 60-year-old Marcis "has been involved in Winston Cup racing for 34 years, 29 of them as an owner-driver without major sponsorship" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/6)….KTLA-TV in L.A. reports that Harrison Ford will star in a fourth installment of the Indian Jones series, earning $25M to reprise the roll (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 7/6)….Carmen Electra signed on to be spokesmodel for The Ultimate Fighting Championships. Series co-Owner Lorenzo Fertitta, on the signing, "I got sick of going to news conferences with no press" (USA TODAY, 7/6).
FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION
Last night’s "Final Jeopardy" category was "Celebrities."
"On August 28, 2000 a statue of this late actor was unveiled at the Port Authority bus terminal in New York."
THURSDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
FSN’s 10:30pm ET "National Sports Report" led with Wimbledon and Justine Henin defeating Jennifer Capriati.
ESPN’s 11:00pm ET "SportsCenter" led with Red Sox-Indians.
CNN/SI’s 11:00pm ET "Sports Tonight" led with Red Sox-Indians.
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
"Who is Jackie Gleason?"
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