Morning Buzz, April 24, 2002

SALT LAKE WINTER GAMES TO ANNOUNCE OLYMPIC-SIZE PROFITS

The L.A. TIMES reports that the SLOC will announce today that the ’02 Olympics “generated a whopping $56-million overall surplus.” The profit is a “testament to first-rate organizational and logistical plans and a vivid reminder of the financial possibilities inherent in staging the Games in the United States” (L.A. TIMES, 4/24). SLOC President Mitt Romney called the final numbers “an unexpected but wonderful place” (USA TODAY, 4/24).

FOX SPORTS SCORES ELEVEN SPORTS EMMYS AT CEREMONY

The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Fox Sports “walked off with 11 awards” at the Sports Emmys last night at the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' 23rd annual awards presentation in N.Y. Fox’ closest competitor was ESPN, which “won six Emmys -- counting the two for ESPN Classic and ESPN 2” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 4/24).

TICKET SALES BEGIN LOCALY FOR TYSON-LEWIS TITLE FIGHT

The Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL reports that Memphis residents “can buy tickets today for the June 8 Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson heavyweight title fight.” Tickets will not be made available to the rest of the world until Thursday. Ticket prices range from $250-2,400, and “nearly 19,000 tickets are expected to be sold for the fight, with at least 10 percent available during today’s local pre-sale” (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 4/24). The AP reports the bout “could gross nearly $19 million from the live gate alone,” which would make it the largest live gate in boxing history (AP, 4/24).

GIAMBI’S RETURN TO OAKLAND MARKED BY “CLASSFUL” BOOS

Yankees 1B Jason Giambi made his first appearance in Oakland last night since signing a seven-year, $120M contract with the Yankees during the offseason. The Yankees-A’s game drew 40,360 fans and the N.Y. TIMES reports Giambi “was booed for everything he did, loudly, gleefully and almost universally” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24). Giambi said of the fans, “They weren't throwing things or anything. They handled it in a classful way. They were just letting their feelings go, and that's okay" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 4/24).

The SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS notes that Giambi was greeted with a “furious, spurned crowd.” This “may have been the nastiest homecoming in Bay Area sports history. Latrell Sprewell, Chris Webber, even Eddie Belfour -- none of them faced fury like this” (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/24). Asked if it bothered him, Giambi said, "Sure, I wouldn't be human to say that it didn't. … But by no means did it crush me" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/24).

BLEDSOE TO ATTEND HIS FIRST RALLY AS A BILL

The BOSTON HERALD reports that Bills QB Drew Bledsoe “will receive a hero's welcome today in Buffalo,” as the Bills will “hold a rally … in front of the team's administrative offices” in Orchard Park, NY at 3:30pm ET. Owner Ralph Wilson Jr. will introduce Bledsoe to the public, and “several local personalities are expected to be in attendance” (BOSTON HERALD, 4/24). The BOSTON GLOBE reports that Bledsoe “will address fans at a rally … that will include live music, mascot Billy Buffalo, and the Buffalo Jills cheerleaders” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/24). The press conference will be carried live on Empire Sports Network, WNSA-FM and ESPNews (THE DAILY).

A LIGHTER BUZZ

This week’s cover of Sports Illustrated features Nets F Kenyon Martin with the tagline, “BAD BOY … Nets Flagrant Flyer Kenyon Martin Attacks the Playoffs” (THE DAILY).

ATTENDANCE WATCH: After drawing just 9,505 fans in Game One of their playoff series with the Magic, the Hornets drew 10,323 fans for Tuesday night’s Game Two at the Charlotte Coliseum (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 4/24).

NHL: The announced crowd for Game Four of the Hurricanes-Devils Tuesday night was 17,057. So far, three out of the first four games of the series have not sold out, with the Devils’ two home games “about 2,000 tickets short of the 19,040 capacity” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24) …. Game Three of the Maple Leafs-Islanders series Tuesday night drew a sellout crowd of 16,234 at Nassau Coliseum, and the fans witnessed the first Islanders victory in the playoffs since ’93 (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24). NEWSDAY writes, “If Nassau Coliseum rocks as it did last night, there might be a more immediate need for a new arena. The foundation shook as the sellout crowd… exploded with each goal” (NEWSDAY, 4/24) … The L.A. TIMES reports that the Avalanche beat the Kings 1-0 in Game Four of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Tuesday night in front of 18,700 at Staples Center, which was “the largest crowd ever to watch a hockey game in California” (L.A. TIMES, 4/24).

MLB: The Expos, going up against Game Three of the Bruins-Canadiens series, drew their smallest crowd of the year, as just 3,561 fans showed up last night for the Brewers-Expos game (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 4/24) … The Pirates drew their second-smallest crowd of the season when just 13,235 fans attended last night’s game against the Dodgers (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 4/24).

TODAY’S EVENTS

Phillies VP/Advertising Sales Dave Buck and Assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. will host the team’s 2^nd Annual Business Breakfast with the Philadelphia Phillies. The event takes place from 8:00-10:00am ET at the Executive Dining Room at Veteran’s Stadium (THE DAILY).

TRAC and SMI will host a news conference in the garage area at Lowe’s Motor Speedway beginning at 1:00pm ET (THE DAILY).

NASCAR BGN driver Brian Vickers will tour the Pentagon as a guest of the U.S. Army and will later visit the White House. The 18-year-old Vickers drives the No. 40 Engineered Machined Products/U.S. Army National Automotive Center (THE DAILY).

IN OTHER NEWS….

The N.Y. TIMES reports that Hollywood talent agent Michael Ovitz “is in talks to merge or sell his troubled company, the Artists Management Group” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24).

The WASHINGTON TIMES reports that shares of AOL Time Warner Inc. “are trading below $20 as the company prepares to announce its first-quarter earnings today.” Observers say that the stock price “may go even lower because of pessimism about the media giant's prospects” (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/24).

The WALL STREET JOURNAL reports, “In a potentially significant quality boost for video delivery over the Internet, Real Networks Inc. says it has refined its video technology to provide a major increase in the clarity of movies and other programming on the Web” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/24).

Bally Total Fitness will offer its female members who “are pressed for time an alternative to the shower” next month. Through a deal with its marketing partner, Unilever, Bally Total Fitness “will hand out samples of Dove Body Refreshers as women enter the gym” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/24).

FINAL JEOPARDY QUESTION

Last night's "Final Jeopardy!" category was "Shakespearean Geography."

“Of the six locations mentioned in titles of Shakespeare's plays, this one is the only one in England.”

LAUGH TRACK

THE MONOLOGUES: NBC’s Jay Leno: “Robert Blake pleaded not guilty to his wife's murder. And here's the sad part: It was his biggest speaking role in years. ... Prosecutors said Blake killed his wife after taking her out to dinner. Now guys, sympathize for a moment. You're in a restaurant, you know you're going to kill your wife later. Do you try to steer her away from the more expensive items on the menu? 'You know, the lobster's really not very good here, honey. Try the child's Jell-O.'" Leno: "O.J. (Simpson) is being sued by the lawyers that worked on his child custody case. They say he owes them $200,000. This is what I love about lawyers. When O.J. was on trial for murder, his lawyer said he was innocent. When he was on trial for road rage, his lawyer stepped forward, 'He is innocent.' But when he doesn't pay the legal bill, some lawyer's going, 'He's a sleazeball, your honor. He's a lying weasel.'" Leno: "(Monday) was Earth Day. To help celebrate, President Bush planted some seeds. See, that's the difference between Bush and (Bill) Clinton. Clinton was a much bigger environmentalist. He didn't just plant his seed one day, he planted his seed (on multiple days) ... (CA) Governor Grey Davis is returning a $10,000 campaign contribution when he found out it was from the owners of a strip club. He's giving the money back. And to his credit, he is going to return it to the girls one dollar at a time." Leno: "‘The Osbournes’ is now the highest rated show in the history of MTV. I tell you, sitcoms have come a long way since I was a kid. We've gone from 'Father Knows Best' to father doesn't even know what day it is. Father doesn't know where the hell he is" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 4/23).

CBS’ David Letterman: "I want to get right through this (show). I'm having a big Botox party back at the house later." Letterman, on the drought in N.Y.: "Here's how bad the drought is. Mayor Bloomberg ... bought a brand new humidor for his weed. (Monday), of course, was Earth Day and President Bush was up in the Adirondack Mountains talking about Earth Day, and he was showing people how to use an ax. As a matter of fact, it's the same ax that he's going to use on Social Security. ... Say what you will about this Robert Blake but he's a true gentleman. He always takes a girl to dinner before he kills her. ... (VP) Dick Cheney apparently injured his heel, and they took him to the hospital. This poor guy has no luck. Out of habit they gave him a bypass" ("Late Show," CBS, 4/23).

Last night’s “Top Ten” was “Top Ten Ways Dick Cheney Injured His Foot.” View a clip of Letterman reading the list (“Late Show,” CBS, 4/23).

LATE NIGHT LAUGHS: NBC’s Conan O’Brien: “According to the Associated Press, a Dallas man has set a record by visiting 2,850 Starbucks.  The weird thing is all 2,850 were on the same block.” Conan: “Over the weekend, Tonya Harding was arrested for driving under the influence.  Apparently someone spotted her mobile home weaving all over the trailer park ("Late Night," NBC, 4/23).

TUESDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR

ESPN’s 11:00pm ET “SportsCenter” led with Jazz-Kings.

FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER

“What is Windsor, for ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor?’”

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dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com

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