| | The Daily Insider
Morning News & Headlines
Monday, February 7, 2005
9:00am ET | |
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| • | Patriots Confirm Dynasty Talk With Third Super Bowl Victory In Four Years |
| • | Anheuser-Busch Claims Ad Meter Title In “Squeaky-Clean” Commercial Lineup |
| • | ManU Shares Skyrocket This Morning After Confirmation Of New Glazer Bid |
| • | Canadian TV Heavies CTV, Rogers And The CBC Pitching For Olympic TV Rights |
| • | Cablevision Making $600M Bid For Land On Which Jets Want To Build Stadium |
| • | Morning Briefs/In Other News/Laugh Track/TV Monitor/Final Jeopardy! |
PATRIOTS CEMENT DYNASTY WITH 24-21 SUPER BOWL XXXIX VICTORY
The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21 last night to win their third Super Bowl in four years in front of 78,125 at Alltel Stadium, and the FLORIDA TIMES-UNION notes that Jacksonville’s “first Super Bowl has come and now gone, with a mad rush for the airport today.” The game “capped a wild weekend, one city and community leaders have been prepping for the past four years” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/7).
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION also reports that two hours before kickoff, “virtually all traffic to the stadium had arrived.” Typically, traffic to the game has not “made it to the stadium until one hour before kickoff.” The post-game scene, “with fans leaving all at once, was another story” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/7).
The Jacksonville Cornerstone Regional Development Partnership and the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau run a full-page ad in USA Today that reads, “Thanks for coming to Super Bowl XXXIX. Let’s do it again sometime” (THE DAILY).
The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that retailers early this morning began picking up official Patriots championship apparel from Reebok’s Group Athletica. Group Athletica VP & GM Blake Lundberg is “disappointed in the game’s outcome,” as he said that an Eagles win would have been better for business (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/7).
The DETROIT FREE PRESS reports that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will “call a meeting of his appointees today, to build on what Detroit’s scout team learned in Jacksonville,” as the Motor City will host next year’s Super Bowl. In Jacksonville, Super Bowl XL reps “pushed a message of ‘two nations, one destination,’” and Windsor, Ontario, Mayor Eddie Francis will “aggressively recruit Super Bowl visitors to spend time in the city south of the border” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/7).
Meanwhile, a report analyzing Alltel’s exposure from the game placed the value at $16.7M. The ROI summary was calculated by the total number of exposures, combined with the televised broadcast commercial rate of $2.4M per 30-second spot (Alltel).
A-B CLAIMS SEVENTH CONSECUTIVE SUPER BOWL AD CHAMPIONSHIP
USA TODAY notes that even in a year when A-B “consciously avoided airing crude Super Bowl commercials, the beer giant bested the field, again, with one of its most potent advertising weapons: a silly sight gag.” The company’s Bud Light spot featuring a pilot jumping out of a plane without a parachute for a six-pack of the beer after a skydiver refuses scored an 8.65 in USA Today’s Ad Meter (USA TODAY, 2/7). The following details the five highest-scoring ads, as well as the bottom five:
| HIGHEST-SCORING SUPER BOWL XXXIX ADS |
| COMPANY | DESCRPITION | SCORE |
| A-B | Pilot jumps out of plane for Bud Light after skydiver refuses | 8.65 |
| Ameriquest | Store customer’s cellphone chat misunderstood for robbery | 8.06 |
| A-B | American troops get standing ovation thank you at airport | 7.94 |
| CareerBuilder | Guy won’t kiss up to chimp boss – but one chimp does | 7.86 |
| CareerBuilder | Guy sits on whoopee cushion as chimp colleagues laugh | 7.81 |
|
| LOWEST-SCORING SUPER BOWL XXXIX ADS |
| COMPANY | DESCRPITION | SCORE |
| Napster | Feline holds up sign at game comparing prices | 4.37 |
| CIBA Vision | People float in bubbles for O2Optix contact lenses | 4.44 |
| A-B | Intro of Budweiser Select low-carb beer with no aftertaste | 4.78 |
| Bubblicious | LeBron James blows big bubble for Bubblicious | 4.92 |
| Taco Bell | Chicken enchilada dropped on sports card collection | 4.98 |
The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Suzanne Vranica writes, “Despite weeks of hype and high expectations, only a handful of the 59 ads that were released [during the game] broke through advertising clutter. Industry observers expected viewers to mostly reject this year’s squeaky-clean and saccharine-laden ad lineup” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/7).
In Miami, Glenn Garvin writes, “Sunday’s ads were typical TV fare – witty enough, but hardly anything that burned itself irrevocably into your brain” (MIAMI HERALD, 2/7).
In N.Y., Stuart Elliott writes the ads “were, in general, markedly better than typical spots from the last few Super Bowls – though there were some stinkers. … But many of the 30 sponsors of the game rose to the occasion, proving they could deliver attention-getting ads without stooping to the fraternity-house antics of last year” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/7).
Meanwhile, in DC, Tom Shales writes, “Perhaps still smarting from last year’s absurd hysteria over the inappropriate appearance of Janet Jackson’s nipple, the NFL and the Fox network played it super-safe at Super Bowl XXXIX, with a Don Mischer-produced halftime show that tastefully starred Paul McCartney tastefully singing tasteful songs that the whole world loves” (WASHINGTON POST, 2/7).
For a complete round-up of thoughts on Super Bowl XXXIX ads, see today’s issue of The Daily.
CHURCHILL DOWNS VP/COMMUNICATIONS JOHN ASHER WINS PICK 'EM
Churchill Downs VP/Communications John Asher is the winner of The Sports Business Daily/SportsBusiness Journal Super Bowl XXXIX Pick 'Em. Asher, who was one of only three entrants to select Deion Branch as MVP, nearly guessed the exact score with his 24-13 entry. US Bank VP Charles Thomas and New Balance Marketing Promotions Associate Katie O'Brien correctly guessed the Patriots as 24-21 winners, but both tabbed Tom Brady as the MVP. ESPN Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell and AHL Cleveland Barons Dir of Communications Jamie Smock both guessed Branch as the MVP in lopsided Patriots wins (THE DAILY).
TODAY FROM JACKSONVILLE: A ROUND-UP OF SUPER BOWL HEADLINES
With the Patriots having won Super Bowl XXXIX, The Daily offers a round-up of headlines from Philadelphia, Boston and the host city:
Florida Times-Union:
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Philadelphia Daily News:
Boston Globe:
Boston Herald:
MALCOLM GLAZER MAKING ANOTHER TAKEOVER BID FOR RED DEVILS
The Manchester GUARDIAN reports that Manchester United shares “rocketed by almost 4% this morning following confirmation of Malcolm Glazer’s approach to the Old Trafford board.” Shares were trading at roughly $5.22, and Glazer is “believed to be offering [$5.61] per share, valuing the club at [$1.5B], and would proceed with a formal bid should his current proposals get the green light” (Manchester GUARDIAN, 2/7).
CANADIAN TV HEAVIES PITCHING FOR 2010 AND 2012 OLYMPICS RIGHTS
The Toronto GLOBE & MAIL reports that joint bids from the CBC and The Score and CTV and Rogers Sportsnet will “make their pitch to the [IOC] in Lausanne, Switzerland, today for Canadian broadcast rights to the 2010 and 2012 Games.” The bids are expected to reach “record levels, possibly as high as $120[M] for combined rights to the two Games.” With the 2010 Games being held in Vancouver, the Olympics are “far more attractive to viewers, and thus to advertisers, and potentially allowing ads to be sold at a premium” (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 2/7).
NHL CBA NEGOTIATIONS MAY RESUME TODAY AFTER UNSUCCESSFUL TALKS
The TORONTO STAR reports that the NHL “will get the ball rolling today with a call to the players to return to the bargaining table.” Sources on both sides of the negotiations “confirmed all was quiet, although the league apparently sent an email to the union yesterday regarding a meeting but did not get a reply” (TORONTO STAR, 2/7).
MORNING BRIEFS
Cablevision on Friday submitted a $600M offer to the MTA to “develop an apartment and shopping complex at the West Side rail yard,” over which the Jets’ proposed $1.4B stadium would be built. The Jets’ offer for the land is $100M, while Cablevision’s offer is $350M, with a $250M offer to build a platform there (NEWSDAY, 2/5).
The NHL has a plan to take over the Mighty Ducks should Disney try to sell the team at a reduced price. Disney is “not likely to complete a sale until a new [CBA] is reached to end the owners’ lockout.” Forbes recently valued the franchise at $108M (L.A. TIMES, 2/5).
Vikings Owner Red McCombs “has been conducting daily discussions with [Reggie] Fowler’s staff in an attempt to sell the franchise soon” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/7).
IOC Evaluation Commission Dir Nawal El Moutawakel said that Madrid’s bid for the 2012 Olympics is noticeable for its “quality and professionalism.” The commission wrapped up its visit to Madrid on Sunday (AROUNDTHERINGS.com, 2/6).
The BCS on Friday reached agreements in principle with the Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and Fiesta Bowl to retain their spots in the BCS, along with the Rose Bowl, which had reached a separate agreement earlier (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/5).
Cavaliers G LeBron James reportedly wanted $1M to participate in the dunk contest during NBA All-Star Weekend (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/6).
ATTENDANCE WATCH
An NCAA on-campus record crowd of 33,199 attended Saturday’s Notre Dame-Syracuse men’s basketball game at the Carrier Dome (AP, 2/6).
An estimated crowd of 517,847, with a single-day record crowd of 165,168 on Saturday, attended this weekend’s FBR Open at the TPC of Scottsdale (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/7).
A LIGHTER BUZZ
The FLORIDA TIMES-UNION notes that as the “final touches were being made on the Leigh Steinberg party Saturday afternoon at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, a plane flew overhead towing a banner. On it was written ‘HelpMeHelpYou.com,’” a catch phrase from “Jerry McGuire” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/6).
Nextel Cup driver Jeff Gordon appeared on CBS’ “The Late Late Show” Friday night where he talked about guest hosting “Live! With Regis & Kelly.” Gordon: “The toughest is filling in for Kelly because Regis is tough to get a word in.” CBS’ Craig Ferguson asked, “Do you think Kelly is hot? I think Kelly is really hot.” Gordon: “Kelly is extremely hot” (“Late, Late Show,” CBS, 2/4).
THE BACK PAGES
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
| | |
| N.Y. Post | N.Y. Daily News |
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Newsday |
TODAY’S EVENTS
The Ottawa City Council will hold its final budget meeting, and the OTTAWA SUN reported that the council “approved a plan to investigate the impacts of removing a special tax status” on the Corel Centre that was given to former Senators Owner Rod Bryden. Ottawa Council member Jan Harder: “Times have changed. We used to have a hockey team. I want to see the (break) phased out for sure” (OTTAWA SUN, 2/5).
WEEKEND RAP
The following are excerpts from the panelists’ “parting shots” on Sunday’s edition of ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters”:
- Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan: “We can do a whole show on the astounding, amusing and often pathetic history of the Boston/New England Patriots, so pardon those of us who lived through all the buffoonery while we babble on a bit about the new gold-standard Pats. The idea that they are a model franchise playing in a state-of-the-art stadium and might win a third Super Bowl in four years tonight is still a barely fathomable concept to many of us in New England.”
- N.Y. Daily News columnist Mike Lupica, on Bill Belichick being Jets head coach for one day before quitting and joining the Patriots: “Bill Belichick’s Patriots try to take their place tonight with the greatest teams in NFL history. By 10:00 Jacksonville time we’ll know whether or not they did. What we might never know for sure is how Belichick got to the Patriots and set about making all this history in the first place. ... Belichick routinely gets called a genius now. Maybe the real genius was Robert Kraft somehow getting the coach he wanted after everybody thought that coach had taken a job with somebody else.”
- Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom: “Tonight after the game, someone on the winning team will complain about not getting respect. It’s the new mantra of sports. ... I have a new twist: whoever loses tonight, I want that team to write a note to every sportswriter and fan who picked them to lose. I want them to apologize for not recognizing our superior foresight. I want them to show us love, give us our proper respect. Does that seem ridiculous, players? Now you know how it sounds to us.”
- ESPN’s John Saunders, on the retirement of Emmitt Smith: “He leaves the game as its all-time leading rusher, but what I’ll remember most about Emmitt Smith was his toughness. ... He didn’t have the moves of Barry Sanders or the speed and the finesse of Walter Payton, but no one ever worked harder for their yardage. I’ll also remember Smith as the class of the Cowboys at a time when class wasn’t walking everywhere in that locker room. But I’ll think of Emmitt in tears this week while making the announcement. We’ve known him for 15 years, but football started long before Smith ever hit Dallas. It’s been his life. It has to be tough to know it’s over and you’re only 35 years old” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 2/6).
THIS WEEK IN SISTER PUBLICATION SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL…..
This week’s cover story examines the mounting revenue loss for the NHL and its teams during the lockout.
Also in this week’s issue:
| • | SFX Sports to begin making acquisitions in the near future. |
| • | New IMG Owner Ted Forstmann shaking up the structure. |
| • | Ameriquest adding NHRA deals to its sports portfolio. |
| • | One-On-One with Pacific Life Open Chair Charlie Pasarell. |
IN OTHER NEWS….
This week’s cover of TIME offers “The Merchant of Menace,” while NEWSWEEK examines “The New Game of Retirement.”
The N.Y. TIMES noted that Time Warner on Friday posted a Q4 ’05 net income of $1.1B, up 77% from $639M in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 1.8% to $11.1B (N.Y. TIMES, 2/5).
A recently-released FCC report said that there were 66.1 million cable subscribers in June ‘04, a 0.08% increase over the previous June’s 66.05 million. Satellite subscribers increased about 14% through June to 23.16 million. Broadband video providers, which include phone companies, had about 1.4 million subscribers as of June ’04, which represents about 1.5% of the multi-channel market (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/7).
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Friday’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “U.S. Politics.”
“A member of this family has spoken at every Democratic National Convention since 1956.”
LAUGH TRACK
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “I don’t need to tell you folks. Sunday is the Super Bowl. It’s America’s last pointless cultural event until the Academy Awards. Everybody has Super Bowl fever. Even my cab driver this morning coming to work had Super Bowl fever. His turban was filled with chips and salsa. At my house every year, the Super Bowl is the same thing. I’m awakened at 7:00am by mom’s margarita blender. I don’t know what the problem is. For me, the Super Bowl is no fun anymore. Instead of pretzels and chips, I have a big bowl of Lipitor. ... The NFL is assuring parents that this year the Super Bowl will feature nothing but good, clean, wholesome erectile dysfunction commercials. They’ve added something new at the Super Bowl this year, something called TurfCam. It’s miniature television cameras embedded in the playing surface of the field, and their point of view is they’ll be looking up, and I’m thinking, ‘Well, have they told the cheerleaders?’ ... Get ready for that halftime show. It’s going to be something. It’s Paul McCartney, the Charlie Daniels Band, Earth, Wind & Fire...no wait a minute, I’m sorry. That was the 1972 Super Bowl” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/4).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “As you know, they have extra, extra security at the Super Bowl this year in case a terrorist tries to get in or a breast tries to get out. ... This year the game is going to be broadcast in high definition TV. This way you’ll actually be able to see tears forming in the Philadelphia fans’ eyes. ... The Eagles could win the Super Bowl. Yeah, just like Coors could win the Bud Bowl. ... President Bush also announced that he wants Americans to have their own private personal retirement fund, or as John Kerry calls that, the wife! ... You can now get Viagra through Medicare. Apparently, the government was tired of people coming back from Canada with cheaper erections. ... The New York Post said Martha Stewart has lost 20 pounds while in prison, and when she heard the news today, Kirstie Alley knocked off a 7-Eleven” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/4).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
Patriots players presented the “Top Ten Things You Don’t Want To Hear In A Huddle” on Friday’s edition of CBS’ “Late Show” (“Late Show,” CBS, 2/4).
| 10) Troy Brown: “I hope this game ends soon – I’m parked at a meter.” |
| 9) Ted Johnson: “I hope someone’s TiVoing ‘Desperate Housewives.’” |
| 8) Matt Light: “See you losers later – I just won the Iraqi election.” |
| 7) Tedy Bruschi: “Hey, I thought of another word that rhymes with huddle – cuddle.” |
| 6) Roosevelt Colvin: “Does anyone else’s helmet smell like egg salad?” |
| 5) Mike Vrabel: “Dude, John Madden’s hitting on your wife.” |
| 4) Larry Izzo: “Oh my God, Leonardo DiCaprio is in the first row – I think I’m gonna pass out.” |
| 3) Willie McGinest:“The equipment manager screwed up, so we’re all gonna have to share a mouth guard.” |
| 2) Deion Branch: “Hold me.” |
| 1) Adam Vinatieri: “Since we live in Massachusetts, we should think about getting hitched.” |
Friday’s edition of “The Tonight Show” featured comedian Mitch Fatel at the Super Bowl Media Day. Fatel asked Eagles DT Darwin Walker, “Can you think of anything more exciting than being in the Super Bowl?” Walker: “I have dreamed about being in the Super Bowl since I was a child.” Fatel: “What about having sex with Halle Berry? ... I’ve done it. It’s not a big deal, dude. She won’t stop calling me.” Fatel asked Patriots QB Tom Brady while wearing Brady’s No. 12 jersey, “Do you think the other players go easier on you because you’re so handsome?” Brady: “No. That’s a good jersey. Did you buy that?” Fatel: “This is my mine, dude. Do you want me to sign it for you?” Fatel told Patriots CB Earthwind Moreland, “We should be super heroes, and I could be your sidekick, Earthwind and Fire!” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 2/4).
“Fox NFL Sunday” personalities James Brown, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson appeared on their “Fox Super Bowl Sunday” pregame set during Saturday’s broadcast of Fox’s “Mad TV.” Brown introduced the segment by saying, “Welcome to ‘Mad TV’s’ Super Bowl Saturday pre-Super Bowl Sunday pregame show. ... The next hour is absolutely going to be great.” Bradshaw: “I’m gonna tell you right now, ‘Mad TV’ is a funny, funny show. I watch it all the time. You know why? Because it’s funny. ... That’s what it says right there on that cue card. I watch ‘Mad TV.’ It’s a funny show.” Following an incoherent rant by cast member Stephanie Weir, who portrayed Anna Nicole Smith filling in for weather girl Jillian Barberie, Long said, “I didn’t understand a word she said.” Bradshaw: “She said it’s going to be 72 and cloudy. Look, I know. I’m fluent in gold-digging trailer trash.” In another segment, the analysts were asked non-football questions by Brown ranging from which was the better drama – “Judging Amy” or “Desperate Housewives” – to who was the 20th president. Long: “Fellas, shouldn’t we be talking about football here?” Bradshaw: “Take it easy, Howie. I mean this pre-game show is gonna last 19 hours. We’ve got plenty of time to talk football, you big ole’ bucket-head” (“Mad TV,” Fox, 2/5).
SUNDAY NIGHT’S TV MONITOR
ESPN’s 2:00am ET edition of “SportsCenter” led with Super Bowl XXXIX highlights, interviews and analysis.
WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Screen Gems’ “Boogeyman” earned an estimated $19.5M over the weekend, marking the largest debut ever on Super Bowl weekend. The estimated total for the top 12 films is $88.8M, up about 21% from last year’s Super Bowl weekend, which fell a week earlier on the calendar. The total for all films is forecast to be in the $110M range (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 2/7).
| Title | Weekend | Cumulative |
| “Boogeyman” | $19.5M | $19.5M |
| “The Wedding Date” | $11.0M | $11.0M |
| “Are We There Yet?” | $10.4M | $51.1M |
| “Hide and Seek” | $8.9M | $35.7M |
| “Million Dollar Baby” | $8.8M | $34.7M |
| “The Aviator” | $5.4M | $75.9M |
| “Meet the Fockers” | $5.0M | $265.3M |
| “Sideways” | $4.8M | $46.8M |
| “Racing Stripes” | $4.4M | $40.5M |
| “Coach Carter” | $4.4M | $59.5M |
FINAL JEOPARDY ANSWER
“What is Kennedy?”
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