| • | Kobe Bryant Signs Multi-Year Deal With Sina.com |
| • | U.S. Bancorp Becomes A Founding Partner Of Target Field |
| • | London Marks Halfway Point To Opening Of ’12 Olympics |
| • | LOCOG Inks Boston Consulting Group To Tier-Three Sponsorship |
KOBE BRYANT SIGNS MULTI-YEAR DEAL WITH CHINESE WEB SITE SINA.COM
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| Bryant Inks Deal With Sina.com |
Lakers G
Kobe Bryant has signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal with Chinese Web site Sina.com. The deal gives Bryant his “own site on the news portal, which will include a blog that Bryant will update multiple times a week.” Bryant’s agent
Rob Pelinka said, “Sina came to Kobe with a vision and Kobe saw it as a way to stay in touch with a huge fan base. He feels passionately about the people and culture of China and having been there as much as he has, those feelings are authentic” (
CNBC.com, 1/15).
U.S. BANCORP BECOMES A FOUNDING PARTNER OF TWINS’ TARGET FIELD
The Twins and U.S. Bancorp have inked a long-term sponsorship agreement that will make the bank “one of the founding partners for Target Field.” The deal includes the naming of the U.S. Bank Home Run Porch, “prominent ballpark marketing and enhanced community involvement with the Twins Community Fund.” In addition, U.S. Bank will work with the team to “jointly develop marketing and promotional programs and partner on community programs” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/16).
LONDON CELEBRATING HALF-WAY POINT TO HOSTING ’12 OLYMPICS
Today marks the halfway point between the date in ’05 when IOC awarded London the ’12 Olympics and the official opening of the Games. In those three-and-a-half years, the budget for the event has more than doubled, from US$5.1B to US$13.9B, “thanks largely to inflation, increased security costs, the addition of [value added tax] and a contingency fund that will almost certainly all be spent” (
Manchester GUARDIAN, 1/16).
The London TELEGRAPH’s Paul Kelso writes that with the down economy it might be the “halfway point in London’s journey but it is also probably the low-water mark for anticipation and optimism” (London TELEGRAPH, 1/16). The LONDON TIMES’ Ashling O’Connor writes that “an Olympic legacy masterplan by Mayor Boris Johnson’s team at City Hall has yet to show green shoots” (LONDON TIMES, 1/16).
LOCOG INKS BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP TO A TIER-THREE SPONSORSHIP
LOCOG has signed Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to “advise them on ticketing and merchandising for the 2012 Games.” BCG, which specializes in corporate finance, marketing and sales and strategy, “becomes the first tier-three sponsor, which costs the company at least $14.5[M].” LOCOG CEO Paul Deighton: “Our tier-three providers are absolutely key to the successful delivery of a great games” (AP, 1/15).
B.C. GOVERNMENT TO HOLD WEEKEND SESSION TO DISCUSS OLYMPIC VILLAGE FUNDING
The B.C. government on Saturday will begin a rare weekend session to “debate legislation that would give Vancouver the legal authority to finance the completion of the Olympic Athlete’s Village.” Vancouver City Council member Geoff Meggs said that the special session was called because “every delay in passing the legislation will potentially cost Vancouver taxpayers money” (VANCOUVER SUN, 1/16).
Meanwhile, Vancouver Deputy City Manager Jody Andrews, who was the manager in charge of the Olympic athlete village, has resigned. Andrews is the “second bureaucrat to leave since Gregor Robertson took office as mayor last month” (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/16).
DYNAMO TODAY LAUNCHES FIRST FAN SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE IN MLS
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| Dynamo Launches Social Networking Site |
The Dynamo today became the first MLS team to launch an official fan social network with the debut of
MyDynamo.net. The new site, which was created by using the Ning platform, will host the Dynamo’s Forever Orange blog and various player, fan and staff blogs. Many players have online profiles that can be seen (
Dynamo).
Meanwhile, the Dynamo have re-upped with KHLM-Ind. as its Spanish-language TV partner for the ’09 season. KHLM will air “16 games plus a weekly magazine show on the team” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/16).
TNT’S NBA STUDIO HOSTS ADDRESS BARKLEY SITUATION DURING SHOW
With TNT’s Charles Barkley taking a leave of absence due to a recent arrest for a suspected DUI, TNT’s Ernie Johnson addressed his absence last night prior to the net’s airing of Cavaliers-Bulls. Johnson: “At some point we will have Charles back here. Until that, we just wish him the best.” TNT’s Kenny Smith added, “I don’t know if the biblical term is correct but there’s a chaotic moment, or a chaos moment, when either you believe or you don’t believe because something happened in your life. I think Charles is at one of those moments” (“TNT NBA Tip-Off,” TNT, 1/15).
SPEED READS….
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle today will meet with Chicago 2016 officials to discuss sites “for the potential road race and individual time trial” at the Games. Wisconsin is “also being strongly considered for mountain bike races and could play a role in housing athletes” (AP, 1/16).
The Triple-A Pacific Coast League Iowa Cubs will play a regular-season game against the Las Vegas 51s at Wrigley Field on August 9. The game is part of the Cubs’ effort to “promote their minor-league affiliates on days when the major-league team is out of town” (DES MOINES REGISTER, 1/16).
BASS has announced that it “is cancelling three of 11 events on its top-level Elite Series, and also reducing entry fees” for the remaining fishing tournaments (ROANOKE TIMES, 1/16).
Women’s Professional Soccer Commissioner
Tonya Antonucci last night unveiled the official WPS Match Ball at the Puma booth at the NSCAA Convention in St. Louis (
Puma).
PGA Tour player Stewart Cink has inked a deal to endorse UST graphite golf shafts. Cink will play the company’s new Proforce AXIVCore shaft in his Nike driver and fairway woods (UST).
Oreo runs a full-page ad in this morning’s USA Today featuring Giants QB Eli Manning, Colts QB Peyton Manning and tennis players Venus and Serena Williams in Double Stuf Racing League outfits with the copy, “Mannings vs. Williams … Cookies Will Crumble.” A TV ad will break during the NFL conference championship games this weekend (THE DAILY).
USC football coach Pete Carroll, Saints RB Reggie Bush and Titans RB LenDale White were among the guests at the grand opening of the ESPN Zone at L.A. Live last night (THE DAILY).
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| White, Carroll And Bush Among Guests At Grand Opening Of ESPN Zone In L.A. |
QUICK HITS FROM THE HILL….
“I want to talk about the Redskins and the Nationals” –President-elect Barack Obama, during a tour yesterday at the Washington Post (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/15).
“He’s 10 years younger than me. … I can hang with him. I don’t think I’ll ever be in a position to beat him, nor do I think that would be a wise thing to do” – Attorney General nominee Eric Holder, during his confirmation hearing, responding to a question from U.S. Sen. and Bucks Owner Herb Kohl on whether he would be able to beat Obama in basketball (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/15).
“We’ve got a deepening financial crisis, a new president taking office, serious issues around the world. I can’t imagine that where sports are being watched on TV will be a real important issue” – ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap, on calls for politicians to look at the BCS moving from Fox to ESPN (USA TODAY, 1/16).
QUICK HITS….
“I think it’s a race to see which project is put in the grave first: the Brooklyn (Barclays) arena or Xanadu” – New Jersey state Senate President Richard Codey, on the viability of the Xanadu project (Bergen RECORD, 1/16).
“It’s not even in my top 10” – Univ. of Washington President Mark Emmert, on whether getting funding for Husky Stadium renovations should be a top priority for the Washington state Legislature this year (SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, 1/16).
“I don’t think it is any big secret that [Jerry] Moyes has asked for new partners or investors. Mr. Moyes is doing the best he can in working with the city and city officials” – Coyotes Managing Partner and coach Wayne Gretzky, on the team’s financial troubles (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/16).
TODAY’S EVENTS….
NASCAR will hold the Preseason Fan Fest at Daytona Int'l Speedway. Fans will have a chance to meet more than 30 drivers attending the event.
IN OTHER NEWS….
U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), the incoming Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation Chair, has “proposed legislation that would delay the USA’s switch to digital TV nearly four months,” from February 17 to June 12 (USA TODAY, 1/16).
The Minneapolis Star Tribune yesterday on its Web site announced that the paper had “filed for bankruptcy protection.” Publisher Chris Harte said in a statement, “We intend to use the Chapter 11 process to make this great Twin Cities institution stronger, leaner and more efficient so that it is better positioned for the future” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/16).
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is suing Coca-Cola for “what it says are deceptive claims” about the health benefits from the company’s Vitaminwater line. Coca-Cola has issued a statement calling the suit “ridiculous and ludicrous” (AJC.com, 1/15).
THE BACK PAGES….
The Morning Buzz offers today’s back page sports covers from some of the nation’s major metropolitan tabloids:
| | |
| N.Y. Daily News | Newsday |
| | |
| Philadelphia Daily News | Boston Herald |
FINAL JEOPARDY!
Last night’s “Final Jeopardy!” category was “Writer/Directors.”
“His headstone, using a line from one of his scripts, says, ‘I’m a writer but then nobody’s perfect.’”
LAUGH TRACK….
THE MONOLOGUES:
CBS’ David Letterman: “It’s cold outside, folks. Here's how cold it is: Governor Blagojevich from Illinois is selling seats in his hair. It is so cold, Bernie Madoff was wearing bulletproof ear muffs. It’s so cold, Bernie Madoff swindled an elderly woman out of a scarf. You know it snowed here in New York City. … Here is what I did: I got one of those specially ergonomically designed snow shovels. It puts so much less strain on Mom's back. … Now here's one of the great things about America, and also one of the reasons the rest of the world hates us. There is this 22-year-old woman who is auctioning off her virginity. Twenty-two years old, apparently ready to go. I was thinking about this. I wish that I had auctioned off my virginity because in my early 30’s, I really could have used the money. President-elect Barack Obama plans to close Guantanamo Bay. You know, the big holding center, the big prison, the interrogation center in Cuba, he is going to close that down. … I thought this was interesting. Dick Cheney said, ‘Oh, fine, sure, I'm going to buy it and turn it into a vacation home.’ … It's so cold that Sarah Palin shot herself a brand new coat. … Honestly here's how cold it really is: I'm walking through Central Park today on my lunch hour (and) I see a squirrel, knitting wool booties for his nuts” (“Late Show,” CBS, 1/15).
NBC’s Jay Leno: “A U.S. Airways flight out of LaGuardia had to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River after it apparently hit a flock of geese. … The airlines tried to blame it on the birds, but a spokesman for the geese said, ‘Hey, they were honking all the way.’ … All the passengers evacuated using life vests. Well, those that had $25. … They actually could have landed in Newark, but people said, ‘No, we will take the river.’ Anyway, rescuers not only got all the passengers out of the Hudson River, they also pulled up three mob bodies that had been thrown in there, too. People are wondering now how they're going to get the plane out of the river, but the FAA said today since it was the Hudson River, the plane will probably just dissolve in a week or so. … It was so cold, even people who didn't have money in the stock market were shaking. That's how cold. Did you see those blizzards all over the place? The whole country was so white, the Republicans thought they were back in charge again. That's how cold it was! In fact, I saw straight guys going to the theaters to see ‘Bride Wars’ just to get out of the cold. That's how cold it was. It was so cold that Ponzi guy, Bernard Madoff, he was looking forward to going to hell. … If you're looking to make a few extra bucks in this bad economy, L.A. fertility clinics are paying attractive women $8,000 to become egg donors, and they're paying sperm donors $50. When will this double standard end? How much longer will we men make a few pennies for every dollar that women make? … According to the New York Post, New York Knicks’ Eddy Curry has been hit with a sexual harassment suit. His former male driver claims he tried to solicit gay sex from him. The driver said that Curry made him perform humiliating jobs. Not as humiliating as playing for the Knicks, of course. But still pretty bad. Actually, the limo driver has left that position. He says he'll only work for the WNBA where he won't have to worry about getting hit on by anybody” (“The Tonight Show,” NBC, 1/15).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS:
NBC’s Bob Costas appeared on NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” last night where he talked about “Lucky the Leprechaun,” a character from a skit earlier in the show. Costas: “As you know, Conan, I myself am just a shade under six feet … and when I met and shook hands with Lucky the Leprechaun, I noticed we were virtually the same size.” When Lucky the Leprechaun came on-stage, Costas told him, “It’s all wrong.” NBC’s Conan O’Brien: “You’re a very bitter man.” Laughing, Costas replied, “I am deeply bitter. I don’t think a leprechaun should be 5’ 6 ½ .” Costas notes some of his favorite mascots in sports: “The San Diego Chicken, the Philly Phanatic, Eddy Curry’s limo driver, all the greats.” After a groan from the audience, Costas said, “Apparently, that doesn’t go down well. Oh, that was a bad choice of words” (“Late Night,” NBC, 1/15).
Comedy Central’s
Stephen Colbert: “First up is a tip o’ my hat to the New York Mets. This season the Yankees and Mets are opening new stadiums and both have uniform patches commemorating the event. The Yankees went with this unsurprising design. Boring! It's just their stadium's facade. Where's the rampaging
Roger Clemens terrorizing a city in a steroid induced fury? But the Mets chose a patch that uniquely captures the essence of the franchise. It's perfect. Notice the way the patch mirrors its fans by not wanting to actually say it's for the Mets. Plus, the design beautifully echoes both a baseball diamond where a World Series game might be played and the section of the stands where the Mets players would watch that World Series game. As sports fans have noticed, the patch resembles the logo of Domino’s Pizza, all part of the 2009 Mets pledge to eliminate themselves from the playoffs in 30 games or less” (
“The Colbert Report,” Comedy Central, 1/15).
LAST NIGHT’S TV MONITOR….
| NET | SHOW | LEAD | NEXT ITEMS |
| ESPN | “Around The Horn” | Was Spurs win over Lakers a statement win? | Should Cowboys release Terrell Owens?; Sam Bradford returning to Univ. of Oklahoma |
| ESPN | “SportsCenter” | Cavaliers-Bulls | North Carolina-Virginia; Mark Sanchez declaring for NFL Draft |
| FSN | “FSN Final Score” | Cavaliers-Bulls | Suns-Nuggets; Trail Blazers-Nets |
FINAL JEOPARDY….
“Who was Billy Wilder?” The line is from the movie “Some Like It Hot” (THE DAILY).
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know at:
dailyinsider@sportsbusinessdaily.com.
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