WorldCom Sponsorships in Trouble?
WorldCom Inc.’s financial crisis may cost the PGA Tour and several auto racing series a longtime sponsor, and may even force the MCI Center in Washington to be renamed, sports marketers said Wednesday.
If the No. 2 long-distance telephone company files for bankruptcy protection after a disclosure that it hid more than $3.8 billion in expenses and fabricated profits, the roughly $120 million a year WorldCom commits to professional sports may dry up.
CART and IRL are two of the entities that may suffer most from the potential fallout. WorldCom spends about $5 million a year combined as a sponsor of CART and the IRL.
Spokespeople for CART and IRL didn’t return telephone calls seeking comment.
In April, WorldCom agreed to spend $26 million over the next four years for naming rights to the PGA Tour’s WorldCom Classic in Hilton Head Island, S.C., an event that may not be attractive to some companies because it’s held the week after the Masters. Many top golfers don’t play in events close to major events.
Still, Steve Wilmot, tournament director of the WorldCom Classic, said event organizers would be able to find a replacement if the phone company doesn’t fulfill its contract.
Motor Racing
Ferrari escaped severe punishment for manipulating the finish of last month’s Austrian Grand Prix.
The governing body of Formula One racing, the FIA, imposed a joint $1 million fine on the automaker and drivers Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello for improper conduct on the victory stand.
The FIA refused to deduct points for Ferrari’s order that Barrichello let Schumacher pass him to win the race and strengthen his hold on the season standings, a result that had fans jeering.
Barrichello, who is Brazilian, stood on the top step of the podium while the German national anthem was played for the winner, Schumacher. Schumacher then joined him on the top step while the Italian national anthem was played for Ferrari. Only the winner is supposed to take the top step.
Hockey
The Mighty Ducks picked up the options on left wing Kevin Sawyer and center Marc Chouinard.
Sawyer, who will make $475,000, provided toughness for the Ducks last season and finished fourth in the NHL with 221 penalty minutes. He had one goal and two points.
Chouinard, who will make $375,000, was solid as a fourth-line grinder who won 55% of his faceoffs. He had four goals and nine points.
The San Jose Sharks have temporarily acquired the rights to Theo Fleury from the New York Rangers. The Sharks said that they got the rights to Fleury as the future considerations in a minor trade Sunday. The Sharks gave their sixth-round pick to the Rangers for a sixth-round pick in the 2003 draft.... Jeff O’Neill, who led the Carolina Hurricanes in goals the last three seasons, signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the team.... The Columbus Blue Jackets signed veteran right wing Grant Marshall and recently drafted center Lasse Pirjeta. Marshall was re-signed to a multiyear deal, while Pirjeta’s contract is for one season with a club option for a second.
Miscellany
Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles, 77, has the early stages of prostate cancer, a university spokesman said. Broyles got the diagnosis in the past few weeks and the cancer is manageable.
University of Arizona men’s basketball Coach Lute Olson, elected three weeks ago to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, said that his son’s wedding overseas will prevent him from attending enshrinement ceremonies Sept. 27. Instead, Olson will take part in the ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., on a video feed from Italy.
Bob Larsen, who coached track and field at UCLA from 1985-99, was nominated to be the men’s distance coach for the 2004 U.S. Olympic track team. Larsen coaches distance runner Meb Keflezighi and also coaches Team USA California as part of a program designed to improve U.S. distance runners’ performances.
French judge Marie-Reine La Gougne, suspended by the International Skating Union in the pairs’ scandal at the Winter Olympics, is taking her case to the ISU’s appeals committee. Her attorney said an appeal has been filed attacking the ISU council’s decision two months ago, claiming the council denied her due process and had insufficient evidence against her.
Chris Carrieri scored in the 88th minute to lead Colorado to a 1-0 Major League Soccer victory over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars before 12,008 at East Rutherford, N.Y.... Hege Riise scored in the 79th minute to give the Carolina Courage a 3-2 Women’s United Soccer Assn. victory over the New York Power before 5,022 at Uniondale, N.Y.
