Archive for February, 2008 Page 2 of 2
February 13, 2008 4:15PM
By Alexis Glick
News Flash: Jason Kidd is a Dallas Maverick! After months of speculation about where he would wind up following requests to be traded from the New Jersey Nets, it appears to be official. Nets General Manager Rod Thorn has reportedly traded Kidd to the Dallas Mavericks for Devean George, Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, DeSagana Diop and Maurice Ager, as well as two draft picks and cash for Kidd and Malik Allen.
The guy known for the triple-double is no longer a Net and is not heading to Los Angeles as many hoped — including Mr. Kobe Bryant, whom I recently interviewed. Sorry Lakers! Good deal for the Nets! Looks like the Mavericks gave up a fair amount but they get the guy they need! Leave it to Cuban. 
Getting back to business…
I’m sorry! Since I arrived back from the Super Bowl, I have failed to write in my blog. I’m sorry because I set out to share some of these fun memories and inside scoops with you but I’m also sorry because one of the great pleasures that I’ve experienced writing this blog is the feedback and chronological look back at the amazing things that I have been able to witness and share with friends, colleagues and family members. As Jeff Misenti and Ray Hennessey, our respective heads of the Internet will admit, I had a lot to do with building our Web site and Internet business but I’m a novice in many ways. This is one of them. As I understand it, the reason people blog is to stay connected to one another on a minute to minute, hourly or daily basis. I think that sounds fantastic.
Our own Greta Van Susteren on Fox News is my hero in the blogging world. She devotes much of her day and commercial breaks to her blog and as a result she has a tremendous following. While I wish I could do the same, I would be lying if I thought I could come close to her. I need to get into a rhythm and find a time to write daily so that I can be accountable to both you and myself. Maybe early in the morning before my shows?
Anyhow I’m now sitting in Newark Airport in N.J. with my husband, babysitter Olivia and my three boys. We are on our way to Disney World for the long weekend. We are so excited to go! It’s hard to describe or properly put it into words. We haven’t had a vacation since the baby was born a year ago and we so desperately need one. Desperately!!!! The bad news is that the weather on the east coast is terrible and our flight is delayed three hours. So this is the moment that I’ve been searching for in the past week to recap what has happened since the Giants parade and the Kobe interview.
Where do I begin? There is so much I want to tell you or that I’d like for you to share with me. Remember this is a blog. I welcome your feedback, advice or opinion on many of the issues and / or subjects that I discuss.
On our way to the airport we listened to Fox News on XM satellite in our car. You ask what we listened to? Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee’s testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee. I am outraged! We didn’t get to hear the entire proceedings but what I did hear angers me even more. As a lifelong New York Yankees fan and a lifelong baseball fan, I am truly disheartened to see what is happening to baseball. As a little girl I used to watch games with my grandfather in the country (Chichester, New York). It’s in upstate New York in a very remote town north of Woodstock. He was an avid Mets fan and so was I. We used to watch games together and score them as we watched. I still remember scoring the double plays, watching George Brett (of the Kansas City Royals) hit the home run that ignited the pine tar controversy and watching the Mets take the Boston Red Soxs in game seven to win the World Series after my grandfather had just died. What he would have done to be there to see that happen!!!!
I mention these memories because when I think about baseball, perhaps too optimistically, I think about Coopertown and meeting Willi Mayes as a little girl. I still remember when I walked up to him and he kissed me on the cheek. Every woman in the room looked at me with envy. Here was one of the greatest players and role models to ever play the game! Today we have many brilliant players and many terrific role models. Teams are full of All-Star caliber players. Salaries are unimaginable, baseball teams are making more money than ever, the league (MLB) is now a $6 billion plus business and fan attendance is the best in history. Not bad! So why the scandal? Where did baseball take a turn for the worse? Why are we now questioning the honesty and intentions of the people we call All Stars? Have they betrayed us? Have they betrayed themselves? Did they do what they did because baseball needed them to break home run records? Did they forget their values? Integrity? Humanity? Did they forget that they thrive in this game called baseball for the children and that it’s the kids who are buying the sold out jersey’s?
Roger Clemens is doing what the press expected Barry Bonds to do when the BALCO case and the Mitchell Report were first discussed and released. He is defending his honor, his integrity and his record. As my dad rightly points out, the press attacked Barry for not speaking out in his defense if in fact he was not guilty. He did not and the press took that as a sign of guilt. So what does Roger do when he sees the Mitchell Report and list of names on it? He denies, denies, denies not to one reporter or two but to the world. On 60 Minutes, in a press conference and on every network that will listen. The problem: Every piece of evidence, whether from Brian McNamee himself, or his friends and colleagues like Andy Pettite, point to his guilt. When he called a press conference and admitted to injections of B12, replayed a phone conversation that he taped with McNamee that did nothing to resolve the allegations against him, hired an attorney that had the audacity to threaten the federal agent investigating steroids and the hubris to walk the halls of Congress lobbying before he was about to testify, I lost my faith in him. Innocent until proven guilty right? Did you hear Pettite’s sworn affidavit? His wife’s sworn affidavit? The inconsistencies in his testimony about his discussions with McNamee about HGH and his wife’s injections? I am left thinking WHY….WHY IS THIS HAPPENING! Why did he ask to testify in a public hearing? All of these people cannot be lying! Why couldn’t he just say I made a mistake and leave it at that?
Does he honestly believe that we believe him? I tried in the beginning but hope is lost. I told my husband listening to the hearing that it reminded me of sitting on the trading floor at Morgan Stanley when the OJ Simpson trial was the main attraction in 1995. We were riveted! Somehow I feel like we are just as riveted this time and yet the crime, the accused, the repercussions are not the same. Why do we care? Why are we riveted? Is it because we want to see some ounce of HUMILITY? Is it because we want to see our All Star vindicated? From what I have seen and heard this might be the worst day in Clemens’ life. It’s also a day where I was able to teach my sons a valuable but sad lesson. When you cheat, you pay the consequences! When you lie, sometimes you go jail! Always be honest! Know when to say you’re wrong and never, ever, think you are above the law!!!
February 6, 2008 8:06AM
By Alexis Glick
It’s just past 10 p.m. and I’ve been sitting in the Green Room of Fox News’s Election Headquarters. I was scheduled to talk about the economy between 9:30 and 10 p.m. I arrived around 8 p.m. so that I could watch the exit polls in many of the states that began closing at 8 p.m. The thing about television, particularly on a night like Super Tuesday, is that a hit time is never exact. Television, especially breaking news television is fluid. That’s what makes breaking news so riveting. You don’t know what to expect next.
As I watch the coverage (our coverage) I’ve had time to talk to many of our other guests. Laura Ingraham, former Tennessee Congressman Harold Ford, Sean Hannity and Jamie Colby. The set that we built for our election coverage is stunning! It’s huge and there is so much going on. It’s somewhat intimidating. So many brilliant minds in one room. I’m feeling like the C student among too many A students Between delegates, superdelegates, votes based on district, some states with a winner take all and others based on percentage of vote, it’s a complicated business. A fascinating one, too. I LOVE this stuff. Plus, who doesn’t like getting smarter?
Oh…it’s my turn. Time to go do my thing. Pray for me.
Just finished. It’s 11:20 p.m. Talked to Brit Hume. He’s awesome. So smart. So smooth. The whole crew (on and off air) has been terrific. I’m so impressed!
So what did I talk about? The economic factors in the polls. Why Hillary getting the female vote matters. Most of the women in the household make the discretionary-income decisions and she clearly is speaking to them. Most agree Hillary does have the most detailed economic, housing and tax plans. If she can talk to women, in dual-income households where they’re making on average $50-60,000 a year, that makes a difference.
McCain is doing very well with voters on the economy, I think in some measure because of the recent endorsements from Rudy Giuliani and Steve Forbes. He has been attacked about flip flopping on tax cuts and admitted in past interviews that he is not as knowledgeable about the economy as he is about the War on Terror. As Brit pointed out, don’t forget Jack Kemp’s endorsement.
Romney has to get back to the basics of his economic knowledge and experience but in a grass-roots strategy. I wonder if and how he’ll do that. It worked in Michigan. Now he needs to translate that across the country.
For Obama, it appears many voters are seeing past the details and focusing on the message. That’s working, but if he gets the nomination, he has to get more specific. To his credit, he called for a meeting of the financial minds back in March of 2007. He asked for Bernanke, Paulson and elected officials to devise a plan to prevent or soften the blow of the housing malaise. Huckabee is surprising everyone! No money, a great deal of charisma and the hard core Evangelicals are betting on him especially in the South.
It’s just past midnight time to close my eyes. Anxious to see the difference in the delegate count for Obama and Clinton!!!
February 5, 2008 6:20PM
By Alexis Glick
It’s Tuesday afternoon and I’m on my way to pick up my oldest son Logan from school. Today has been another incredibly memorable day. I may have the best job on the planet.
First of all, I arrived last night just before 9 p.m. Coming home to my boys after being on the road is the most rewarding and exhilarating moment. It beats everything (even Super Bowls)! Going up the elevator, my heart was pounding. Our babysitter — who we adore and has been with us since Logan was little — knew that I would be dying to see the boys, so she kept them up. As soon as my husband and I arrived, we unpacked the bags and gave them their Super Bowl goodies: hats, jerseys, the seat cushions given out at the game, the mini flashlights and any other goodies we accumulated along the way. They were so excited. I think the Pez candy may have really taken them over the edge. Eating it at 9 p.m. at night…we couldn’t say no :). I’m attaching photos of my boys while I was away. Take a look at them on Super Bowl Sunday: my oldest Logan (6 years old) in a Vilma jersey from the NY Jets, my second guy Kyle (4 years old) in a New York Giants jersey and my baby Slate (a year old) in a Rangers jersey. Are these kids sports fanatics or what?
Luckily, my father and mother-in-law are picture-taking fanatics so that they were able to send us the play-by-play while we were away. Look at the ones of my little guy hiding behind the chair as his older brother plays hide and seek. These are the little moments you miss on the road. My little one just started walking about two weeks ago. I just want to bite him every time I see him!
So, back to last night. We unpacked, put the little ones to bed and watched the first part of the game on Tivo. Still have to watch the remainder. Just watching it on TV was thrilling and a reminder of the momentous occasion that we just witnessed.
Early yesterday morning, I got the heads up that the Giants were going to be in NYC for the ticker-tape parade and that Tisch would be ringing the opening bell, so we decided to broadcast The Opening Bell (which airs from 9-10a.m.) from the NYSE. I started Money for Breakfast in studio because this morning we had a very special guest and someone who rarely does television interviews: Kobe Bryant. Insane, right? Yes! Insane! He was one of the nicest players that I have ever met. Warm, down to earth, and a bit nervous. We talked about everything: his new Nike sneaker that will be released this Friday called the Zoom 3, his plethora of endorsement deals, the NBA’s image and keeping the Hornets in Louisiana. He did say that everything, including the NBA, has its ups and downs and the NBA is dealing with it. He also noted there is a lot of young new talent and that he feels, despite the weak attendance in Louisiana, that the Hornets deserve to stay in New Orleans and that the league and the fans have to give them time.
I also asked him about the recent trade of Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies. He’s loving it! The ideal situation especially given the Bynum injury. Now a potential starting five with Odom, Bynum (he’s due to return in mid March), Fisher and Kobe. Not bad!!! He’s very psyched. I asked if he’d like Jason Kidd. Absolutely, he said. He’s a champion, a leader, a good friend and would be thrilled to have him on board. The question is whether the Lakers have something to offer the Nets. I also asked about the persistent rumors about him and his future with the LA Lakers. Off camera, he said, given the trade last week and a shot at Kidd, he’d stay for the rest of his career. I asked him why he would consider giving it up? I also asked why he wouldn’t want to have a legacy like Magic Johnson? He said, yes, he is very much aware of the legacy and has talked to Magic about it extensively. He said he was an idealist when he joined the NBA. When you’re young you think it’s just about the game. When you grow up in the league, you learn that the NBA is not just about the game but it’s also about the business of the game. He wised up to that and has had some bumps along the way. He felt he was mistreated in a situation or two (he didn’t elaborate and I didn’t ask) but said that he’s in a great place and sees no reason why he would ever leave the Lakers. I told him my prediction: Lakers vs. Celtics in the NBA finals, especially if they get Kidd (Mr. Triple Double)!! All I can say is I learned a thing or two about the release when you take a shot (he demonstrated his finger roll with a mini basketball that I brought on set) and what a great spokesperson he is for the NBA. Oh, and in case you, like me, were wondering why he switched from the #8 on his jersey (where he won three championship rings) to the #24 at the beginning of the ‘06 season? Because he wanted to begin a new dynasty. Why 24? Because he works 24 hours a day. Perhaps the dynasty can begin this year
After Kobe, I hopped on the subway and headed down to the NYSE. Once I arrived, I saw all the guys that I’ve known for years (I used to work down there). I also had a chance to catch up with Steve Tisch. I interviewed him after he rung the bell. The floor, despite a 200-point opening loss, was electric! Everyone was applauding him and Steve Mara. Plus, everyone was decked out in their Giants gear. Word is some players may be there tomorrow. After the show, I went to the pre-parade reception with Steve. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! In a closed-door reception I saw or met most of the players, including Michael Strahan and Eli Manning. I saw Plaxico, Brandon, Osi, you name it! I also had a chance to talk to Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Spitzer and Senator Schumer. Everyone was in an electric mood! Taking pictures, signing autographs and grinning from ear to ear. The streets outside were lined with fans. A great moment for New York City and a great moment for New York Giants fans!!!!
FYI: Bloomberg did say he would have thrown his hat in the ring for the White House if it were a Giuliani versus Clinton campaign. He now thinks Obama is on the move and said that a McCain vs. Obama campaign would be a very likeable and friendly campaign.
As you can see, I included on this blog a bunch of images from Phoenix. Melissa (my producer and assistant) and her boyfriend Dave, who turned 30 on Super Bowl weekend and my fatal attempts at scoring a touchdown or two while doing the obstacle courses at the NFL Experience. Check out the photos of Tony Dorsett (Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Famer), Plaxico with his daughter after the Super Bowl win and many of my colleagues at other networks.
I have also included two photos that best describe this market. MAJOR TROUBLE!!!! This market could go one of two ways…..this way (Serious…..glass half empty)……or……this way (Light hearted….glass half full). I’ll take glass half full
Off to play hockey with the boys and back to work for Super Tuesday coverage on the economy for Fox News later this evening. I LOVE politics!
Oh, by the way, cute story, when I picked up my 4 year old Kyle at pre-school today his teachers told me they voted in class. Who did he vote for? Barack……..the best part is the way he says it…..Bock!!!!!
February 4, 2008 4:27PM
By Alexis Glick
INSANE…SICK…DREAMY…THE CINDERELLA STORY. I am NUMB, EUPHORIC…ON CLOUD NINE. Wake me up from this dream. Actually don’t wake me up!!! My heart is still racing! Miracles do come true, and last night I witnessed the greatest miracle in the history of sports, other than the USA hockey team beating the USSR in 1980. I cannot believe it! I have been a die-hard Giants fan for as long as I can remember. Being here, knowing the owners as well as I do and getting an inside perspective…I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS MOMENT!!!!!!! NEVER, EVER, EVER
Where do I begin? There is so much that I haven’t told you about the weekend. The rest of the parties. The pre-game show that I did with Shepard Smith. The people I met, the moments that are moments that will be with me forever
Here is what I wrote on the way to the Super Bowl and never submitted onto my blog. Interesting reading it now!
“Wow! What a night! It’s now Sunday morning and we are on our way to the Super Bowl. My heart is pounding! I am so excited, I cannot put it into words! This is the most amazing feeling especially when it’s the team you’ve watched your whole life.
Last night, I made it to the FOX Party. Did not see Terry or Howie and I’m not happy about it! Not even Jimmy or Joe or Troy Such a shame! I did meet some of our West Coast execs. I met Kevin Reilly, head of FOX entertainment. He is really cool! We talked about the strength of the FOX prime time lineup and the success (thus far) of American Idol and FOX Sports. He has three sons just like me — twins who are 9 and a younger guy who is 4. Small world! By the way, he’s adorable (or should I say handsome?). I also met Peter Ligouri, head of FX Networks. What a great guy! He is so down to earth and friendly. So tall. Must have been a basketball player in a previous life I’ve heard about Kevin and Peter since I arrived at FOX a year and a half ago but never met them in person. Peter was very complimentary about the new FOX Business Network and how we’ve been able to make an impact since we arrived on the scene. I was very touched! Oh and I can’t forget Jack. Jack Abernathy. We have been playing phone tag in New York and have many mutual friends and colleagues. It was so nice to finally meet him in person. We discussed our FOX Pre-Game coverage and the segment that I was doing the following morning with Shepard Smith.
I must admit I was really impressed! Three big-time FOX guys and you wouldn’t know it. They were warm, inviting and really casual. That’s one thing that I really love about FOX: the people who run networks or multi-million dollar businesses are all low-key. They don’t intimidate you. In my mind, that’s a sign of a confident group. They look and act the same way toward everyone, whether you’re a new kid on the block or a veteran. I like and truly admire that! It’s refreshing!
From FOX, I stopped back at the hotel to see my poor husband who Was so sick. I had a little room service and then ventured to the CAA Party. Here are a few of the names that rocked my World: Cal Ripken, John Salley, Joe Montana, Jerry Bruckheimer, Peter Chernin, Peter Ligouri, Brian Kilmeade, Kate Walsh, Steve Tisch, Billy Bush…just to name a few. Unfortunately (full disclosure / honesty) I was on my own! Bummer right? By the time I got there most of my friends had already left. It was cool to see it but it’s not the same when you don’t have your husband or some friends with you. I did it (ventured over there) because it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment and I felt that pang in my gut (if I don’t go I’ll be mad at myself). Truth be told, this party circuit is really OK! Every party is miles and miles away from one other (in most cases a half-hour drive) and the parties are either mobbed or slightly overwhelming. My best advice or lesson learned for next year: Go to one party and stay there for the night. That’s what our friend Sandy did last night. He went to the Playboy party and spent the entire night there. He said Hugh Hefner was holding court and that everyone wanted their picture taken with him! The Playboy bunnies were everywhere and that the crowd was 4 to 1 women to men. Guess that’s good for the guys :). Sandy is married (to Melanie and they have two beautiful boys)!
So this morning I woke up and did the pre-game show with Shepard Smith from FOX News. I talked about all of the commercials during the Super Bowl. Sixty-three commercials will be shown during the game. Big time players like Anheuser Busch, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Fedex, Cadillac, Bridgestone Tires. Two commercials that everyone is talking about: First, a 60-second commercial that Pepsi is doing with their hearing impaired employees. It will be silent. What a beautiful commercial. Also Anheuser Busch’s commercial, where a dalmation guides a Clydsdale named “Thunder” back into shape and back onto the Clydsdale beer team. Also the Audi commercial that features a scene from the Godfather and an Under Armor commercial that cost $6 million dollars and a third of their share price. It was their biggest ad spend ever and the stock got punished for it. It feautures two dozen athletes. The CEO said it’s their coming-out party. We’ll see!!!!”
So that was yesterday. Now it’s the morning after and I am on the plane. I am beside myself with joy. I’ll be at the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow to see the team and attend the ticker-tape parade which will be at 11am starting in Battery Park. I am so psyched!!!
Being there yesterday, going into the stadium was sick. I think the crowd was honestly 3 to 1 New York Giants fans. They were everywhere. That was the greatest nail biter. We were dying! Our defense was outstanding. Strahan, Tuck…the entire line and the defensive backs that defended Moss were sick. Eli was remarkable: escaping the tackle, Tyree’s catch (the greatest ever made) and the pass to Plaxico…OH MY GOD!!! That last three minutes caused me to age 10 years and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! The place went nuts. I cried!!!! That remaining 30 seconds…..I was praying, “Please do it for the fathers.” Do it for Wellington and Preston. They did it and that victory was the best victory that I have ever seen. We could not leave the stadium. All of us were basking in the moment. The joy and utter shock that we defeated the undefeated New England Patriots. The way they ran off the field and didn’t shake our players hands. I was shocked. They were even more shocked! What we did to Tom Brady and his line will never be forgotten.
We Tivo’d it at home and I can’t wait to go rewatch it. When we finally got back to our room after a late night McDonald’s stop we watched and rewatched every clip on ESPN. I could have watched those clips a thousand times.
This morning I had breakfast again with Steve Tisch. We both looked at each other. A dream that we never thought was possible. He was calm, cool and, of course, I drilled him about what it was like on the sidelines with three minutes to go. The NFL planned to escort both owners with three minutes to go. If you won, you went the podium, if you didn’t, you were on your own. He, of course, had his mom with him. He couldn’t see half of the plays and his stomach was in knots. Can you imagine? Just think what that must have been like for his family! The Mara’s! His mom! It gives me chills.
This morning Steve received dozens of calls while we replayed every moment. That must be amazing!!!! He is the owner of the Super Bowl champions!!!! One of the calls before we met up was one that took him off guard. He picks up the phone, the person says, “Is this Steve?” He says yes. She says I have the president for you. He says very funny. How did you get my number? She says….you’re kidding right? It was the President of the United States calling to congratulate him. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT??????
Wow….wow….as my husband said when the game finished……ON ANY GIVEN SUNDAY!!!!!!!
I’ll continue to tell you everything when i arrive in New York
February 3, 2008 2:23PM
By Alexis Glick
So it’s been 24 hours, and I haven’t blogged. My apologies! Remember the freezing temperatures? Well, starting last night, I felt some of the results. I’ve blown my nose about 200 times and my sinuses are so congested that I sound like a cartoon character. Such is life!
Where did we leave off?
Parties right? Well, last night we made our attempts to visit some of the well-known and cool parties, from the NFL Commissioner’s party to Maxim to Tenjune and Hyde. Hyde gets the best marks of the lot. They created a very cool and sleak lounge and it wasn’t overly crowded. It was elegant and you could sit down and breath. Thank you Audi. They sponsored it and I give them high marks :). The other parties have been at this for years but they’re full of thousands of people. Many of the big names and faces go to them but just briefly.
So who have I seen? So many names, it’s hard to believe. A football fan’s dream! Ronnie Lott and Donovan McNabb (at Hyde last night), Nick Lachey (at Tenjune last night), Peyton and Archie Manning, the entire Tisch Family, Woody Johnson, Lawrence Taylor, Mia Hamm, Troy Aikman, Joe Buck, the ESPN anchors…you name it. They’re all here!
Today was my first day off since I arrived, so I slept in and then hung out by the pool. A little sun to help dry up my fully congested head. The same for my husband, who is even sicker than I am. Can you believe it? Big bummer! He’s in the hotel room as we speak with fever. Our good friend Sandy who came to the Super Bowl to join us is here and such a trooper. He was so excited to go out and about and do all of the fun events and he arrives and we’re both dragging. I’m sorry Sandy. We love you
Ok, back to the pool. So hanging out at the pool: the Tisch’s, Murdoch’s and to the left us Milo Ventimiglia. You know, the lead actor from Heroes who is dating Hayden Panattiere! He was very nice and much smaller than I expected. He said, “God bless you” to me several times because I kept sneezing. I kept apologizing…yikes…first impressions :). Anyhow he was very cool, very down to earth and a very pleasant surprise. Oh, and he was reading scripts. Maybe there is hope or truth to the rumors that I have been hearing that the writers strike is almost over!
As I write this it is Saturday night and it’s time to party one more night before the big game. I am headed (solo) to the Fox Sports party to see and meet many of my colleagues from the West Coast. I am really excited to finally meet Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw. I’ve been dreaming about doing the Fox NFL pre-game show for years. I’m a nut! Anyhow I can’t wait to say hi and give them my analysis for tomorrow’s game. As if they want to hear that
February 1, 2008 5:30PM
By Alexis Glick
The baby arrived. It’s a girl — Madison Sienna. My brother and sister-in-law are parents. So exciting!!!!! We finally have a girl in the family!!!! Woo-hoo!! Finally, I can buy pink! (I have three boys.)
What a morning. This business is awesome. So excited to hear about MSFT’s bid for YHOO. Who knows if the deal will happen and if it will the perfect mix of cultures, but there are a lot of appealing parts to it. A 62% premium for Yahoo. Not bad! Microsoft certainly has a bunch of cash and anyone doing a deal valued at $44B in this market is GREAT news. That’s just me speaking out loud. Search is where it’s at. Google is the dominant player. Mobile is the future. Yahoo has the Asian footprint and Microsoft needs to grow in search and remind people that it is still a cool company, not a dinosaur. Very cool!
So I just finished the shows. Sat out on a podium for over four hours in the FREEZING cold. It is ridiculously cold out here. I can already feel a cold brewing, but who cares? This morning was a ton of fun. I talked to Audi and Anheuser Busch about their commercials. They sound amazing. Audi hasn’t advertised since the ‘91 Super Bowl. This commercial has a Godfather clip. Who doesn’t love The Godfather!? Anheuser is the king of advertising. This marks their twentieth year and they are the biggest advertisers with seven commercials.
I also talked with Joe Theismann (former Super Bowl champ for the Washington Redskins) and Phil Simms (former Super Bowl champ for the New York Giants). The remarkable thing about meeting these guys. They are in the sickest shape and haven’t aged a bit. They are both unbelievably charming!
After the show, I ran back to the hotel and joined Steve (as in Tisch) for breakfast. I learned more about the movie business, which completely fascinates me. His personal story of how he got into the business 37 years ago is truly amazing.
I asked him why he chose to get into the business. He said that when he was a little kid growing up in New York City that he would sit down with the New York Times and review the list and times of movies. He would map out his day based on the time and location of the movie and see double or triple features by himself. At night he went to music clubs to listen to bands. His passion never wavered. He knew exactly what he wanted to do and his first job just happened to be assisting Peter Guber at Columbia Pictures in Hollywood. After five years on the job, despite many skeptics and many veterans who suggested that he stay where he was, he decided to start his own production company. Some of the movies he’s produced, Risky Business, Forrest Gump (which took 11 years to make) and one of his personal favorites — American History X with Ed Norton.
Are you as amazed as I am? I am in awe. Can you imagine co-owning one of the biggest and most well-known football franchises (NY Giants) and owning your own production company with Oscars under your belt? What a truly amazing and inspiring story! By the way, in addition to this Super Bowl, he has three films which begin production in the next couple of months with a couple unknown guys named Will Smith and Nicholas Cage. To be a fly on the wall In my next life!
Just rang the closing bell for the NYSE from Glendale, Ariz., with local politicians like the Mayor of Glendale and Gov. Janet Napolitano and local executives. A tremendous honor!!! The funny part (between us once again) — I have been working around the clock and since our television shot only took the top half of me today I decided to wear jeans on the bottom half. I was wrapped in a down blanket to keep my limbs from falling off. Murphy’s Law — you know me and my Irish luck — I arrive and everyone is in suit and ties. Thank God they covered me up. Another one of my panic attack moments :).
Now Melissa and I are driving back to the hotel to sit down for the first time in two days. Maybe sit in the sun and soak up some rays. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?
And don’t worry: I won’t forget to blog later tonight! It’s the first night that I can actually attend parties. Stay tuned for the inside scoop on my first night out at the parties. Tonight is the CAA (Creative Artists Agency) party, ESPN party, Maxim Party, Audi Private Engagement and the NFL Commissioner’s (Roger Goodell) Party. Where will I go? Not sure just yet! It will involve some begging
February 1, 2008 7:57AM
By Alexis Glick
Wow! What a day. It’s almost 5pm and we haven’t had a minute’s rest. I just interviewed former Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer John Elway. That interview will be on Money For Breakfast Friday morning (6-9a.m. EST). What an amazing guy! Did you know that he went to Stanford and was an Economics major? Did you also know that he was drafted by a Yankees Minor League team in the very early 80’s? Five Super Bowl’s and two rings. Not bad!!! Now he owns car dealerships and an Arena Football Team. Not to mention the many endorsements that he does. He’s a machine. I see a political future!!!At this event (a joint Mastercard and Sám’s Club event) I met two very well-known sports writers, Robert Glauber from Newsday and Jim Trotter from Sports Illustrated. Bob told me a very touching story about a soldier who retured from the war in Iraq and has become the honorary mascot for the New York Giants. He is a double amputee. He was a classmate and good friend of the Giants receiver coach and met the team last May. He has met with the team several times, given many inspirational speeches and has been on the sideline for some of the biggest games, including the big wins versus Green Bay and Tampa Bay. Read the article on Newsday’s Web site. It’s an incredibly touching story! He’s still in the Army, had several surgeries and continues to get rehab.
Jim gave me some terrific scoops. He was headed to an NFL Players Union discussion and said that the players were very outspoken earlier in the day about the lack of delivery and execution on Gene Upshaw’s part. He, along with many players, believes Troy Vincent (the former safety from the Bills and Eagles) will become the next head of the Players Union. We also talked about the Randy Moss rumors. He said there’s a good chance that Kraft will franchise him. What does that mean? That means he’ll give him a one-year deal but he has to pay him the average of the top five guys pay in the wide receiver position. Not cheap. Probably somewhere between $8-9 million a year. It incentivizes Moss to deliver the goods because it’s not a longer term deal and gives Kraft the flexibility.
Wait! I forgot. I lured you in about my amazingly cool breakfast and then didn’t tell you why. After a conference call this morning reviewing the line up for tomorrow’s show, I drove back to the hotel to meet Melissa (my partner in crime and future anchor), her boyfriend Dave who is awesome and turning 30 tomorrow and my husband for breakfast. I was starving! We started to chow down and who walks in but Steve Tisch (Co-Owner of the New York Giants) and my personal crush! We talked about the upcoming game and how the team is looking in practice. He also gave me a hard time about our interview tomorrow morning. He has to be at the stadium (our liveshot) at the crack of dawn because of the time difference. I told him to stay up all night and drive to the stadium from there. Not sure if he’ll také my advice We talked about his predictions and Plaxico’s 24-17 point prediction. All that matters is that they made it this far. What happens from here is gravy…..at least that’s my feeling and honestly I know he feels the same way. If you heard his speech when they beat Green Bay a couple weeks ago you’ll know how Tisch really feels. Going to the Super Bowl and having the kind of year that the Giants had despite all of the odds is a reflection on the two men who made it possible (Wellington Mara and Robert Tisch) who both died in the past year. It was a very touching speech and a dedication to the two men who he suggested were the heart of the team. Spoken like a true gentleman.
In addition to talking football, we also talked about the writers’ strike (Steve also happens to be a very succesful and well-known Hollywood producer). Joining us for breakfast were Chris Robichaud, president and COO of Bragman Nyman Cafarelli, a well known public relations firm in Los Angeles and Doug Deluca, co-executive producer of the Jimmy Kimmel show. Am I dreaming or do I have the sickest job on the planet? In one hour I learned more about the writers’ strike and pending resolution and came away sensing that the strike will get resolved in time for the Academy Awards. Music to my ears :). I love the Super Bowl and I just as equally love the Super Bowl of movies and would be so disappointed if it didn’t happen.
In the car now. Wiped out beyond repair. Just finished running sprints and throwing a wopping 5 yard pass at the NFL Experience. This is cool. Really, really cool!
