In Chicago, Michael Hirsley examines Newark Star-Ledger
writer Dan Garcia's lawsuit against the Nets and coach John
Calipari. Hirsley: "Calipari's outburst had an ethnic
undertone ... but was it legally an ethnic slur? Was it a
'hate speech akin to a hate crime,' as Garcia's attorney
suggests? Or was it legally 'freedom of speech' protected
by the Constitution's First Amendment, as Calipari's
attorney claims?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/17)....White Sox
Marketing Dir Rob Gallas, on lagging attendance at Comiskey
Park: "[W]e won 85 games last year. You would have thought
we lost 85 games by the way the winter (ticket sales) went.
This year, our team is going to win 85 or 90 games again.
What more can we do?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/17)....In L.A.,
Sparks President Johnny Buss says the club counts all 2,200
Forum Senate ticket holders, who have admission to any Forum
event, in the team's announced attendance, whether they
attend or not. Buss also said the team gives away about
1,500 tickets per game, half of which are counted toward
paid attendance (L.A. TIMES, 7/17)....Angels Owner Gene
Autry, who shifted 25% of the team and day-to-day operations
to Disney, was profiled in the ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER.
Autry: "We don't have to worry about bottom-line issues
anymore. We don't have any of the aggravations any more.
(O.C. REGISTER, 7/16)....In Detroit, business writer Doron
Levin writes on Lions Vice Chair William Clay Ford Jr. The
Lions "are taking less of his time since" after his deal on
a new stadium. Ford: "[W]e've got the stadium decision
resolved. ... We have a new ticket operation and a new
marketing operation. What big decisions are left to make?
... My value added is not in the day-to-day but in strategic
direction" (FREE PRESS, 7/17).
