NFL NEWS: Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau
President Kevin Kane on the Oilers' "nonsupport" in Memphis:
"We work so hard to pump up the assets of Memphis's image,
and this is a black eye for us. People are joking about us
nationally. I think there's some longterm damage being done
to our image here that people don't realize" (Memphis
COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 9/24). But sports columnist Geoff
Calkins today blames Kane and other city leaders "for
putting this city in an impossible, dreadful situation" with
"downright hilarious" attendance and economic projections.
Calkins: "Maybe Kane should be more embarrassed that he
badly misjudged the team's appeal in this town" (Memphis
COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 9/25)....Over 25,000 tickets remain for
the Broncos-Falcons game Sunday, in what could be its 15th
straight home game blacked out (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 9/25).
MLB: Prospective Blue Jays Owner Murray Frum said
yesterday that he and his partners "played no role" in the
firing of manager Cito Gaston. Frum: "To tell you the
truth, this has taken me by surprise. I didn't expect it.
Not now." On reports of a new group bidding for the team,
Frum said, "I've received information that there is no other
group. So we're marching along" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/25).
