NFL: A "league source" said that financial wherewithal
is "not the sole criterion" for choosing the owner of
Cleveland's new NFL team" "It's taking on who we think can
contribute to the league, can operate a franchise in a
responsible fashion ... and who can contribute to the league
with respect to league decisions." The source added that
the new owners must be able to work within the community and
be responsive to fans, "[a]lthough it's not a popularity
contest, either" (PLAIN DEALER, 1/25)....Patriots Owner
Robert Kraft offered to meet with writers from the New
England area over the weekend, but the Boston Globe
"declined" the invitation because Kraft excluded columnist
Dan Shaughnessy from the list. Kraft reportedly did not
include Shaughnessy because he "objected to his columns."
Kraft defended his position by saying it was "not a formal
press conference" and that he "had the right to decide whom
he wanted to speak with" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/24).
NOTES: Wizards coach Bernie Bickerstaff criticized
Wizards Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Rod Strickland and
Harvey Grant "for failing to attend" an autograph session
for season ticketholders Thursday night. About 9,000 fans
attended the event at MCI Center. Bickerstaff: "It's an
opportunity to give back to our fans and, from that
standpoint, we failed" (WASH. POST, 1/24)....A franchise
record crowd of 14,115 attended the Springfield-Hartford AHL
game at the Hartford Civic Center Saturday (COURANT, 1/25).
