The CHL Memphis RiverKings hosted "Guaranteed Fight
Night" during last Thursday's home game against the CHL
Huntsville (AL) Channel Cats. Fans were promised a $2
discount toward a future RiverKings home game if there was
no fight during the game. Alas, the game went fightless,
and the team distributed $2-off vouchers (THE DAILY).
NHL NOTES: In Nashville, Brad Schmitt wrote that
"country music stars have become stone-cold Predators fans,"
as singer Barbara Mandrell serves on the team's charitable
foundations board, and Deana Carter has tickets behind the
team's bench. Predators VP/Communications & Development
Gerry Helper: "We have as many stars in the stands as New
York or Chicago" (TENNESSEAN, 2/16)....In St. Louis, Bernie
Miklasz wrote that he's "surprised" that Clark Enterprises,
the Blues ownership group, is "serious about going to
battle" with former team President Jack Quinn, who has sued
the team claiming that it broke his consulting contract.
Miklasz: "Do the big boys really want all of this dirt
spilling out?" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/14).
NBA TEAM NOTES: The Nets ownership group is profiled by
David Kirkpatrick in NEW YORK, who writes that "people
familiar" with its plans said that co-Owners Lewis Katz and
Raymond Chambers "have held talks about possibly acquiring"
the Devils, Vikings and Yankees, though Katz "won't
comment." Katz: "If anything comes up, we are keeping our
ears open" (NEW YORK, 2/15 issue)....Felix Sabates said that
he is still interested in buying the Hornets. Sabates said
that Hornets Owner George Shinn "knows that whenever he
wants to talk, he just has to pick up the phone" (RICHMOND
TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/14)....Due to the six-month lockout, the
Celtics reported a loss of about $10.5M for the six months
ended December 31, 1998. For the period, the team listed
$7.6M in operating costs and $1.4M in net interest expense.
Included were pro-rated per game charges of $3.5M, broadcast
rights payments worth $3.1M and season ticket refunds of
$9.5M (BOSTON HERALD, 2/13).
NOTES: Rangers GM Doug Melvin said that the team "has
received second-hand word" that Ricky Williams will
"abandon" MLB in favor of football in '98. But Melvin
added, "We still anticipate having him in spring training"
(DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/16)....The IBL St. Louis Swarm
unveiled its nickname and logo yesterday. MA-based CYRK
created and designed the team logo. The Swarm also named
Butch Beard as its coach (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/17).
