Washington Sports Chair Abe Pollin, during an interview
with WRC-NBC Sports Dir George Michael: "I am committed to
winning. What people think I'm committed to losing? ... We
are dedicated to bringing Washington a champion again. I
can't stand to lose." Pollin added that he has received
"frequent inquiries" from prospective buyers about selling
his teams and the MCI Center, but he has told them that "he
will not sell at this point" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/15)....A
"Pitino-low" attendance of 15,364 turned out at the
FleetCenter last night for the Celtics loss to the Hawks.
The "ongoing booing" prompted Rick Pitino to turn to one fan
at the end of the game and say, "Why don't you go home?"
(BOSTON GLOBE, 4/15)....Twins President Jerry Bell, on why
the team is ahead of last year's attendance at the Metrodome
by 12,000: "Maybe it's curiosity" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS,
4/15)....In Nashville, Paul Kuharsky writes that NFLP ran
focus groups in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville and
Chattanooga while designing the Titans' new uniforms to
"unify all three regions of the state." NFLP Senior Manager
of Club Marketing David Goldman, asking Titans RB Eddie
George about what he wanted in a new uniform: "He kind of
hit me on the chest and said, `Hey, when you put on a suit
and go to a meeting, you want to feel sharp, you want to
feel good, right? It's the same way when I go on the field.
When I look good, when I feel good, it gives me a little bit
of an edge'" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 4/15)....In Las Vegas,
Paul Gutierrez wrote that the new IBL franchise, slated to
debut in the city in November, has yet find an owner or a
home arena. IBL Assistant Dir of PR Tim Richardson: "We are
going to have a franchise in Las Vegas. We're still in
negotiations with potential ownership groups and we're
having discussions with a few potential owners." League
President Thaxter Trafton said that Sega Gaming Corp.
President & CEO Doug Sanderson is "willing to commit" $2M to
the franchise if he can get other people to commit to the
project (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/14).
ALL SHARK, NO BITE? Sharks D Andrei Zyuzin rejoined the
Sharks yesterday after a almost a month away from the team.
Zyuzin "no longer is aligned" with uncertified Russian agent
Vitali Shevchenko and has rehired N.Y.-based Jay Grossman
(Dan Wood, CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 4/14).
