In Vancouver, Neil Macrae, on the NHL's action in the
Isles' attempt to trade RW Ziggy Palffy: "If you're an owner
and you have an asset you want to move or sell or give away,
the league shouldn't be able to stop you" (VANCOUVER
PROVINCE, 6/17)....In Baltimore, a BUSINESS JOURNAL
editorial criticizes the city's pursuit of an NBA franchise
and states that Baltimore "can't get its priorities
straight. ... Surely, after our recent spasm of public
spending on sports and tourist venues, the time has come to
put this madness aside" (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/14
issue)....Bengals first round draft pick Akili Smith, on his
contract negotiations with the team: "[Bengals President
Mike] Brown kind of patterned a contract offer they made me
around Ricky's [Williams] (deal). From what I understand,
Ricky's contract is absolutely terrible. That's what my
agent (Leigh Steinberg) told me, so I guess we won't be
signing anything Ricky did" (CBS SportsLine, 6/17)....Spurs
F/C Tim Duncan, on his future with the Spurs: "It (the arena
issue) is a big part of me coming back here" (TORONTO SUN,
6/18). In N.Y., Harvey Araton writes on the Spurs' need for
a new arena: "It would be a shame for pro basketball to lose
this charming and boisterous outpost, rich in history and
fan support." Araton notes that the NBA "could do worse
than to financially assist in the building of a new arena"
(N.Y. TIMES, 6/18)....The Packers will open their Packer Pro
Shop on Sundays starting next month and promote it with
advertising. As the shop is attached to Lambeau Field, the
team doesn't have to share revenues from the sale of team
merchandise (Green Bay PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/16).
