RANK AND FILE? The Sporting News ranks the "Best Sports
Cities," with New York topping the list of 351. Rounding out
the top 10 are Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Atlanta,
Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, Oakland-S.F.-San Jose, L.A.-
Anaheim and Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. The complete list can be
found at www.sportingnews.com (The Sporting News).
MARIO'S CHALLENGES: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Robert
Guy Matthews profiles new Penguins Owner Mario Lemieux and
calls him a "reluctant owner." Lemieux "probably would have
lost millions of dollars of deferred salary if he hadn't
agreed to take a major ownership stake in the team."
Lemieux: "I looked at all the options. This was the best
decision." Matthews writes one "issue" is whether Lemieux,
"whose loyalties were always with players, will be able to
make tough decisions when it comes time for hardball
negotiations with the players' union" (WALL STREET JOURNAL,
7/22). In Pittsburgh, Chuck Finder reports that Fox Sports
Net Pittsburgh has not renewed the contract of Penguins TV
analyst Paul Steigerwald, who has handled the duties for the
past 14 seasons. FSNP VP & GM Jayne Adair said that the net
"will make no changes" until Lemieux assumes control of the
team (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/22).
DETAILS ON L.A. JOINT BID: NHL Kings co-Owner & Eli
Broad's NFL partner Ed Roski said that the joint stadium
proposal between the Broad and Michael Ovitz expansion bid
groups "calls for a seating capacity" at the New Coliseum of
60,000-62,000, expandable to more than 80,000 for the Super
Bowl. The facility would have around 160 luxury suites and
between 15,000-20,000 club seats (O.C. REGISTER, 7/21).
MORE NOTES: NC developer Roddy Jones has joined an
investment group with BTI Chair Peter Loftin and Hampton
Univ. President Dr. William Harvey in an attempt to bring an
AFL franchise to Raleigh's Entertainment and Sports Arena
(Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/22)....Triple A Calgary Cannons
Owner Russ Parker has put the team up for sale. Triple A
Edmonton Trappers Owner Mel Kowalchuk estimated that Parker
would get US$7-7.5M for the team and that it would likely
relocate to the U.S. (EDMONTON SUN, 7/22)....The Devil Rays
are "planning several promotions" in conjunction with 3B
Wade Boggs' quest for 3,000 hits, including the sale of
3,000 $10 upper-reserved seats for $3 every game until Boggs
reaches the milestone (ST. PETE TIMES, 7/21)....Chinese fans
who "packed" the 80,000-seat Shanghai Stadium for last
night's Manchester United match "went home disappointed ...
because Manchester left several of its star performers at
home," including MF David Beckham (N.Y. POST, 7/22).
