J.D. Drew's agent Scott Boras said the Phillie Phanatic
showed "bad taste" by placing bags of money in front of the
visitor's dugout at Veterans Stadium during Monday's game.
Boras: "Whoever controls the Phillie Phanatic should be
reprimanded." Phillies PR Manager Leigh Tobin responded,
"If we had known about it ahead of time, we probably
wouldn't have recommended that he do it" (BLOOMBERG, 8/12).
DUCKS, DUCKS, GOOSED? In L.A., Bill Shaikin writes that
there "might never be a more opportune time" for Disney to
sell the Mighty Ducks. Although estimates had the team
losing $8M last season, the team "made money in each of its
five previous seasons." A projected payroll increase "means
another projected deficit" (L.A. TIMES, 8/12).
EXPOS-ING HIMSELF: Potential Expos investor Jeffrey
Loria "paid a surprise visit" to Tuesday's Dodgers-Expos
game and "took a number of notes, mental and otherwise." In
Toronto, Jeff Blair writes, "Loria was discreet, but the
fact he was at the game spoke volumes" (Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL, 8/12). In Montreal, Paul Cherry writes that Expos
President Claude Brochu set a September 30 sale deadline, or
else his current agreement would have to be renegotiated.
But new ownership group spokesperson Jean Simard "described
the finalization of the deal as a mere formality." Simard:
"The amount was agreed upon long ago, so there was very
little left to discuss" (Montreal GAZETTE, 8/12).
MORE MLB NOTES: In Minneapolis, Sid Hartman writes that
while "talk has centered" on the Twins moving to Charlotte,
team Owner Carl Pohlad "is reported to have a fantastic
offer on the table from Las Vegas interests. It is
something he wouldn't confirm or deny." Pohlad did say that
despite the team's $16.8M payroll, it will lose "at least"
$5M, "and maybe much more," this season (Minneapolis STAR-
TRIBUNE, 8/12)....The Rangers are on pace to win a
franchise-high 97 games, but the team "seems destined to
average its fewest customers per game in four seasons," with
paid attendance down "about" 5% from '98. Rangers VP/PR
John Blake: "I've been in baseball 21 years, and this is the
worst schedule I've seen" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/12).
MORE NOTES: In Portland, Rachel Bachman wrote that the
Blazers "reportedly are ready to hire" Nike Dir of Women's
Sports Marketing Sandi Bittler to "run the business side" of
the team's WNBA franchise (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/11)....The
Heat unveiled ticket prices for its WNBA team, with seats
ranging from $5-25. To "entice fans into purchasing
tickets," the team made "more than" 400 center-court lower
bowl seats available for $5. The same seats cost $75 each
at a Heat game (MIAMI HERALD, 8/12)....The MetroStars drew a
"record-low announced crowd" of 6,876 to Wednesday's game
against the United (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/12).
