NHL: In Toronto, Mary Ormsby cites a poll "conducted"
by Northstar Research Partners, which stated 87% of Canadian
hockey fans "feel the country's game needs to change the way
it develops young players." The survey of 2,313 people was
taken during the Open Ice hockey summit in Toronto. Ormsby
writes that the data was gathered by phone from three
"distinct sub-groups" -- 923 who identified themselves as
fans of the NHL or amateur/int'l hockey, 365 non-fans and a
group of 1,065 "hockey-involved" parents, players, coaches,
officials and administrators. Asked if "change was needed"
in the nation's developmental system, 62% of fan and hockey-
involved sub-groups said "yes" (TORONTO STAR, 8/25).
WNBA: In N.Y., Monica Lewis writes on the WNBA playoff
format and notes that the regular-season champions Liberty
and Comets "must make their first postseason appearance on
the homecourt of a lower-seeded opponent." Liberty coach
Richie Adubato: "I understand what [league officials] are
thinking, but I think when you fight all year for the
homecourt, the first game should be on your homecourt" (N.Y.
POST, 8/25)....WNBA President Val Ackerman, on the league's
"negotiations with sponsors on contract renewals": "We're
very, very encouraged" (Jennifer Allen, BRIDGE NEWS, 8/25).
NFL: ESPN's John Clayton, on instant replay: "Instant
replay advocates already are fearful that preseason
technical glitches are starting to switch owners votes for
replay renewal next spring. The biggest problem has been
the buzzer system that coaches use to notify the referee of
a challenge. Steve Mariucci of the 49ers and Dick Vermeil
of the Rams kept setting off the buzzer accidentally by
bending over or moving along the sideline. Wade Phillips of
the Bills and Mike Shanahan of the Broncos tried having a
nearby team official wear the buzzer, but it still went off
inadvertently. A redesign is in the works" (ESPN, 8/24).
INFLATED NUMBERS? CNN/SI's Tom Verducci, on the
baseballs used in Home Run Derby at the MLB All-Star Game:
"Now it can be told. Remember that awesome hitting display
in the All-Star Home Run Derby at Fenway Park last month?
Well it turns out, the sluggers had some help. The balls
used for that event were harder and slightly smaller than
regulation baseballs, causing them to fly farther. Ken
Griffey, for instance, hit one of the superballs off the
backwall in centerfield, and he said he's never come close
to doing that before" ("Sports Tonight" CNN/SI, 8/24).
