TURNER-ING A NEW LEAF? In Toronto, William Houston
cites sources as saying that Turner Sports President Harvey
Schiller "is leaving his post" to run George Steinbrenner's
"sports empire." Insiders say "a deal ... was reached a few
days ago." Schiller will oversee the YankeeNets operations
and "spearhead a cable channel headlined" by both teams
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 9/15).
NFL: Houston business exec Bob McNair, on the NFL
selecting a site for the league's 32nd team: "We all need to
admit that it's time to bring this thing to a conclusion.
I'm not going to do this for the rest of my life" (N.Y.
TIMES, 9/15). ESPN's John Clayton, on whether L.A. has
finalized its bid for an expansion team: "No, not at all.
What we're going to see is a posturing position by the
league because what they're going to do is give L.A. three
more weeks, down to October 5, to try to at least do
something to keep Houston in the battle to try to get a
better price on the franchise" ("NFL 2Night," ESPN,
9/14)....In DC, Nakamura & Spinner write that Redskins
officials and police "vowed yesterday to ease traffic
congestion" for the next home game on October 3 at Redskins
Stadium, but they "offered no concrete solutions." Prince
George police spokesperson Royce Holloway, on the "gridlock"
for last Sunday's Cowboys-Redskins game: "We will not
experience this again" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/15).
MORE NOTES: In San Antonio, Glenn Rogers writes that
Spurs Chair Peter Holt "always said he had no intention of
moving the Spurs out of San Antonio. He should have
convinced [Spurs C Tim] Duncan and signed him before next
year's free-agent hunting season opens" (SAN ANTONIO
EXPRESS-NEWS, 9/15). Also in San Antonio, Susie Gonzalez
reports that Holt "announced a fund-raising goal" of $32M
for this fall's United Way campaign (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-
NEWS, 9/15)....In Denver, Dave Krieger reports that Nuggets
GM Dan Issel was named head coach yesterday, replacing Mike
D'Antoni. Issel was given a new three-year contract to
coach and "run the basketball operation" (RMN, 9/15)....In
Seattle, Holly Cain reports that Seattle's WNBA franchise
has sold 3,200 season-tickets as of yesterday. The team
"must sell" 5,500 season tickets by the league-imposed
deadline of October 15 (SEATTLE P-I, 9/15)....In St. Louis,
Bernie Miklasz, on new Blues Owners Bill and Nancy Laurie:
"Bill Laurie is being hailed as a sugar daddy who will buy a
Stanley Cup for frustrated Blues fans. Sure, his money can
and should make a difference. But the Cup can't be
purchased. They don't sell it at Tiffany's" (ST. LOUIS
POST-DISPATCH, 9/15)....In Denver, Scott Priestle notes that
the announced crowd of 4,455 for yesterday's A-League
Rhinos-MLS Rapids U.S. Open Cup game Final was "in reality
much smaller" (DENVER POST, 9/15). In Rochester, Jeff
DiVeronica estimates the crowd at 2,000 (DEM & CHRON, 9/15).
