With Hurricane Floyd bearing down on the Southeastern
coast, several sporting events and leagues are bracing for
the effects of the storm. USA TODAY's Rudy Martzke reports
that Fox Sports officials are "monitoring conditions" for
the Buccaneers-Eagles and Redskins-Giants games on Sunday.
Fox Sports VP/Media Relations Lou D'Ermilio: "The key day is
Friday, when most TV crews and technicians leave for Sunday
NFL games." CBS Senior VP/Communications LeslieAnne Wade
says the Jaguars-Panthers is "the game we're most concerned
with" (USA TODAY, 9/15). In Jacksonville, Garry Smits
reports the Jaguars have "cancelled practice today because
of the imminent approach" of the storm. Jaguars Dir of
Communications Dan Edwards said that the "anticipation is
that the team will return to practice tomorrow" (FL TIMES-
UNION, 9/15). Dolphins VP/Public Relations Harvey Greene
told the AZ REPUBLIC's Tim Tyers the team "expects it to be
fine here tomorrow. ... The big problem is going to be up
the road." Greene adds that moving the Cardinals-Dolphins
game to Phoenix is "not going to happen." Greene: "We're
just going to get a glancing blow. A lot of rain" (AZ
REPUBLIC, 9/15). The AP reports the Dolphins canceled the
weekly "day-after-game briefing" by coach Jimmy Johnson and
were "forced to land" their return flight from Denver at
Fort Myers, FL, "then driven by bus 2 1/2 hours" to Miami
(AP, 9/15). In Jacksonville, Mike Bianchi writes that the
"joke going around" the Univ. of FL -- whose game against
the Univ. of TN is being jeopardized by the hurricane -- is,
"Why doesn't [Univ. of FL coach] Steve Spurrier just call
off Hurricane Floyd?" (FL TIMES-UNION, 9/15).
CLOSINGS & POSTPONEMENTS: The AFL FL Bobcats have shut
down their offices for the next few days, but the Orlando
Predators and Tampa Bay Storm offices will remain open
(AFL). USA TODAY's Roscoe Nance writes the LPGA and NASCAR
have "evacuated" their headquarters in Daytona Beach, FL
(USA TODAY, 9/15). The CHARLOTTE OBSERVER's David Poole
reports that "several top NASCAR officials hopped a plane"
out of Daytona Beach and "spent Tuesday in Charlotte, mainly
out of the marketing division offices" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER,
9/15). NC-based Dale Earnhardt Inc. VP Nathan Sims: "Let's
put it this way, we began our meeting this morning with 'Our
Father, who art in heaven'" (USA TODAY, 9/15).
INTERESTING EXPLANA-SHINN: In Charlotte, Liz Chandler
writes Hurricane Floyd "prompted a mistrial" in the lawsuit
against Hornets Owner George Shinn, "bumping the trial back
to December." Circuit Judge Costa Pleicones "ended the
proceedings before testimony began," stating damages "might
close the courthouse [and] disrupt the jurors'
concentration." A new jury will be chosen (OBSERVER, 9/15).
SMART TECO-NOMICS: Last night's Hurricanes-Panthers
pre-season game at TECO Arena was postponed. The Hurricanes
flew out of Ft. Myers last night (NAPLES DAILY NEWS, 9/15).
