NFL: In Philadelphia, Phil Sheridan reports that WTXF-
Fox and the Local Quality Plus Ford Dealers Association
"agreed to buy any tickets that remain unsold" for Sunday's
Bucs-Eagles game at 1:00pm ET. The "guarantee of a sellout
was enough for" the NFL to "lift" the local blackout
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/17). WTXF-Fox GM Roger LaMay:
"The thought of not having the Eagles on the air two weeks
in a row drove us to go above and beyond what we would
normally do" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 9/17)....In Houston,
John McClain, on the NFL's expansion process: "It's so
unbecoming of the NFL to grovel. ... Now, the league is on
one knee with hat in hand, begging reclusive billionaire
Marvin Davis to please, please accept us. Geez, have some
dignity. ... Turn the other cheek [and] walk away with your
pride intact." More McClain: "The problem is that some NFL
owners have no pride. A few are not very bright, either.
... [Houston bid leader Bob] McNair and Houston have done
everything the league has asked. ... But [McNair is] not so
desperate that he will slice open a financial vein and bleed
green all over the NFL" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/17).
NBA: Michael Jordan, on possible team ownership: "If
another opportunity shows up in front of me, I'll evaluate
it. If it doesn't suit me, then I don't have to do it. I'm
not really beating down the door to find a team to buy"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/16)....Raptors GM Glen Grunwald, on
the team signing Percy "Master P" Miller: "We have nothing
to lose because he is on a make-good contract. From that
perspective, there's no risk" (TORONTO SUN, 9/17).
