NHL: In Dallas, Mike Heika writes on the number of
contract disputes before the NHL begins its season on Friday
under the header, "Owners Drop Gloves On NHL's Salaries."
Heika: "Throughout the league, restricted free agents and
teams are making stands through long, drawn-out contract
battles in which players withhold services and teams
withhold a paycheck." Heika notes the "absence" of Stars
holdout Richard Matvichuk and adds, "Plenty of other teams
appear ready to start the NHL year without players of even
greater significance" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 9/29)....In DC,
Michael Wilbon, after the incident between the Capitals and
Blackhawks: "I'm not as interested in what the league will
do to [Caps GM George] McPhee as I am in what it will do to
the Blackhawks. ... The progressives know the league can't
grow by selling fighting. ... The commissioner's office, by
remaining silent, seems spineless on this issue. Either
that, or the league wants to continue operating in this
Neanderthal way, selling violence" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/29).
NOTES: In Calgary, Eric Francis reports that CFL
President Jeff Giles is "suggesting" that the league "should
consider using four downs" instead of three, "in an effort
to stimulate conversation and interest in cities where
three-down football ranks somewhere behind lacrosse in
popularity." Giles is also hinting it might be time to
"eliminate the Canadian player quota." Giles: "I know it's
difficult for people in Calgary to understand, but there are
a lot of places in Canada the CFL is really not that
important" (CALGARY SUN, 9/29)....In DC, Steven Goff
reported that CONCACAF Champions Cup execs were only
expecting "a few thousand" fans for the opening matches of
its tournament this week at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.
CONCACAF General Secretary Chuck Blazer, on slow ticket
sales: "This market needs to be nurtured along and it's
going to take time to do it" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/28).
