Pirates Owner Kevin McClatchy, a member of MLB's
Economic Task Force, said that a "revenue-sharing plan to
help small-market" franchises "could be ready" by spring
(USA TODAY, 11/30)....MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on the
league's "relationship" with the U.S. media: "[We have] had
a somewhat strained relation with media. ... Previously, the
commissioner [Doug Logan] was frustrated with a lack of
acceptance of the league. ... I've spent much of the last
two months meeting with the media and talking about how we
can serve them better. That's a real priority." Garber, on
why the WNBA is "often portrayed as being successful as
opposed" to MLS: "They started with modest goals, exceeded
those, and as a result they are over-delivering, as opposed
to under-delivering" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/27).
THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS: ESPN.com's Ray Ratto, on
the rising cost of tickets to NHL and NBA games impacting
attendance: "It's getting harder at these prices for the two
winter leagues to make their nightly number, and the only
two explanations are grim news indeed: One, the games are
losing their lure for all but the very richest folks. Two,
the pool of richest folks willing to kick in every year is
beginning to dwindle" (ESPN.com, 11/29)....Jay Leno, on the
NFL banning the throat-slashing gesture: "The Cincinnati
Bengals are really upset. They said, 'That's not fair. We
haven't even had the chance to do one yet'" ("Tonight Show,"
11/29)....ESPN's David Aldridge reported that "in the wake
of the Leon Smith episode in Dallas," the NBPA is "looking
to officially establish a mentoring program for high school
players who come into the league. The model for the program
could be the relationship between [Pacers F] Al Harrington
and [former F] Antonio Davis last season. Harrington lived
with Davis and his family during the lockout and now says he
wants to be a similar type of mentor to newcomer and high
schooler [F] Jonathan Bender" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 11/29).
