The LPGA Tour's Evian Masters event, scheduled for June
14-17 in Evian-les-Baines, France, will join the Tour's
official schedule and carry a $1.8M purse, the largest in
women's professional golf (LPGA). Evian bottled water is
sponsoring the event (BRANDWEEK, 12/13 issue).
NBA: NBPA Exec Dir Billy Hunter said that there's "no
truth to the rumor that the NBA will start including
psychiatric testing for rookies next season because of what
transpired" with suspended Mavericks F Leon Smith. Hunter:
"The NBA just can't add anything, because it's not within
the four corners of the [CBA]" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,
12/15)....The Schick Rookie Game on February 12 in Oakland
has been expanded to feature the last two classes of rookies
as last year's game was canceled due to the lockout (NBA).
NHL: In Ottawa, Allen Panzeri writes that "only two
things will guarantee" that the Senators, Canucks and Oilers
stay in Canada: GMs and owners "don't offer contracts based
on emotions of the moment"; and a new CBA that "puts a brake
on salaries through either a cap or revenue-sharing plan"
(OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/15)....In DC, Eric Fisher profiles the
fiscal challenges facing Canadian teams. Kanata, Ontario
Mayor Merle Nicholds: "The NHL has got a big problem, and
it's not going to be solved by a few tax dollars. It's a
short-term solution" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 12/15)....Devils
Owner John McMullen said at Montclair Univ. on Monday night:
"Our game is in peril. We're charging too much for tickets"
(Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/15)....Wayne Gretzky sees NHL
expansion in Europe: "I don't know how it's going to work,
but I see down the road teams in Sweden, Finland, Germany
somehow being associated with the NHL. I think it
definitely can happen" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/15).
NOTE: New IRL driver Al Unser Jr., on why he switched
from the CART series: "I see the IRL gaining popularity and
really I see CART as kind of leveling off in America, if not
dropping a little bit." Unser added, "I feel CART has
peaked in its popularity in America" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 12/14).
