DONE DEAL? ESPN.com reports today that Michael Jordan
"has become" Dir of Basketball Operations for the Wizards.
The team has scheduled a news conference for 4:00pm ET
(ESPN.com, 1/19). ESPN's David Aldridge, on Jordan: "I
caution everybody that these negotiations are about money.
This is a business deal, not a basketball deal at this
point." NBA analyst Ric Bucher said "the numbers have to be
sweet" in a deal involving Jordan. Analyst Jack Ramsay said
he "can't envision Michael Jordan taking a position with a
team where he doesn't have hands-on authority similar to
what Pat Riley has at Miami. ... The team needs a lot of
work" ("NBA Today," ESPN, 1/18).
ROCKER UPDATE: In Atlanta yesterday, "about 100 people"
marched in front of CNN headquarters to "protest a lack of
action" against Braves P John Rocker. GA Association of
Black Elected Officials head and GA Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D)
said that he "expects the Braves to fine and suspend Rocker,
send him to the minors and get him sensitivity training"
(USA TODAY, 1/19). On FSN's "Primetime," Keith Olbermann,
on the protest: "Like you're going to get social action from
a company that owns WCW Wrestling and a baseball team that's
been insulting Native Americans since 1912. Why don't we in
the sports media take some action here and refuse to use
either the Atlanta nickname or the Cleveland one till they
change them. I'm in" ("Primetime," FSN, 1/18).
NEW LOOK: In Denver, Tracy Ringolsby reports that the
Rockies today "will debut" new uniforms that include only
"subtle changes" to their current uniforms, the "most
significant" of which will be the addition of pinstripes on
the road uniforms. The team will also have an alternate
purple uniform top for either home or road games and an
additional alternate top for home games (RMN, 1/19).
NOTES: In DC, Leonard Shapiro cites "league sources" as
saying that the Houston NFL expansion franchise today "will
name" former Redskins GM Charley Casserly as its VP/Football
Operations. Casserly "also had interest from" the Saints,
Jets and Steelers (WASHINGTON POST, 1/19)....In Buffalo,
Allen Wilson wrote that the Bills' "success at the gate" in
'99 was due to "the club's aggressive approach to selling
tickets." Bills Dir of Ticket Sales Jerry Foran: "We pro-
actively went after them instead of waiting for them to come
to us." Wilson adds that "the strategy has already worked,"
since the Bills reported a 20% increase in season ticket
sales this season -- from 31,141 "to about" 37,500 (BUFFALO
NEWS, 1/18)....In Las Vegas, Ron Kantowski wrote that the
MGM Grand in Las Vegas "is no longer interested in hosting"
an IHL franchise for the 2000-01 season. MGM cited a
"tremendous sports, entertainment and convention schedule"
lined up for 2000 and beyond (LAS VEGAS SUN, 1/18)....Sonics
Chair Barry Ackerley and the Ackerley Group yesterday "lost
a U.S. Supreme Court bid to overturn a $7.4 million damage
award ... in an overtime dispute with former employees."
The suit was brought by former Sonics employees, and
Ackerley and his son William were "ordered" to pay $1.4M
apiece in punitive damages (SEATTLE P-I, 1/19).
