NHL: In L.A., Helene Elliott, on the NHL's ten-game
suspension of Devils D Scott Niedermayer for hitting
Panthers LW Peter Worrell over the head with his stick:
"Another day, another suspension. And the NHL players'
names are appearing in police reports as often as game
reports. So it goes in the NHL, the meanest game on ice"
(L.A. TIMES, 3/22). In Ottawa, Gare Joyce writes that
"during the tenure" of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, the
league has "desperately sought exposure on U.S. network
television. It's the old case of 'Be careful what you wish
for.'" Joyce: "These days, horrific hockey video clips,
aren't just making sportscasts, but newscasts, too" (OTTAWA
CITIZEN, 3/22). SI's Michael Farber, on fighting in the
NHL: "In measured doses -- and through the league's efforts
fighting is becoming less frequent -- people like it. ...
The people who like hockey fights are the ones who go to the
games, the ones who pay the freight in a league that still
derives more than 60% of its revenue from the gate." More
Farber: "The league would survive, and maybe thrive, without
fighting. ... But some of the good, irrational fun would
have seeped out of the sport" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 3/27).
COULD RISING GAS PRICES HURT NASCAR? In Atlanta,
Michael Carvell writes that "increasing gas expenses might
affect" NASCAR fans, track promoters and souvenir sales.
Bristol Motor Speedway GM Jeff Byrd: "We haven't seen any
impact yet from rising gas prices, but if it gets much worse
in the summer, then we're going to let fans at our August
night race buy gas at the wholesale price from our drag-
racing pumps on the grounds." NASCAR Winston Cup Series Dir
Gary Nelson is unsure how the higher gas prices will impact
fans: "They may cut back on a luxury item, such as a T-shirt
or something. But I don't think attendance at any of the
races will be affected" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/22).
KILL THE MIC! MSNBC.com's Michael Ventre wrote that the
issue of putting mics on NBA coaches is the "first
indication" that NBA Commissioner David Stern is "losing his
grip [as the] best commissioner in sports." Ventre: "Stern
is a marketing genius, and deserves credit for HELPING to
make the league the global cash cow it is today. But you
still have to have a great product to market." Ventre
added, "The league is slipping now because basketball is a
team sport, yet it is being destroyed by selfishness"
(MSNBC.com, 3/20). ESPN's Jack Ramsay: "Stern was surprised
at the firm stand that the coaches took and also that public
opinion seemed to favor the coaches." But reaching a
compromise on a mics shows "how up-to-date [Stern] is and
how ... he can react to situations that will work out
ultimately to the favor of the league" ("NBA Today," 3/21).
