Clear Channel Communications CEO Lowry Mays said that
the NBA is asking his company to "help in developing a minor
league," according to Soshnick & Chipman of BLOOMBERG NEWS.
Mays: "[NBA Commissioner David Stern] and I have talked
about it. It's still preliminary." Clear Channel has a
pending deal to acquire SFX Entertainment, and Soshnick &
Chipman note that SFX has an agreement with Ticketmaster,
which provides ticket services for 27 NBA teams," and a
minor league "would be a natural fit for Clear Channel and
SFX, which operates venues and is the No. 1 producer of live
concerts." NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said of
discussions with SFX: "They're in a lot of the same places
we're thinking about going" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 3/28).
LOSING ISIAH? ESPN.com's Jeffrey Denberg wrote that
"there's no chance" Isiah Thomas "will coach anywhere unless
he sells the CBA. With the NBA pushing for a new
development league independent of the CBA, Thomas' league
doesn't appear to have enhanced value" (ESPN.com, 3/28).
A HIT? Denberg also examined NBA.com TV and wrote, "I
think on one of his flights to sell NBA TV in Paris or
Geneva or maybe Rangoon, David Stern's fantasy and reality
got a little confused in his fifth viewing of 'The Truman
Show.' It's intriguing at 35,000 feet, the movie concept of
the entire world tuned into a guy's life. ... The commish is
drifting, dozing ... and different images begin to sublimate
on the ... screen. Instead of Truman, Stern is seeing Vince
Carter and Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson." Denberg
added, "The commish knows he's got a hit. NBA.com TV? Holy
cow. This could be bigger than Priceline" (ESPN.com, 3/28).
