MLB: In N.Y., Bill Madden wrote that at the MLB owners
meetings, which begin today in Houston, there will be
"renewed talk" of franchise "retraction." One "high level"
MLB official: "It's beginning to look as if we really
misjudged the Florida market. Both of those teams [Marlins
and D'Rays] are in real trouble" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/16).
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig: "The problem [of financial
disparity between the teams] needs to be solved once and for
all. ... I do have the authority to fix it and so the
responsibility is solely mine" ("Last Word," 4/14). In
Denver, Mike Klis wrote that while fans care little about
possible realignment, he stated that MLB "is having trouble
getting peopled excited" because "everyone knows that only
the Yankees, and maybe a rotating handful of others, have a
chance at the championship" (DENVER POST, 4/16).
NOTES: MLS' average attendance is 14,016 after 28
games, and the league "hopes to average" 15,000 over its
164-game schedule (Peter Brewington, USA TODAY, 4/17)....In
N.Y., Richard Sandomir took a satirical look at the XFL,
including some possible team names that will "invoke terror,
immorality and enormous royalties: the Miami Vile, Los
Angeles Pestilence, San Francisco Sin, Philadelphia
Turpitude and Chicago Carnage" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/16).