Lightning President Ron Campbell said yesterday that
the team has applied to the NHL for a permanent home date on
New Year's Eve. Campbell: "Our goal is to identify some
traditional dates that people can say, 'You know what? I
know they're going to play, and it's going to be a great
night out, and it's a lot of fun" (ST. PETE TIMES, 6/29).
NOTES: In Las Vegas, Dean Juipe wrote that an XFL
franchise in Las Vegas is "going to be a very tough sell"
and will be "a long shot to succeed" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 6/28).
...Bengals President Mike Brown, on the "loyalty clause"
inserted in the team's new player contracts: "It isn't a
device to restrict normal discourse between players and the
media. ... It's aimed at a player who is trying to force the
club's hand with outrageous comments." Brown said the
clause mirrors the CBA's wording, which looks to curtail
criticism of "any club, its coaches or operation and policy"
(CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/29)....In Worcester, Rich Garven
reported that College of the Holy Cross is "on a short list
of sites" for the WUSA's Boston franchise. BU, Brandeis,
Harvard, Tufts and Bowditch Field in Framingham are also
being considered (Worcester TELEGRAM & GAZETTE, 6/28).
