WHAT'S THE WIRTZ THAT COULD HAPPEN? In Chicago, K.C.
Johnson reports that Blackhawks VP Peter Wirtz was a "late"
addition to last night's town hall meeting for the team's
fans. Wirtz joined Manager of Hockey Operations Mike Smith
and coach Alpo Suhonen in speaking to 547 attendees. When
pressed about the team's offseason moves, Smith said, "We're
supposed to stand up here and dance and tell you we're going
to win the Stanley Cup in 2004? I'm not going to do that
because that's nothing but bull. We're building an
organization here." Johnson: "That outburst aside, the
night was dominated by respect" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/27).
Wirtz "defended his family's policy of not televising home
games, leaving open the possibility that the blackouts may
be lifted." Televising "home games that are sold out in
advance is being mulled" (DAILY SOUTHTOWN, 7/27).
T'WOLVES CUT DUCATS: The T'Wolves announced that $20
tickets behind the baskets "will be discounted" to $9 for
about 4,800 seats if purchased as season tickets. Consumers
who "already have purchased" season tickets in the
discounted sections will receive refunds. In Minneapolis,
Tom Jones reports the savings is more than 55%, and it
"might turn out to be the lowest-priced" season ticket in
the NBA (STAR TRIBUNE, 7/27). T'Wolves VP/Basketball
Operations Kevin McHale, on the discounted tickets: "If you
can't see what's going on in the landscape of professional
sports, then you're blind. [Fans] get frustrated and I
don't blame them" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/27).
THE MIGHTY QUINN: Maple Leafs coach & GM Pat Quinn said
that he is "tired of the NHL copying the NBA in virtually
everything it does -- from regular-season schedules to
manipulating the flow of the game." Quinn: "We have an
awful schedule again ... too many back-to-back games --
which I guess is the way they like it in the NBA, but hockey
is a different game. The thing is, the same company that
does the NBA's schedule does ours, too" (TORONTO SUN, 7/27).
A TOAST WITH LABATTS? In Toronto, William Houston cites
sources as saying that the "only unresolved issue involving"
Rogers Communications' possible purchase of the Jays from
Interbrew is "an evaluation of broadcasting regulations" and
MLB policy regarding TV rights and blackouts." Sources add
that Rogers is "about to begin negotiations" to buy the
SkyDome from SportsCo (GLOBE & MAIL, 7/27).
METROSTARS NOT DRAWING: In Newark, Frank Giase reports
that despite having an MLS-best 13-7-2 record, the
MetroStars are averaging 12,848 fans per game, 2,330 "fewer
fans per home game than they were at this point a year ago."
Team GM Nick Sakiewicz: "The total attendance is what I look
at. If the fans weren't coming to the international games,
then I'd be worried" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 7/27).
