NBA: In L.A., T.J. Simers writes that the Clippers' ad
campaign around the city has "been brilliant." Simers: "The
newspaper ads have introduced the Clippers' young talent one
by one, and it has been effective, and they all sound so
excited about being sentenced to the NBA's version of
Devil's Island." One ad introduces F Brian Skinner saying,
"This will be my third season with the Clippers and I'm
pumped up." Simers: "So am I, because I didn't know he had
been with the Clippers the last two seasons" (L.A. TIMES,
10/27)....Pacers F Lari Ketner, drafted by the Bulls in '99,
said that Bulls Senior VP Jerry Krause and coach Tim Floyd
told him that his cornrow hairstyle was not allowed.
Ketner: "[Krause] told me himself in a meeting with him and
coach Floyd. ... It wasn't like a flat-out, 'Cut your hair.'
It was like, 'We have an appearance here we want to avoid.'
I was like, 'All right, cut my braids'" (SUN-TIMES, 10/27).
NOTES: The Penguins will debut their new alternate
sweater tomorrow night, which will feature the return of the
"skating penguin logo" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 10/26)....
Chicago's new AFL team will be called Rush, chosen from a
list of 667 suggestions (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/27).