BRING ON KRAMER! IT'S FESTIVUS! In Baltimore, Jamison
Hensley reports that the Ravens received permission from the
NFL to start selling playoff tickets and mailed out letters
and invoices to PSL holders yesterday. Hensley: "But since
Ravens coach Brian Billick has threatened to fine anyone in
the organization whom he hears using the 'P-word,' the team
has referred to the postseason activities as 'festivus.'"
The term was taken from a made-up holiday in a "Seinfeld"
episode (Baltimore SUN, 11/21).
A MODEL FRANCHISE: The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Liz
Mullen reports that Wilhelmina Artist Management will "work
with" the Nets on plans for some of the agency's clients,
including Hootie and the Blowfish, Destiny's Child and
Brandy, to sing the national anthem, perform halftime
entertainment "or just show up at games" (see THE DAILY,
9/20). Agency President Dieter Esch said that the Nets'
arrangement with Wilhelmina "did not involve a financial
payment," but there "was a financial arrangement in the
event that Wilhelmina brings sponsors" to the Nets or to
Continental Airlines Arena (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/20).
NOTES: In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski notes the Pistons'
signing of F Joe Smith was "about repairing an image, not
repairing a team" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/21). ESPN.com's Peter
May wrote the deal could improve the image of the team, as
"utter apathy has enveloped this one-time vibrant franchise"
(ESPN.com, 11/20)....In Seattle, Angelo Bruscas wrote that
the Mariners' signing of Japanese OF Ichiro Suzuki will
"open new off-field horizons" for the team, especially with
its strong int'l following (SEATTLE P-I, 11/20).
