CUBAN NEVER RESTS: In Dallas, Jodie Valade writes that
Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban "has a response to the Mavericks'
slow start in All-Star voting: more advertising to publicize
his players." Cuban has taken out a full-page ad in the
next issue of Slam Magazine, featuring an All-Star ballot
that has the five Mavericks listed -- Gs Howard Eisley and
Michael Finley, Fs Dirk Nowitzki and Christian Laettner and
C Shawn Bradley. Cuban also added G Steve Nash to the
ballot (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/21). Meanwhile, Cuban
discussed the team's plan to absorb all extra costs for $8,
$15 and $21 tickets purchased through Ticketmaster. Cuban:
"I want $8 tickets to be $8 tickets, and I want $15 tickets
to be $15. ... I just didn't think that was right. Had I
known about it sooner, I would have done something about it
sooner" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/21).
NO LOVE: In Chicago, Jennifer Jones writes that Mark
Weinberg, who wrote a book on Blackhawks Owner Bill Wirtz
titled, "Career Misconduct -- The Story Of Bill Wirtz's
Greed, Corruption And The Betrayal Of Blackhawks Fans," will
promote the book before tonight's game against the Canucks.
Weinberg "plans to sell it on the public walkways
surrounding" the United Center for $13 per copy, "hoping to
target disgruntled Hawks fans (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/21).
NO ONE TAKING A CHANCE ON LINDROS: BLOOMBERG NEWS'
Barry Bloom cites NHL and insurance execs as saying that the
Flyers have not "gotten any offers" for C Eric Lindros
"since he was cleared to play" from his latest concussion,
"mostly because no NHL team will be able to insure his
contract against another head injury." Carol Huntley, a
sports insurance underwriter for Toronto-based William J.
Sutton Co., said that her company "wouldn't cover Lindros
because of his multiple concussions in one season."
Huntley: "Not anyone with four. His policy would
automatically be issued with a concussion exclusion, and it
would never be removed" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/20).
