Franchise Notes

In L.A., Bill Shaikin reports the Angels in a court filing preceding Friday’s injunction hearing over the team’s name change argued that the city of Anaheim “tried — and failed — to rewrite its now-controversial stadium lease agreement” with previous team owner Disney “even after the two sides had agreed on terms.” The team also claimed that it “would lose ‘millions of dollars’ if forced to stop doing business under its new name” and “dismissed as ‘frivolous’ Anaheim’s contention that the team must use the city’s name prominently in its marketing efforts.” Anaheim is scheduled to file a response tomorrow (L.A. TIMES, 1/19).

JORDAN RULES? Wizards Owner Abe Pollin, on whether the team’s success this season is validation for not rehiring Michael Jordan as President of Basketball Operations after the ’02-03 season: “I don’t think it validates any decision at all. I thought then and I think now Michael Jordan was the greatest basketball player ever to live. But I had a feeling I wanted to go in a different direction vis-à-vis management. That’s what I told him” (USA TODAY, 1/19).

KICK BACK: In Indianapolis, Mark Montieth notes the Rockets wore retro uniforms from the ’70-71 season in yesterday’s game against the Pacers, who played in uniforms from ’87-88. Several Rockets and Toyota Center employees “wore Afro wigs and clothes from the early 1970s to continue the theme” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/19).