Franchise Notes

The Raiders hired NFL Senior VP/Football Operations & Development Art Shell as the team’s new coach. Shell previously coached the Raiders from ’89-94 and was the first black head coach in the NFL. In S.F., Ira Miller reported Shell was the tenth candidate the Raiders interviewed or tried to interview since firing Norv Turner on January 3. The hiring “represents an unusual admission from [Raiders Owner Al] Davis -– that it was a mistake to fire Shell in the first place” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/11).

ISLANDERS: In N.Y., Larry Brooks reported Hockey HOFers Mike Bossy and Brian Trottier “are requesting compensation” to attend a March 4 celebration of the ’80 Islanders Stanley Cup-winning team. The Islanders “remain hopeful they’ll be able to convince Bossy to drop his demand, but are resigned to the fact that Trottier ... will be absent.” The retirement of Trottier’s jersey “was delayed for years as he demanded payment for the honor” (N.Y. POST, 2/12).

METS: The Mets have sold 1.25 million tickets as part of season-ticket packages, 25% ahead of last year’s pace (N.Y. POST, 2/11).