Franchise Notes

In a Q&A with the WALL STREET JOURNAL's Joe Mantone, Dolphins co-Owner Stephen Ross, when asked if NFL teams were carrying too much debt, said, "I don't think they are. I think you have 32 owners who can afford to pay whatever they need to pay. ... I don't think anyone is really overleveraged." Ross said the Dolphins are "carrying the league's maximum debt" of $150M. Ross added the team also has around $237M of debt in Dolphin Stadium. When asked if he planned to develop the land around the stadium, Ross said, "We're looking at it. We haven't developed any plans at this point yet. ... I didn't buy the team, spend $550[M], for the land. The motivation was the team. But the valuation took into consideration the team, the land and the stadium" (WSJ.com, 4/16).

Search For New Coach For Thrashers One Of Waddell's Priorities In Offseason

BEYOND WINS AND LOSSES: In Atlanta, Mark Bradley reported Thrashers GM & coach Don Waddell will retain his role as GM, but will search for his replacement as coach. Waddell said the team's ownership has been "very supportive." Waddell: "They've evaluated many different aspects. Obviously wins and losses are one, and they're what the public tends to evaluate. But there are other issues." Bradley wrote "what considerations might override wins and losses? Money, for one." The Thrashers this season operated almost $10M under the NHL salary cap. Waddell: "There are financial responsibilities, and I've always been able to meet them" (AJC.com, 4/16).

UNIVERSAL PASTIME: In Boston, Steve Buckley reports the Yankees, in an effort to stop the Red Sox Nation "nonsense once and for all," have created "Yankees Universe." With NASA astronaut and Yankees fan Garrett Reisman last night delivering the first pitch of the Red Sox-Yankees game from space, the Yankees' message is "clear: The Red Sox can have their little nation. We have a universe." Buckley writes the gimmick is "yet more evidence ... that the Yankees really, really are taking this rivalry with the Red Sox a little too seriously." Buckley: "Sorry, I kind of miss the days when these two teams were content just to play baseball" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/17).