Venues Seeing Empty Seats Despite Sellouts

While most agree the Beijing Games are off to a very successful start, some fissures are slowly appearing. Sponsors are growing frustrated by the lack of traffic in the Olympic Green, where they have set up multimillion-dollar activation exhibits. BOCOG acknowledges that “not too many people” have been visiting. IOC Marketing Commission Chair Gerhard Heiberg tells THE DAILY: "This is unacceptable to us and to the sponsors." Meanwhile, Heiberg also takes aim at Beijing's police force, saying he wants them to smile more. All this comes as BOCOG admits to using volunteers to fill empty seats at competition venues. Finally, news comes out the song at the start of the Opening Ceremony was lip-synched because seven-year-old Yang Peiyi, who recorded the song, "was not good-looking enough.”

Calling An Audible 
NFL asking Congress for exemption from new IRS rule that mandates disclosure of names, salaries for employees earning $150,000-plus.

Kicked To The Curb   
Alexi Lalas out as AEG starts massive overhaul of Galaxy, which one writer dubs a “club in crisis.”

Stars In Citi Lights
If upstart UFL kicks off in '09, Wilpons could bring team to new Mets ballpark.

Interleague Play
SI.com’s Heyman reports Lucchino’s tenure in Boston could be near an end; is L.A. next?

The Colt, Hard Truth
Lucas Oil Stadium deemed "better" than RCA Dome.

Peacock Strut 
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What's Your Number? 
All things going NBC’s way, as primetime ratings tell a powerful story over first few nights; some question the figures the net is spinning.

Bringing Good Things To Life 
GE set to pull in at least $1.7B from Games, as NBC helps expand company's China presence.