Franchise Notes

In Toronto, Robert Cribb reports a wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed by former Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) VP/Operations Diego Roccasalva, who was fired in May, "offers a rare glimpse inside the secretive world" of MLSE. Roccasalva is claiming damages of $2.2M (all figures Canadian), including a "lost salary of $138,000 a year, an annual performance bonus of about $50,000, a playoff bonus of about $25,000, an $11,700 annual car allowance, $5,000 in Maple Leaf tickets and Raptors season tickets valued at about $20,000." Roccasalva's suit "alleges his performance reviews 'consistently ... exceeded expectations." But Roccasalva days before his dismissal "received a 'needs improvement' rating for the 'leadership' category of his review" (TORONTO STAR, 9/4).

New NFL Panthers President Morrison Attended Thursday's Preseason Game

HELLO, MY NAMES IS ... In Charlotte, Charles Chandler reports new NFL Panthers President Danny Morrison "flew in from Texas for Thursday's exhibition against" the Steelers at Bank of America Stadium. Morrison "did pre-game television interviews and toured the stadium, doing lots of meeting and greeting." Morrison is "known as a people person who comes across as genuine and unpretentious" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/4).

TACKLED FOR A LOSS: The Jaguars distributed just 39,942 tickets to Thursday night's preseason game against the Redskins, marking a "record low attendance" at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 9/4). Jacksonville's WOKV-AM Sports Dir Cole Pepper said the Jaguars "lost 17,000 season ticket holders from last year to this year," and of those, "12,000 said that it was because of the economy." Pepper: "Those are season ticket holders you're just not going to get back this year. You have to wait until the economy turns around." Pepper said the team's "decision makers ... are saying, 'We're going to get by with what we can this year, but let's really focus on what to do when the economy turns around'" ("Outside The Lines," ESPN, 9/3).

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW? In Manchester, Louise Taylor wrote any takeover of English soccer club Newcastle United "could still be months from completion." Although U.K. businessman Barry Moat "continues to engage in what are described as 'constructive negotiations'" with club Owner Mike Ashley, it is "touch and go as to whether a deal can be concluded before Christmas." Taylor noted "much still hinges on an amalgam of Ashley's continued refusal to reduce" his $163M asking price, "talks with Barclays Bank over the size of Newcastle's overdraft and, above all, the willingness of Moat's undisclosed backers to partially underwrite his bid" (GUARDIAN.co.uk, 9/2).

TURNING BACK THE CLOCK: An MLB Rangers source Thursday said that while Rangers Owner Tom Hicks "originally thought a new owner could be in place by spring training in February, he now figured the timetable had been pushed back to 'well into next season'" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 9/4).