League Notes

In DC, Tom Boswell writes MLB's addition of the Wild Card has "filled the postseason with problems that may never be tractable." The addition of more playoff teams has "invigorated the regular season, even saved the last month of several years from boredom while creating added interest in half a dozen towns every year." MLB has "tried to balance fairness ... with cheap thrills, higher TV ratings and fun." But every year there are "far too many afternoons" when the "shadows creep across the infield" during an afternoon playoff game. Boswell: "How can any sport play its most important games of the season in degraded conditions?" (WASHINGTON POST, 10/9). 

WNBA Finals Have Come Down To Game Five Friday

FIVE ALIVE: ESPN.com's Mechelle Voepel noted Friday night's Fever-Mercury Game Five marks the third time in the past five years the WNBA Finals have come down to a single game, but this year's championship series seems to have "brought the WNBA closer to the tipping point of being more a part of the fall sports fabric." The series got off to a "blazing start" with the Mercury's 120-116 Game One victory, while Games 3 and 4 at Conseco Fieldhouse both drew more than 18,000 fans (ESPN.com, 10/8).

STAR WATCH: In N.Y., Red & O'Keefe report U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) has called a hearing for the House Energy & Commerce Committee to "review the case" of Vikings DTs Kevin and Pat Williams, who tested positive for a banned substance but "avoided NFL suspensions by taking their case to Minnesota state court." The NFL in a statement said, "Like all sports organizations, we believe that rules on performance-enhancing drugs should apply equally to all players on all teams. ... We look forward to the opportunity to discuss it further with the committee" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/9). 

RETURN TO SENDER? KHL President Alexander Medvedev said that he sent NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman two letters "about the possibility of Russian investors acquiring an NHL franchise," but has "received no reply." Medvedev called the lack of response "very disappointing" (THE HOCKEY NEWS, 10/12 issue).