League Notes

The AP's Doug Ferguson reported the PGA Tour is "considering a change to the end of its season in which players" who do not qualify for the FedExCup playoffs "would compete for their cards in a series of tournaments against top Nationwide Tour players." PGA Tour Exec VP/Communications & Int'l Affairs Ty Votaw "confirmed the policy board has given preliminary approval to the concept, although it is in the early stages of discussion." The Tour "began informing players by memo late Monday afternoon." It remains to be seen how the Fall Series would be affected. Ferguson noted the Tour "has been looking at ways to strengthen the Nationwide Tour," and another change "being contemplated is Q-school at the end of the year providing access only to the Nationwide Tour" (AP, 3/21).

WATCHING THE NFL: MLBPA Exec Dir Michael Weiner "admitted the union is mindful of the negative public opinion about both the NFL’s ongoing mess and the looming labor issues for the NBA," but he "hopes the union and the owners will be influenced only by the issues that directly affect baseball." Weiner: "Context is important. By that, I mean that while baseball players support football players and basketball players, baseball players understand that each sport and each union has its own history." He added, "From the owners' side, there is some cross-ownership. They may follow it more closely. I would hope that baseball owners approach our bargaining with an understanding of the history of our bargaining agreements" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/20).

IN THE FINAL MINUTES? In N.Y., Joseph D'Hippolito notes as David Beckham enters the final season of his contract with the MLS Galaxy and "continues to pursue his international ambitions, he risks forfeiting support from the Galaxy’s most vocal fans." But for MLS Commissioner Don Garber, "there is a larger universe." Garber said, "I’m looking at a more global perspective: what impact David has had on our awareness and credibility internationally, what he has done for our commercial business, for our television ratings." He added, "The league has far more credibility, far more awareness, far more respect five years after David came in than we did prior. When I travel abroad, people know about Major League Soccer today because David’s playing in our league" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/22).