In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino notes NFL owners “will vote June 21 on a proposal to allow teams to shrink their blackout number by 15 percent." The teams “would have to announce their blackout number in July, but, unlike the Jaguars in past years, they could sell those tickets taken away from the blackout manifest if there were a demand for them.” It is “uncertain how many teams will take advantage of the new policy,” but it “wouldn't affect the teams that traditionally sell out all their games” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 6/3).
ORANGE THE NEW OLD GLORY? In Akron, Marla Ridenour writes while international golfers are “dominating the world rankings and gobbling up the major championships," Rickie Fowler is the "next great American hope.” He is a “breath of color in a too-khaki world,” and “has the game to go with the charisma.” However, Fowler “doesn't see himself as America's standard-bearer.” He said that he “has plenty of company among the young guns.” Ridenour: “But he has the flair to become a sensation when he breaks through” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/3). In Columbus, Bob Hunter writes, “Fowler has charisma. He has movie-star looks. He is determined to be his own man on a PGA Tour of Stepford Pros. He interacts with his fans” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 6/3).
DANICA DOOM? SI’s Lars Anderson writes no one in the Izod IndyCar Series "strongly believes” Danica Patrick will “stay in the open-wheel series in 2012.” It is a “potentially crippling defection for IndyCar, and the Danica Decision is an almost daily topic of conversation among the key players in the series.” IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said, "It would be a serious loss to our sport if she leaves. But she's got to do what's in her best interests." Anderson writes Patrick racing exclusively in NASCAR next season “would raise a troubling question for IndyCar: Will Patrick's millions of fans walk away with her?” (SI, 6/6 issue).
HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL-STAR: Major League Lacrosse launched a promotion that will enable two fans to win a trip to the Sports Authority All-Star Game in Boston on July 9 and serve as captains for the two teams. The “Ultimate MLL Fan Fantasy” kicked off this week on the league’s website, majorleaguelacrosse.com. The field of entrants will be reduced to 20 finalists on June 15 and the finalists will write a short essay on why they should be selected. MLL players will judge the contest and pick the winners, who will draft the teams at a pregame party on July 8. This marks the first time the MLL has used this method of selecting its teams for the All-Star Game (Michael Smith, SportsBusiness Journal).
