The Sparks announced on Friday that former C Lisa Leslie has joined the WNBA team's ownership group, which already includes Paula Madison, Kathy Goodman and Carla Christofferson. Leslie becomes the first former WNBA player to invest in a team (WNBA). Leslie said, "I look forward to being an asset to the Sparks in the areas of marketing and community outreach." In Seattle, Jayda Evans wrote, "Don't expect many players to follow her lead. ... Players today, even with the pay overseas, don't have as much money to invest as Leslie" (SEATTLETIMES.com, 8/27).
HALFTIME FOR THE VIKINGS: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio reported the Vikings have posted on their website a "Special Offer" for two home games this season: Sept. 18 against the Lions and Sept. 25 against the Buccaneers. The offer "consists of a 50-percent reduction in ticket prices for upper level seats" at the Metrodome for both games. It is "unknown how many seats remain to be sold," and Florio wrote, "The fact that the team has felt compelled to slash the prices so steeply suggests that the number is far closer to plenty than none" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/28).
HOME & GARDEN: The Madison Square Garden Co. "reported a lower second-quarter profit on Friday as slightly higher revenue was offset by higher expenses in some areas, such as for team personnel transactions and for depreciation due to a renovation of the MSG arena." The MSG Sports unit, which includes the Knicks, NHL Rangers and WNBA Liberty, "saw revenue rise 18 percent in the latest quarter due to higher playoffs revenue, but the unit swung to an operating loss." MSG management noted that "more than 90 percent of Knicks season tickets have been renewed for the 2011-2012 season, and more than 85 percent of Rangers season tickets" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/26).
SAN FRANCISCO RETREAT? In S.F., Bruce Jenkins wrote as "rumors swirl" around A's GM Billy Beane's future, the "question is whether Beane is willing to waste too many years of his professional life by sticking around, lamenting those crowds of 7,688 and waiting for a stadium that will never come." Jenkins: "Beane's conscience should be 100 percent clear. It's the best possible transition time for his family and he's given the A's 21 years of distinguished service" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/27).
