THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week's newsmakers:
WIN: ARTE MORENO -- JEFF LORIA and DAVID SAMSON deserve a nod for making the largest free-agent splash in Marlins history, but Moreno is successful in landing ALBERT PUJOLS, the biggest catch of them all, as well as C.J. WILSON. Moreno sends a statement that he will devote the needed resources to win his first World Series title. It also is a clear attempt by the team to convert some disgruntled Dodgers fans and make a run at being the top dog in the nation's second-largest market.
LOSE: KURT BUSCH -- Two weeks after a tantrum at the Sprint Cup finale, Busch finds himself unemployed for the second time in his NASCAR career after being dropped by Penske Racing. While Busch can spout all day long that he feels “lighter” following the separation, it is clear everyone in the business is tired of the antics. Penske insists team sponsor Shell did not force the firing, but common sense seems to suggest otherwise. Teams and sponsors know the driver has a temper to match his foul mouth, so we will be interested to see where he ends up next year.
DRAW: NBA SCHEDULE -- It was inevitable that some critics would gripe about the league's shortened regular-season schedule. Complaints range from teams playing three nights in a row to certain markets missing out on marquee player/team visits, including CARMELO ANTHONY's return to Denver, KEVIN DURANT at MSG and KOBE BRYANT in the Windy City. But with an eye on TV ratings, the league ensures plenty of other key matchups. The Lakers get their usual two-game series with the Heat, Celtics and Knicks, while the Heat get maximum national exposure with six games on ABC, 10 on ESPN and nine on TNT.
