In L.A., Jill Painter wrote although PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem recently received “a contract extension good through 2016," he is "not coasting to the finish line” if this is the final four years of Finchem's reign. When asked about the legacy he envisions, Finchem said, "I don't think much about that. When I end my career, I want to be remembered as working hard and working well with other people. I want to make sure we're working closely with players, keeping our eye on the image of the tour and giving back to charity. That's not very complicated, but that's all you can ask for" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/16).
LOWER NUMBERS: The AP's Ronald Blum reported the overall rise of salaries for MLB players "in arbitration slowed to its lowest level since 2007.” A study of agreements showed that the 142 players who filed for arbitration last month “averaged an 89 percent increase.” That “was down from an average jump of 123 percent last year and was the lowest increase since a 73 percent rise in 1996.” Just 11 players “received multiyear contracts, down from 14 last year and the fewest since nine in 2004” (AP, 2/16).
CHALLENGES WELCOME: The European Volleyball Confederation announced Monday that the Hawk-eye ball tracking system “will be in place at the Champions League Final Four in Poland next month … paving the way for its possible introduction at the London Olympics.” The system will “allow team captains the possibility to challenge the decisions of the referees twice per set using ball-tracking TV replays” (REUTERS, 2/13).
