In L.A., Jim Peltz cites sources as saying that former Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt met yesterday "with the team's employees for the first time since he agreed to sell the club" last week for a record $2.15B. Sources said that McCourt "met with the employees in the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium." McCourt during the 45-minute meeting reportedly said, "I'm going to miss you all." Sources said that he "took a few questions after his remarks and, when his talk ended, he received a standing ovation from the employees" (L.A. TIMES, 4/3).
NEW JERSEY JETS? In New Jersey, John Brennan notes a Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. PublicMind Poll released yesterday indicated that 66% of Jets fans in the state believe the Jets are a "New Jersey team that happens to have a New York name," while only 28% disagree. The poll, conducted last month among 800 randomly selected respondents, also found that 60% of fans believe that the name "should be changed to 'New Jersey Jets.'" Giants fans in the state are "split 48-45 in favor of saying the Giants are 'a New Jersey team that happens to have a New York name.'" Those fans "oppose the idea" of changing the team's name to the "New Jersey Giants" 53-41% (Bergen RECORD, 4/3).
MARKING THE OCCASION: The Steelers will "mark their 80th season in the National Football League by declaring it 'The year of the Fan.'" They announced some of what the team terms a "broad range of events and festivities that will celebrate the legacy of the team, its players and its fans." Among those initiatives are the Steelers Fan Image Season Ticket Design Contest and 80th season merchandise, which will be for sale at the Steelers Fan Blitz (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/3).
ENCOURAGING SIGNS: SI.com's Peter King wrote he was "encouraged to see" Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross "be more public" during last week's owners meetings. Ross has "begun to talk to the media in south Florida more, which he needs to do, and he picked his spots nationally." King wrote Ross is "right" in saying the front office "had to get out of the bunker mentality." Meanwhile, King noted the Bills sold 1,600 new season tickets "in the first two days after Mario Williams signed" a record deal with the team last month (SI.com, 4/2).
