Franchise Notes

In K.C., Tod Palmer noted MLS Sporting KC's new jersey features the Sporting Club crest "on the left breast with a double line separating a wider Sporting blue field from an indigo field." The line "runs straight down from the crest, but juts 45 degrees from the top of the crest to mimic the Kansas/Missouri state divide." Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes said, "There's a lot of thought behind it and that's something I think is really cool about the organization now" (K.C. STAR, 2/28).

BANG GREEN: In N.Y., Mike Lupica writes, "All this time after Woody Johnson bought the Jets, what do Jets fans really know about their owner?" Lupica: "You look at the Jets as presently constructed -- or reconstructed -- and wonder what kind of actual leadership comes from the top of the organization. If any." Johnson has "been at this long enough that he should have known exactly who, and what, he wanted" when replacing former GM Mike Tannenbaum (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/28).

TRIMMING THE IVY: In Chicago, Gordon Wittenmyer reported the Cubs are "ending one of their most popular traditions" by eliminating the annual two-hour preseason window to buy single-game tickets. The team on Tuesday announced that this year’s event, scheduled for March 8, "will be its last, claiming issues involved with the planned Wrigley renovation project as well as increased use by fans of online purchasing led to the decision" (SUNTIMES.com, 2/27).