ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst cited sources as saying that the NBA is “expected to make a major change to its traditional Finals schedule, ending the 2-3-2 format and returning to the 2-2-1-1-1 game rotation used in all other playoff rounds.” The NBA Competition Committee “has voted to recommend the change" to the league BOD. Sources said that the change is "expected to be adopted at the next meeting in October and could be implemented" for the '14 NBA Finals (ESPN.com, 9/29).
FOREIGN RELATIONS: PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem again downplayed reports the Tour could buy the European Tour, saying, "We're not in the business of buying-out anybody and I don’t think the European Tour is in the business of selling." Finchem: "It's not the way we do business in golf. This is not corporate mergers-and-acquisitions." He added, "It's in our interest the various tours around the world are healthy, they're growing and they're doing for golf what they're supposed to do, which is to drive interest" (YOUTUBE.com, 9/29).
LOVE & MARRIAGE: In N.Y., Karen Crouse noted 26-year-old golfer Amanda Blumenherst, who this year married A's 1B Nate Freiman, decided to step away from the LPGA Tour “in the prime of her career.” Blumenherst was “generally regarded as the one with the more promising career,” despite earning about $49,000 this year compared to Freiman's $490,000. She said that she "would not be surprised if other LPGA players reached her age and opted to leave the tour.” Blumenherst: “Girls on the tour are going to keep getting younger. I just don’t think you’re going to have families on tour" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27).
