In San Diego, Chris Jenkins noted an expanded format for instant replay that is being considered for MLB next season "will be utilized in five Arizona Fall League games" this week. Braves President John Schuerholz, who serves on a committee studying the use of replay, suggested that the new process "will take less time than umpire huddles," and insisted that the new system "will speed up the game." Jenkins wrote the manager challenges "sound like a possible six more opportunities for commercial breaks, not to mention another reason why young people are being distanced from baseball by the pace of games" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/2).
WILL IT GO ROUND IN CIRCLES: In Charlotte, Jim Utter wrote of the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, "How many times have we heard from drivers, media and even fans that some of the best racing they see on any particular race weekend comes in the Truck series?" Utter: "Why doesn't NASCAR take what it learns from Truck and apply it to the Cup side? Is it because the two are not compatible or is it because Trucks run considerably slower than Cup cars and NASCAR is unwilling to go down the slower-could-be-better-racing road?" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/3).
'CAUSE I'M THE TAXMAN: TSN's Aaron Ward reported the NHLPA is "seeking permission to sue the state of Tennessee on behalf of its membership and get reimbursed for a special tax that players must pay each time they play a game in Nashville." The state since the '09-10 season "has taxed NHL players $2,500 -- with an annual cap of $7,500 -- under a 'Professional Privilege Tax' each time they were on their club's playing roster for a game in Nashville." The reimbursement "would only apply to those who paid the tax prior" to the NHL's new CBA (TSN.ca, 11/1).
