The MLS Dynamo on Thursday announced the launch of the NWSL Houston Dash. The team will be owned by Dynamo ownership and operated by the MLS club. Beginning play in April '14 at BBVA Compass Stadium, the Dash will be the NSWL's ninth club and first expansion franchise (Dynamo). In Houston, Josh Mitelman noted the team's logo will feature "light blue, orange and black." The Dynamo said that while BBVA Compass Stadium seats 22,000, it will be "'scaled down' for Dash games, with seating in the lower bowl only, for a total capacity of 7,000" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/12).
NO REST FOR THE WEARY: The AP's John Wawrow noted the Bills' schedule this season "has them facing a league-high six teams coming off either bye weeks or nine-day layoffs," and Bills President & CEO Russ Brandon "has expressed his concerns to the NFL." Brandon in November on Buffalo-based WGR-AM said, "We certainly have talked to the league about this because it's a little disappointing." But NFL VP/Communications Brian McCarthy in an e-mail wrote that it is "difficult to create a schedule that's fair to every team" (AP, 12/12).
SECOND-YEAR STRUGGLES: In Nashville, Jim Wyatt wrote with the Titans struggling for the second year in a row, President & CEO Tommy Smith "finds himself agonizing over a difficult football decision," and coach Mike Munchak's "future with the franchise hinges on his conclusion." Smith said, "You have to win games. Fans are paying hard-earned money on these tickets and they expect to be entertained and they expect to have a winning organization. I understand that very well, and I feel the same way they do." He added, "We just need to finish out the season the best we can, and then we'll evaluate and see where things stand" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/11).
PUBLICITY STUNT? In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes the best "publicity stunt" of MLB's Winter Meetings this week in Orlando was the Rangers drafting Seahawks QB Russell Wilson in the Rule 5 minor league draft. It "only cost the Rangers $12,000 to take Wilson from the Rockies' system," and just having him "play in some spring training games would create a media circus worth every penny." But whether the Seahawks "ever would let Wilson play baseball and risk injury is another story" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 12/13).
