In Philadelphia, John Smallwood writes under the header, "Hinkie's Moves Leave Sixers With Plenty Of Nothing." The team this week bought out recently acquired F Danny Granger after trading F Evan Turner to the Pacers to get him. 76ers President of Basketball Operations & GM Sam Hinkie "is trying to position this franchise to build for the future, and he certainly had a huge mess to clean up when he got here." Smallwood: "But don't tell me that what has happened in the last week played out the way he had designed it." Still, Hinkie is "doing what most Sixers fans think should be done -- tear it down to build the future" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/28).
BLACKBIRD SINGING: In Baltimore, Jeff Zrebiec noted when the Ravens "sent out invoices to season ticket holders several weeks ago, they included no price increases" for the '14 season. Team officials last year announced "an average ticket increase" of 10% per ticket and "vowed to keep those same prices" through the '14 season. The recent invoices "only reaffirmed that plan." The Ravens "have raised ticket prices just once over the past five seasons" (Baltimore SUN, 2/27).
FATHER FIGURES: In San Diego, Jeffrey Sanders notes the Padres on March 15 are "giving fans an opportunity to win two season tickets" for the '14 season if they "can knock one out over the fences at Petco Park." Each fan will "be given a wooden bat and helmet on the day of the event and will get two pitches from a pitching machine, but will only have one swing to knock it out of the park." Those who have played D-I baseball or professionally are "not eligible for the prize." A maximum of 1,000 people "will be allowed to hit" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/28).
