In Jacksonville, Ryan O'Halloran noted the Jaguars have "introduced variable ticket pricing for two games on this year’s home schedule." Single-game tickets for the team's Oct. 5 game against the Steelers and Nov. 30 game against the Giants will be 40% and 20% higher, respectively, "than prices for the other seven games at EverBank Field." The new pricing program, which includes preseason games, "does not impact season-ticket plans" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/23).
LET'S SEE ACTION: In Phoenix, Nick Piecoro writes D-Backs Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa "has made no major changes" since being hired in May. When given opportunities to "speak to the futures" of GM Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson, La Russa "chose not to." But the club's "first big transactions of the La Russa era might not be far off" with the non-waiver trade deadline about five weeks away. With a "franchise-record payroll" of close to $112M, the D-Backs are "expected to try to unload salary while keeping an eye on the future." La Russa "sees it as a chance to be both a buyer and a seller." La Russa: "You may make a deal to help somebody have a better chance this year, but you're going to buy a better chance in the near future" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/24).
ALL THE RIGHT MOVES? MLB Network's Jon Heyman discussed Josh Byrnes being let go as GM by the Padres and noted there is a "new regime" with the club and Byrnes "wasn't their guy." Combined with the fact the Padres are not "having a good season," it "adds up to" the change being made. However, when adding up "all of his good moves and bad moves, I think there are more good moves than bad moves" ("MLB Now," MLB Network, 6/23).
IT WAS ALL A DREAM: WNBA Dream President Angela Taylor said of rookie G Shoni Schimmel, who is Native American, "We’ve taken a proactive approach in making sure we’re aware of the support that Shoni has internationally. It’s been interesting to see. We’ve partnered with Native American organizations and taken their advice to heart in using this platform that Shoni has provided to the Dream and the league. Every road trip, there are at least 30 to 50 people by the bus waiting to take pictures with Shoni, and she’s driving ticket sales everywhere we go" (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/24).
