CHINA DAILY's Murray Greig noted NBA Commissioner Adam Silver got "rock star treatment from fans and media" last week during a "whirlwind 48-hour visit to Beijing," his first since becoming taking over the top spot in February. Silver, who met with China Vice Premier Liu Yandong during the trip, said, "I want to be very clear about the fact that I personally, and we as a league, consider China our single most important market outside the United States." Silver also had "high praise" for the NBA's long-term deal with CCTV, which started in '87 (CHINA DAILY, 8/5).
A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS: In N.Y., Juliet Macur writes former NASCAR driver Geoff Bodine has a goal to "create a pension or medical fund for retired drivers, who, without a union, do not have such a fund to draw on." Bodine said that he had asked for NASCAR's help, but that officials "refused to discuss it." If history is a guide, it "will not get far unless NASCAR drivers and owners unite to get it done." But there has "not been much success with that" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/5).
NEGOTIATING TACTICS: ESPN.com's Kamakshi Tandon reported the ATP Player Council is "pushing for significant increases in prize money from the Masters 1000s, whose agreements are up for renewal this year." The players three years ago "agreed to an increase of 9% annually," but now are "seeking bigger payouts." Player Council VP Eric Butorac said, "We are looking for more, yes." Butorac, who is ranked No. 27 in doubles, said that players now want more because the tournaments "grew at more than twice the rate they were expected to" (ESPN.com, 8/4).
