NBCSPORTS.com's Brett Pollakoff reported the NBA sent out a survey to fans "via the NBA Fan Forum program" with a number of questions "regarding the structure and implementation of a midseason tournament." The tourney would "take place in the middle of the season (January/February), it would be single-elimination style, and the final round would likely take place during All-Star weekend." The survey asked which matchups would be of the "most interest, how many teams should be in the tournament, whether or not international teams like Real Madrid or Maccabi Tel Aviv should be invited, and when the first round matchups for the tournament should be determined." The "final question asked was whether or not the tournament should replace the All-Star game entirely" (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/16).
YOUNG GUNS: In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason wrote the LPGA is "desperate for a dominant player who can bridge continents and age gaps, someone who is young and fearless and well-spoken, someone who [can] become a household name and generate interest in fans who don’t necessarily follow golf." Lydia Ko "quite possibly could become the biggest name in women’s golf for the next decade or longer." Golfer Brittany Lincicome said, "We need somebody like that, a Tiger Woods, on our tour. It would be great if it is her because she is so young" (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/17).
MELLOW YELLOW? In Boston, Ben Volin noted in its "never-ending quest for more offense (and fantasy football stats), the NFL told its officials to call defensive penalties more tightly this season." The result, though, was the "travesty of a football game played out" during Eagles-Patriots on Friday. The first two weeks of the preseason "should have NFL fans worried that games this year will be over-officiated." The games "won’t be decided by the better team, but the team that is better at drawing penalties." The NFL has proved it can "make a great sport boring, and turn off casual and diehard fans alike" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/17).
