In Toronto, Ryan Wolstat wrote the NBA’s trade deadline arrives tomorrow and if you "read the tea leaves, it could be shaping up to be a bit of a dud." It has become "increasingly difficult for teams to make deals." The new CBA "brought in shorter contracts and more punitive cap penalties, which combined to put the clamps on two of the key pieces in historic deals -- expiring contracts and first-round picks." Suddenly, there "weren’t as many toxic contracts on the market because they weren’t allowed to be as long as before." Some will still do it, but the "frenzy days are over" (TORONTO SUN, 2/17).
ODDS IN THEIR FAVOR? In Las Vegas, John Katsilometes wrote NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s recent visit to the city "was as remarkable for what it didn’t represent as what it did." Bettman observed firsthand that resort execs, tourism reps and elected officials are "excited about bringing an NHL team to Las Vegas." Katsilometes: "When Bettman stands and cheers, so can we. Otherwise, it’s all a rehearsal" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 2/15). Also in Las Vegas, Ed Graney wrote of the city getting an NHL expansion team, "This is happening. The train is already moving too fast to believe otherwise." A franchise in Las Vegas, where money from ownership "isn’t an issue and a state-of-the-art rink is on its way, is far more inevitable than Bettman is letting on" (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 2/13).
HOOKED ON A FEELING: In Tampa, Tom Jones wrote of NASCAR drivers' complaints of the new qualifying format, "Shut up and drive. Yeah, you, Clint Bowyer. You, too, Tony Stewart." Jones added, "There's every reason in the world to be, as Bowyer said, 'putting a show on.'' Isn't that the point of all of this? To put on a show?" NASCAR "can't be all about the drivers." At some point, fan interest "has to be a major consideration, perhaps the most important consideration." The "last thing the sport needs is to have high-profile drivers such as Bowyer and Stewart complaining about NASCAR's attempt to keep the sport and, in turn, the drivers relevant" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 2/17).
