In Houston, John McClain reported the Saints on Thursday "cancelled joint practices" with the Texans before their nationally televised preseason game on Aug. 30 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Saints coach Sean Payton "didn’t say 'Hard Knocks,' the HBO series that will feature the Texans in August, was the reason he ditched the Texans" for the Patriots but "admitted it figured into the decision." The Saints, who have training camp at The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, will "have joint practices against the Patriots before their second preseason game" (CHRON.com, 5/28).
IN THE HEART OF TEXAS: In Ft. Worth, Travis Brown reported after two years of holding training camp in the Ft. Worth Convention Center Arena, the Stars are "moving to Cedar Park," the home of their AHL affiliate, the Texas Stars. The change of scenery "seemed natural" after Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi purchased the AHL team last fall and "set up an operational agreement with the city-owned arena" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/27).
FEELING PHANATIC: In Philadelphia, Nick Kayal wrote Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has "committed the ultimate sin that a professional sports figure can commit: taking a shot at the fan base," and it is a battle he "will never win." Kayal: "How does a guy who destroyed a team get the opportunity to salvage the organization and rebuild it? ... I’m not buying his alleged remorse." Amaro "knows he is public enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia," and he is "smug and arrogant." With "hindsight being 20/20," the decision to name Amaro GM "was a tactical error" (PHILLY.com, 5/28).
THEY LIKE IKE? WNBA Liberty F Swin Cash said of the hiring of Isiah Thomas as team President, "We’ve addressed the issue. We’re moving forward. ... But if you're going to be doing petitions, if you’re going to be calling out players, and my name in particular, please have enough courtesy to pick up the phone and talk to me and see how I'm feeling, see how I’m doing for the day. This isn’t a situation any of us asked to be in, but I feel like all 12 of our players are dealing with it very maturely" (“We Need to Talk,” CBS Sports Network, 5/26).
