In Chicago, Schering & Hopkins report Blackhawks Chair Rocky Wirtz "expressed disappointment Sunday over the current police investigation" involving RW Patrick Kane. However, Wirtz said he remained "hopeful" about the situation (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/10). Also in Chicago, David Haugh writes, "In the post-Ray Rice era of professional sports, a first-class franchise such as the Hawks cannot allow a player facing serious allegations to represent it until more clarity about the case exists." Allowing Kane to participate in team functions could "further embarrass one of the classiest organizations in pro sports" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/12).
TO HAB & TO HOLD: Canadiens Owner Geoff Molson said of the team's increase in season-ticket prices for upper-level seats at Bell Centre, "It’s been several years that we have not taken a price increase (in the upper bowl) ... and the market dictated that it was time for us to do that. We’re still pretty proud of the fact that we have thousands of tickets that are under $60 that are offered to our fans. And there aren’t very many ... sold-out arenas in North America that can offer that" (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 8/12).
GO MARCHING IN: Saints Owner Tom Benson said that team execs "are trying to find ways to get more people in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome to watch games." In Baton Rouge, Nick Underhill reports Benson "doesn’t expect to expand the seating capacity by much." But he said that they are "looking to find ways to add some seats and thin out the waiting list for season tickets." Benson: "We don’t want to go to 80,000, but maybe we can get 3,000 more [in] some places" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 8/12).
HEY YAWKEY WAY: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes fans should "pay attention to what the Red Sox do" regarding the vacancy left by outgoing President & CEO Larry Lucchino. Shaughnessy: "If you are a Sox fan, it’s a bad sign if the front office chooses to operate without a baseball guy to fill Lucchino’s shoes." Fans also should "take note" that GM Ben Cherington now mentions "John, Tom, and Mike" -- Owner John Henry, Chair Tom Werner and investor Mike Gordon -- "instead of 'John, Tom, and Larry'" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/12).
