In DC, Mark Maske noted momentum "has yet to pick back up" for the NFL to "expand the annual playoff field from 12 to 14 teams." But that "does not mean that the league and the owners have abandoned" the idea. The proposal "still seems likely to take effect at some point, given its potential as a revenue-generating tool." Maske: "But when will it happen?" A source said, "There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to the CBA, season structure (and) TV." The source "agreed that 'there has been little discussion about expanding the playoffs' lately, adding that it’s unclear 'what that means for next year and beyond'" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 10/5).
SOUTH OF THE BORDER: In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is "looking abroad to find baseball’s next great growth markets." MLB next year "will open an office in Mexico City and play World Baseball Classic games in Mexicali, with exhibition games in Culiacan next year or soon after." If all goes well, MLB "could consider an expansion team for Mexico" (L.A. TIMES, 10/7).
RETURN THE SERVE: ESPN.com's Peter Bodo noted Serena Williams is "going to lose an enormous amount of money" by withdrawing from the rest of the WTA season, including a $125,000 fine for missing the WTA Finals. By skipping the China Open, she "will have failed to meet the required commitment to play in at least four of the five WTA Premier Mandatory events," and therefore "forfeits the $450,000 she would have earned in bonus pool money as the No. 1 player." Also, because Williams "didn't play all nine of the WTA events that would have qualified her for a 'Super Bonus,' she can't claim that $100,000 either." With a $500,000 increase in prize money for the Finals, the "potential undefeated champion's first-prize" check would be $2.36M. Williams would have "had an excellent chance to sweep the field," and had she done that, "the turnaround, including her bonus pool earnings, would have left her with a net gain" of more than $3M (ESPN.com, 10/6).
