In Detroit, Jamie Samuelsen writes of the Lions, "When a team fails this badly, you have to pin most of the blame on the man charged with putting this team together. You have one finger to point? I’d point it squarely at [GM] Martin Mayhew." Fans want to know "why this team hasn’t won in more than a half century." Samuelsen: "Look no further than the front office. From Russ Thomas to Chuck Schmidt to Matt Millen to Mayhew, the Lions have never entrusted their football operations to a proven team builder." They have "never targeted an established GM or an assistant GM from a successful team" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 10/14).
MARTY ON THE FLY: ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun profiled former NHLer and Blues Senior Advisor to the GM Martin Brodeur, who is "beginning his life in hockey management by trying to peek into all the nooks and crannies of the operation." Brodeur: "I'm trying to touch as much as possible, little details about the organization. Like right now, I have to go to Florida and I'm meeting the analytics guy, he's going to walk me through everything." He added of his apprenticeship, "Some scouting, some different things, it's been fun." LeBrun noted the plan for this season is for Brodeur "to get a view of all aspects of the operation, including player development, amateur scouting, the minor league affiliates, pro scouting, and travelling with the guys in different departments" (ESPN.com, 10/12).
FOREIGN AFFAIRS: NETSDAILY.com noted that Barclays Center CEO Brett Yormark last week "hinted that the Nets could be headed to Russia or even India next year, presumably in preseason." He added that he has "already spoken to the NBA about it." Yormark said at the SportsPro's Brand Conference, "We're discussing where the Nets might be next year. And we're talking about a possible exhibition game in Russia because obviously with the Russian owner, we got a great connection with that market. And there's even talk that we might go into India" (NETSDAILY.com, 10/12).
