USA TODAY's Sam Amick reports Lakers Exec VP/Player Personnel Jim Buss "scoffs at the notion there is tension between him" and his sister, Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations Jeanie Buss. He said, "I live for this. The entire family, even the ones who don't day-to-day work for the team, they bleed purple and gold without a doubt." Jim Buss "sees much of the negativity that surrounds him as an indictment of today's society, a culture of bullying." Buss said that the fans "are nothing but non-stop kindness." Buss added, "Pictures, letters -- all positive; the negative is always a minority. They love me. They really love me." (USA TODAY, 10/20).
THAT'S MY SEAT: The Clippers yesterday announced TicketUp pass, a mobile-based subscription ticket that "gives people a guaranteed seat for specific home games." There are four package options "ranging from 15 games for $99 for games in October-December to 21 games for $399 for games Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the season" (L.A. TIMES, 10/20).
IF YOU BUILD IT? On Long Island, Arthur Staple wrote no one ever said that the Islanders' move to Brooklyn "was going to bring in more revenue and promise a packed house every night." Even if every seat in Barclays Center "were perfect, there still would be empties." It was true last season, when the Islanders "drew around 11,500 for every weeknight October game in the hallowed final season at Nassau Coliseum." And it is true this year, with the Mets "siphoning off a few potential ticket-users and everyone wondering what was going to happen in Brooklyn" (NEWSDAY, 10/17).
FRIENDS & FAMILY DEAL: The N.Y. POST's Page Six cites a source as saying that the Mets have "given all full-time staffers two tickets each for all home playoff games, while execs at 'VP and higher levels' are getting to travel with their spouses to road games, all expenses paid." Team scouts and minor-league field personnel "were flown in to see the first two home games against the Dodgers and put up in hotels" (N.Y. POST, 10/20).
