In Miami, Clark Spencer notes Don Mattingly yesterday was formally introduced as the Marlins' manager, becoming the 10th person to take that post -- and seventh since '10 -- "during Jeffrey Loria's ownership tenure." Marlins President David Samson said, "We wanted this to be the last manager’s press conference we ever did. We’ve done too many." Spencer notes Loria "did not attend" (MIAMI HERALD, 11/3). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote Mattingly is the "most solid choice" since Jim Leyland. This hire "ends a run of questionable -- even hilarious -- choices for the job" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 11/2).
DEAR JOHN: In San Diego, Kevin Acee notes Chargers President of Football Operations John Spanos at 35 years old "is in charge of the football team while his older brother, A.G., directs the franchise's business ventures." And in the former's first year "officially in charge of the on-field product, his product stinks." The "current mess" of a 2-6 team is "his responsibility to assess and decide how to clean up." Acee: "This is a new era of Chargers decision-making" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/3).
PAT ON THE BACK: THE MMQB's Peter King wrote the Broncos' "classy and reverential tribute to ailing owner Pat Bowlen" shows that the team "treats its heroes with class and dignity." Bowlen, who "has Alzeimer's disease and stepped away from running day-to-day operations" in July '14, "got the royal treatment and deserved every second of it" (MMQB.SI.com, 11/2).
FASHION MONTAGE: NBA TV's Brent Barry on Sunday said the Hawks, with their neon color scheme, "probably went out on the limb the most" of teams with new uniforms this season. The Hawks are now "trying to get the kids to buy these up." Barry also said the Bucks have a "fantastic new uniform." But he said of the Clippers' new uniform, "They had looked the same for so long that you thought they were going to come out with something a little bit better than what they did. ... That one’s not so good" (“NBA GameTime,” NBA TV, 11/1).
