Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan said that the influence of first-year GM Lou Lamoriello, who spent the previous 28 seasons with the Devils, is "already being felt." Shanahan said, "He’s enjoyed being here. The challenges of being in a new market, a new staff of people to work with ... he’s energized us and our staff has energized him. I think the city has energized him as well" (TORONTO SUN, 12/9).
MIAMI'S MODEL: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wondered if Heat Owner Micky Arison could "hold a symposium to help South Florida's other pro teams." Only four people "need be invited" -- Arison, Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross, Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria and Panthers Owner & Chair Vinnie Viola "can sit around him." The symposium "would be called 'How to be a Winning Owner in Sports,' a subject Arison mastered in his first move as Heat owner 20 years ago." Loria and Ross "want to win but show no idea they know how to win." Hyde: "As for Viola, who knows? You hope for the best for a Panthers franchise that has been mismanaged through a series of owners over a period of years" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/10).
DUMB LUCK: In Winnipeg, Scott Billeck reports the Manitoba Liquor & Gaming Authority has "launched an investigation" into how the CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers "dropped the ball with the 50-50 draw at the Grey Cup." The authority will meet with the team tomorrow to "try to sort out the typo that nearly cost Charles Ritchot of La Salle" C$178,748. Ritchot "saw the prize-winning numbers on the Jumbotron the night of the Grey Cup, but figured he’d pick up the prize in the morning." When he checked the Bombers' website to "prove to his wife he had won, he was shocked to see a different number than he saw the night before" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 12/10).
