BLOOMBERG NEWS' Scott Soshnick cited a source as saying that the NBA "has approved ownership transfer" of the Nets and Barclays Center to Mikhail Prokhorov. The agreement "values the team and arena" at $1.9B. Prokhorov, through his Onexim Sports & Entertainment, "currently owns" 80% of the team and 45% of the arena (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 12/16).
FEEL SO GLAD: In St. Louis, Joe Lyons notes tonight's "Thursday Night Football" game marks the "final installment of the NFL’s Color Rush Series and will feature the Rams in yellow and the Buccaneers in red." Rams coach Jeff Fisher "isn’t a huge fan of the Rams’ look." He said, “I’m just glad it’s not baseball, where I have to wear the uniform as well.” But Rams LB Daren Bates added, "After seeing them in person with the cleats and all, I think they’re going to look pretty good out there." Rams LB James Laurinaitis joked the team "wanted to look like West Virginia" for WR and WVU alum Tavon Austin (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 12/17).
THE STAKE: In Sacramento, Dale Kasler reports the city's return to professional team tennis "appears to be in financial trouble after one year in operation." The Mylan World TeamTennis California Dream "was sued this week by the club’s food concessionaire for nonpayment of a $19,000 bill." The lawsuit came as one of the team’s minority partners said that the Dream’s future "is uncertain." Dream Minority Owner Bob Kaliski: “I don’t know if the team is going to be back or not. I know I’m not going to be back. I don’t know about the rest of the team." He added that he personally "lost $175,000 investing in the team." WTT Senior VP/Communications Rosie Crews said that the league "hasn't heard" from Owner Jeff Launius since the season ended in August (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/17).
TAKE THE MONEY & RUN: In Orlando, Paul Brinkmann reported the ECHL Solar Bears have "won a legal dispute over the team name and logo that dates back more than 20 years." U.S. District Judge Paul Byron found that the plaintiff -- David D'Amato -- had "submitted forged documents in the case." Byron "awarded the Solar Bears and the ECHL $221,318 in a final judgment that closes the lawsuit." D’Amato had been "raising the complaints against the team" since at least '89 (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 12/16).
