The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan reported almost $20M has been spent by the NFL and NFLPA on the continuing Deflategate court case, which is "more than is spent on concussion research." This is to "adjudicate what is, when it's all said and done, jaywalking!" ("Around The Horn, ESPN, 3/4).
LONG JOHN: GOLF WORLD's Ryan Herrington notes John Daly will make his PGA Tour Champions debut in May, and not since Fred Couples in '10 has there "been the kind of anticipation surrounding a golfer starting his senior career." The Principal Charity Classic in Des Moines, Iowa, "announced a ticket package, the Daly Deal, to entice fans into buying a one-day ticket." Curiosity will "be the primary attraction in watching Daly early on." Herrington: "Does he have game anymore? It might not matter. That he is actually playing at age 50 -- a feat some were wary would ever happen -- is enough to get people watching" (GOLF WORLD, 3/7 issue).
ROOM TO GROW: In Denver, Terry Frei wrote it is "appropriate now" for the NHL to expand by two teams. Las Vegas and Quebec City have long been seen as markets waiting to land a team, and the talk of expanding the league to 32 clubs "inevitably trigger concerns about watering down the NHL's talent pool." But adding about 6% more roster spots "isn't all that significant, and the internationalization of the player pool has been a mitigating factor during the NHL's growth" (DENVER POST, 3/6).
IN HINDSIGHT: In Tampa, Tom Jones writes if he ran NASCAR PR, he would have advised NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France "not to endorse anyone" for President. The "last thing you want to do is alienate anyone in your fan base." Jones: "It's the advice I'd have for any commissioner regardless of the candidate. Why risk it?" However, France endorsing Donald Trump is "much ado about nothing because his endorsement really doesn't mean anything." People are "going to vote for whomever they want to vote for" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/7).
