Bills coach Rex Ryan on Monday introduced Donald Trump at a rally at Buffalo's First Niagara Center, and in Rochester, Leo Roth wonders why Ryan, after "all the distractions he created for himself on way to a disappointing .500 finish in his first season with the Bills, would invite this kind of attention?" Roth: "Isn't coaching football enough without creating a political football? Did he think alienating half the fan base was a good idea? Does he think at all?" In a business where fans and customers "come from a mosaic of society, it's generally a wise move for teams to keep the focus on scrimmage lines, not political lines" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 4/20).
EVERYONE AROUND ME: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Ben Cohen writes the reason the Thunder are "arguably the most intriguing team in the NBA right now is about more than what might play out on the court" in the playoffs. Behind the scenes, the organization "has matured with the basketball team." Thunder execs have "adopted a holistic approach that reflects a broader shift in NBA thinking: that what happens in the team office is related to what happens on the court." Thunder execs "think that happier employees will lead to better work, and more teams are coming around to the idea that the culture of an organization is critical." That includes supporting "not just the players, but everyone around them, too" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/20).
ONWARD & UPWARD: In Cincinnati, Steve Watkins reports USL club FC Cincinnati "has finalized a partnership" with P&G and "signed five new sponsors." The club will partner with P&G and the Cincinnati Recreation Commission's nonprofit foundation to "provide free co-ed soccer programs for local children." The five additional sponsors brings FC Cincinnati's "roster of corporate partners to 29" in the club's inaugural season (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/20). Also in Cincinnati, Paul Daugherty wrote with the club drawing 35,000 fans over its first two home games of the year, he is becoming "convinced soccer is the next Next." The atmosphere at Nippert Stadium "is charged," and the pace "is hectic." FCC has 15 home games, and time "will tell if this is a passing fling or a permanent thing." Daugherty: "This time, for the first time, I'd bet the latter" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/19).
