In Pittsburgh, Sam Werner notes one of the Penguins' "biggest selling points to sponsors" is the team’s "high visibility within the Pittsburgh market." The team has "led the NHL in local TV viewership for the past six seasons" on Root Sports Pittsburgh. Penguins Senior VP/Sales & Broadcasting Terry Kalna said that while the team has "regular conversations about the future of cable television and 'cord cutting,' it’s not something they are overly concerned about." Kalna: "There’s cord cutting going on, but we feel like we are growing the fan base every year. We feel like we are growing avidity every year." He added, "There’s no other way to put it other than this franchise in this market is like an NFL franchise in other NFL markets" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/5).
ADULT SUPERVISION: The Heat yesterday announced that F Chris Bosh "would not be playing in the remainder" of the NBA playoffs. USA TODAY's Christine Brennan writes for awhile, it seemed that Heat officials "were the only adults in the room." The team "would have been much better off if they had had him on the court for the playoffs, but based on the medical advice they were getting, they admirably would not allow him back." Brennan: "No doubt the Heat were also cognizant of concerns about liability should they allow a player on blood thinners to return" (USA TODAY, 5/5). SPORTS ON EARTH's Sean Highkin writes the Heat "were completely in the right to keep Bosh off the court." Even if Bosh were to "hypothetically sign a liability waiver clearing the Heat of any legal responsibility should the unthinkable happen after his return, the Heat would still have to live with those consequences" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 5/5).
GREENER PASTURES? In Boston, Steve Bulpett notes the Celtics have "never before, in the salary cap era, had the opportunities it will this summer." Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge yesterday "cautioned that there are no guarantees with that, but he also didn’t downplay the situation." With eight picks in this draft (three in the first round), tradeable talent and cap room for two maximum free agents, he is "far from empty-handed." He said, "I don’t think we’ve ever had cap space, so this is a unique opportunity. ... There’s a lot of money around the league. A lot of teams have cap space with the new TV contracts kicking in, so we’re looking forward to that opportunity in July" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/5).
