In Tampa, Marc Topkin writes the fact that Rays Owner Stu Sternberg was the "lone dissenting vote" as MLB owners ratified the new CBA yesterday was "not really a surprise." The Rays were "not happy with the deal," and Sternberg "obviously felt strongly enough to make the symbolic statement during the conference call session when his 29 other colleagues voted yes." Sternberg: "The bargaining process provides an opportunity to address the extraordinary and widening competitive gap that exists on-field between higher and lower revenue clubs. I feel that opportunity was missed" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/15). YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend wrote "many agreed the changes to MLB’s luxury tax floor and revenue sharing model didn’t do enough to help smaller market teams" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/14).
INVESTIGATIVE REPORT: SPORTSNET.ca's Elliotte Friedman reported the NHL is investigating e-sports and "how to benefit from it." Friedman: "Can you sell out MSG or Staples for an NHL 17 tournament? Probably not." However, this is an "attractive fan base for sponsors: young, online, brand loyal." That is the group advertisers are "losing because they don’t watch television" (SPORTSNET.ca, 12/13).
BACK TO WHERE IT BEGAN: Tiger Woods on Tuesday announced that he will play in the '17 PGA Tour Genesis Open, more familiarly called the L.A. Open, Feb. 13-19 at Riviera Country Club. In L.A., John Cherwa noted it was a move "as expected as the large crowds that will follow him." Penciling in Woods for Riviera "turned to a permanent marker" when Woods' TGR Live was named host of the Genesis Open. The Tiger Woods Foundation will be the tournament’s chief beneficiary (LATIMES.com, 12/13).
