CSNBAYAREA.com's Ray Ratto wrote the NBA Kings are in the "middle of an experiment to see how much bad news it takes to negate the honeymoon of a new building ... or whether in fact there is anything that can do it." Ratto: "The rest of this year is free, but at this rate, that’s about all that will be." The King's 6-6 record at the new Golden 1 Center "isn’t terribly relevant." What is relevant is the team’s "continued ability to seek out and advance the absurdity of Kings Life." Golden 1 Center is a "nice place ... but it is up against the corrosive power of the franchise that it houses" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 12/20).
COOLING OFF: In Miami, Manny Navarro notes Heat season-ticket holders have "received their final notice in the mail to extend their membership" before today’s deadline and "with it came a packet of palm tree seeds." The letter accompanying the seeds read, "We are sowing the seeds of something special on the shores of Biscayne Bay." The 9-20 Heat have "sold out 252 consecutive regular season games and 308-straight including the playoffs, the second longest active streak in the NBA." But with the team "struggling and the franchise in the midst of a roster rebuild without a bonafide superstar on the roster, it’s fair to wonder if that streak will continue and if some Heat diehards might decide not to renew" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/21).
BACK TO THE FUTURE: In DC, Matt Bonesteel wrote former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin is the "only one name that makes sense" to fill the team's vacant position. Coughlin "checks pretty much all the boxes," and he "more or less built the Jaguars from scratch as the expansion team’s first coach" in the '90s. There will be "obvious concerns about Coughlin’s age" of 70, but he has "shown no signs of ill health as far as anyone knows" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/20).
WINTER WONDERLAND: In Columbus, Jim Woods notes the Blue Jackets are "bringing back Winter Park" to the Nationwide Arena District. The outdoor Winter Park will "feature an NHL-size ice rink for public skating," and its 24-day run will "start on Feb. 3 and will last through Feb. 26." On Feb. 2, a day before the public opening, the Blue Jackets will "hold a practice at the outdoor rink, which will be free to watch." The park will also have the Mad River Mountain Tubing Hill, a "child friendly, two-lane tubing activity that visitors can enjoy free of charge" (DISPATCH.com, 12/21).
