Rockets Owner Tilman Fertitta said that the franchise "will be a family business, with his children one day to take over." Fertitta added that he is "too old at 60 to gain the expertise to take over the basketball decision-making." Pointing to his oldest sons Michael and Patrick, Fertitta said that the two "will begin those studies." In Houston, Jonathan Feigen notes they will "not begin telling" Rockets GM Daryl Morey "who to select on draft night" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/12).
ON TO THE NEXT ONE: In Detroit, Tony Paul notes the U.S Patent & Trademark Office has "rejected the request" by Pistons Owner Tom Gores and Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert to "secure the trademark rights to 'Detroit City Soccer Club.'" The decision was "made because 'Detroit City Soccer Club' is too similar to 'Detroit City Football Club.'" Gores and Gilbert will "learn in December if they are getting one of the next two MLS expansion franchises" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/12).
DID YOU REGISTER TO VOTE? In Atlanta, Phil Hudson noted the Hawks organization "partnered with the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) to register its players and staff to vote and encourage them to spread the important message of voting to their fans" during the team's media day Sept. 25. Before the two registration sessions with the Hawks players and staff, RISE "completed voter registration events with teams" including the Falcons, Dolphins and Nets (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/10).
GIVING CONSIDERATIONS: The AP's Jim Salter noted U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) yesterday "asked the Department of Homeland Security to give 'full consideration'" to the MLB Cardinals' request for certification that would "give the team certain legal protections in the event of a terrorist attack at Busch Stadium." The Cardinals "applied in July for DHS certification under the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act, known as the Safety Act." The act is "aimed at encouraging businesses to develop anti-terrorism technologies and practices." In return, the act "places limits on lawsuits that could be filed if a terrorist attack occurs at their site" (AP, 10/11).
