"I don’t know if it will ever be the same, but in order to do what is best for the Patriots franchise long term, I believe it is best to compartmentalize and move on" – Patriots Owner Robert Kraft, on his relationship with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the wake of Deflategate (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/30).
"No, no, no, my coaching career is over" – Hockey HOFer Wayne Gretzky, after filling in as coach of the Metropolitan Division team at yesterday's NHL All-Star Game (Torrance DAILY BREEZE, 1/30).
“The sport is dramatically over-commercialized” – Bundesliga CEO Christian Seifert, on the NFL (SPONSORs.de, 1/27).
"For some reason, it hasn't transferred over to women's team sports. I would love for someone to say to me we've done a comprehensive study and here's why women's team sports don't generate the same level of excitement as an individual female athlete. I've thought about it, and I've thought about it, and I can't come to any kind of conclusion” – UConn women’s coach Geno Auriemma, on why women’s team sports are less popular than individual sports (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/29).
"He was as key a voice in making the Fox-NFL deal as anyone (before the 1994 season). That changed the TV landscape and the money involved for not only the NFL but all sports" – Former Fox Sports exec Ed Goren, on whether Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is worthy of the Pro Football HOF (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/27).
"It’s dangerous to claim that a single outcome is 'good' for a sport -- the best thing about sports is that it’s reliably defiant, ruthless in tearing up the desired script -- but the rush of positive energy and goodwill generated by this match was undeniable" – Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay, on the Australian Open final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/30).
