This Week's Newsmakers: WNBA Grabs Headlines For Skirmish
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Blanco (l) And Beckham Help
MLS Tally Another Victory |
THE DAILY each Friday offers our take on the performances over the past week of people and entities in sports business. Here are this week’s newsmakers.
WIN: MLS -- The MLS takes Thursday's All-Star Game into soccer-crazy Toronto on an undeniable high. The first half of the season, behind the star power of DAVID BECKHAM and CUAUHTEMOC BLANCO, sees increases in both attendance and TV ratings. And the league, receiving vast interest from groups in both the U.S. and Canada to expand, such as a Vancouver team that includes STEVE NASH, appeases the suitors by announcing it will add two more teams by the 2011 campaign.
LOSE: ATP TOUR -- The scene unfolding in a Delaware courtroom features plenty of mudslinging, as testimonies are replete with tales of conspiracy, payoffs, overstated attendance and other sordid dealings. And while the trial may not be making waves beyond the business community, the case could have far-reaching implications for sports leagues and governing bodies when it's all said and done. Regardless of how things turn out, the Tour can't like the public airing of its dirty laundry.
DRAW: WNBA -- A bizarre week, to say the least, for the WNBA. The league draws perhaps its most coverage ever when a matchup between two of the WNBA's marquee franchises, the Sparks and Shock, turns into a slug-fest instigated in part by golden girl CANDACE PARKER. The league's punishments are unanimously panned, with some pundits thinking players like Parker deserved more severe penalties, and others saying Shock assistant coach RICK MAHORN "got off lightly" for pushing LISA LESLIE. While the tussle at the Palace draws media attention across the country, we have to wonder whether the headlines are something for which the league can be proud.
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