This Week's Newsmakers: Manchester City Gets Infusion Of Cash
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: MANCHESTER CITY -- Abu Dhabi United Group’s agreement to acquire the English soccer club from embattled Owner THAKSIN SHINAWATRA breeds new life into the traditionally middle-of-the-road team, as DR. SULAIMAN AL-FAHIM announces he wants to make the squad the “biggest club” in the Premiership. He immediately backs up his words by agreeing to an EPL-record transfer fee with Real Madrid for F ROBINHO. While it might not be an immediate turn around for Man City, the future certainly looks bright for the Blues.
LOSE: THUNDER’S NAME ANNOUNCEMENT -- What was supposed to be THE moment for Oklahoma City’s first permanent major pro team is dampened by numerous leaks, including one earlier this summer on the NBA’s official Web site. Even the logo manages to get online several days in advance of the formal announcement. And while we’re not one to be too critical about the actual name, we do wonder what the team’s mascot is going to be -- a dark cloud?
DRAW: U.S. Open -- The U.S. Open has been a success thus far, with crowds packing Arthur Ashe Stadium at a record-setting pace and RAFAEL Nadal and ROGER Federer seemingly headed for another finals showdown. But while ideal weather conditions have helped draw people to the event, dark clouds are looming, literally. With Tropical Storm Hanna making its way up the East Coast, Saturday’s men’s semifinal matches could be in jeopardy of being washed out. And with CBS airing NFL coverage on Sunday, the semifinals could be knocked off of broadcast TV, with the finals relegated to Monday.
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