This Week's Newsmakers: Kimbo's Loss Could Doom EliteXC
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: RIO TINTO STADIUM -- America’s latest soccer-specific stadium opens to rave reviews, with descriptions calling it "MLS' finest venue" and "fantastico." Real Salt Lake Owner DAVE CHECKETTS says the facility is "better than I ever envisioned it would be." The buzz generated from the opening should provide a boost to soccer in Utah and help quell some fan displeasure following a contentious public dispute over the use of tax dollars to pay for the venue. Now, if only RSL could make the playoffs.
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Slice's Quick Loss Leads To
A Bad Week For EliteXC |
LOSE: ELITEXC -- Having put all its eggs in KIMBO SLICE's basket, the future looks bleak for the MMA promotion after Saturday night's 14-second demolition and subsequent PR backlash. Already hemorrhaging funds, EliteXC could ill afford to see its brightest -- and only -- household name go down in a flash to someone who was supposed to fight on the undercard, but the CBS broadcast serves as easy picking for the promotion's numerous critics. To top off the bad stretch of days, Slice's opponent claims to have been bribed by EliteXC officials to fight standing up, which despite being a supposed advantage to Kimbo's punching power, is all for naught.
DRAW: DONALD STERLING -- After making the playoffs just four times since hiring ELGIN BAYLOR 22 years ago, Sterling’s move this week to dismiss the Basketball HOFer cannot be classified as a complete shock. Also, it is clear Baylor’s power had slowly diminished since MIKE DUNLEAVY joined the team in '03. However, the cloud of uncertainty involving the dismissal -- Was he fired? Did he resign? -- seems a bit unnecessary for an employee as loyal as Baylor had been.
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