In Denver, Chance Connor reports that many Rockies season
ticket holders -- who have never experienced a playoff run -- are
unhappy with the team's demand for up-front payment on the team's
10 possible playoff games. The Rockies are also only allowing
fans 10 days to get the balance of the money back after the
playoffs. The team will keep the money and credit it to next
year's season tickets. NL spokesperson Katie Feeney said most
teams have a similar policy (KNIGHT-RIDDER/DENVER POST,
8/23)....Two part-owners of the Vikings expressed surprise that
the team has been mentioned as a possible replacement in L.A.
Part-owner Jane Dyer, who admitted the team has had troubles,
said they didn't buy into the team to make money. Dyer: "[The 10
owners] all got involved because we wanted a football team here,
not someplace else" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 8/23).
....Reaction varied on a report the Bullets will get a new name
when they move downtown in '97 due to DC's many gun-related
deaths. WASHINGTON TIMES' Frank Hughes: "Don't be fooled, this
is about marketing" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 8/23). But Michael Wilbon
writes, "For an owner of a professional sports team to show this
much sensitivity is virtually unheard of" (WASHINGTON POST,
8/23)....The Mets have filed court papers to seize the house of a
Long Island resident who has refused to pay the $280,000 his
former company owes on rent for a Shea Stadium suite (NEWSDAY,
8/23).
