FAIR PLAY? In N.Y., Dave Goldiner writes that the NFL Giants "didn't even wait till kickoff time to pull a trick play" on the Eagles, as the Giants "ordered Ticketmaster yesterday to refuse to sell the small number of available tickets in the Philadelphia area" for Sunday's playoff game (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/3). Giants VP/Communications Pat Hanlon: "Listen, if Philadelphia had 5,000 tickets, I guarantee you they wouldn't go to Times Square and try to sell them. We had 5,000 tickets, and we certainly weren't going to sell them in Center City" (PHILA. INQUIRER, 1/3).
RAIDER MANIA? The Raiders stated that Saturday's playoff game against the Dolphins at Network Associates Coliseum is sold out, meaning the local TV blackout will be lifted (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/3). Raiders PSL holders were given first choice of playoff tickets, "and they were allowed to order as many as they want." Oakland Football Marketing Association Dir Michael Re estimated that 90% of the 27,800 PSL holders had requested additional playoff seats, with each PSL holder asking for 8-10 tickets, on average, for Saturday's game (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 1/3). Meanwhile, an editorial in the CONTRA COSTA TIMES called the NFL's blackout rule "ignorant." The editorial stated, "The league's policy is intended to boost stadium attendance. Most likely it does just the opposite. A large TV audience is the best advertisement a home team can get. ... [The blackout rule] is an insult to football fans and is counterproductive. It should be dropped immediately and forever" (CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 1/2).
WIRTZ NOT PLEASED WITH BOOK: In Chicago, Warren & Armour reported that Mark Weinberg — who wrote a book about Blackhawks Owner Bill Wirtz called "Career Misconduct" — was recently arrested after selling just one copy outside the United Center before a Blackhawks game. Weinberg: "Everything I've written has been researched and documented. But I don't think Bill Wirtz gives a hoot about his public reputation" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/2).
NOT THE OTHER WHITE MEAT HERE: In IL, Craig Cooper cites a report in the Flint Journal as stating that United Hockey League Generals Owner Dr. Khaled Shukairy, who is Muslim, has taken pepperoni off the pizzas from concession stands, and pork hot dogs "will be next to go." Shukairy reportedly "was targeting alcohol too, before the city," which owns the building, "stepped in" (Q.C. TIMES, 1/3).
