NFL RECORD: The NFL announced that it set a regular season paid attendance record for the third consecutive year, averaging over 66,000 fans per game for the first time ever. Attendance this regular season was 16,387,289, for an average of 66,078, compared to 16,206,640 and 65,349 in '99 (NFL). See (#31) for THE DAILY's final NFC attendance.
THE DOLICH DOCTRINE: Grizzlies President of Business Operations and former A's Exec VP Andy Dolich said the NFL and NBA are in "great position. The NFL might be in better shape, with a great TV deal and a great labor deal with a (salary) cap. The NBA has the same, even though its ratings are down, but the players will be writing checks to them soon (in the form of a luxury tax that kicks in after this season). But talk about a dichotomy of leagues, between those two and [MLB], which is a mess which doesn't seem to be getting any better" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/29).
NHL: Maple Leafs RW Tie Domi criticized the league for having some teams play several games over the Holidays. Domi: "The people who make the [NHL] schedules have jobs because of the players. I'm sure they were with their families for Christmas and New Year's. Well here's a message to them — we have lives too. ... I've never seen so many players annoyed with the schedule as they are right now" (TORONTO SUN, 1/2)....Stars RW Brett Hull said, "If I left the game right now and I didn't have a job within the league and had to pay for my own ticket, I would not. Just look around. There are empty seats all over the place. You know, everyone hates when I talk like this, but there's no game without the fans" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/24).
