The Predators are in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time, and YAHOO SPORTS' Nicholas Cotsonika wrote "these are the best times" the team has ever had. The ownership situation "has stabilized, the fear of relocation has subsided" and attendance "has increased." Predators CEO Jeff Cogen "declined to say whether the Predators would make a profit this season." But he said making the second round "should get us pretty close." The Predators "already have renewed 90 percent of season tickets for next season and hope to increase their base from about 9,400 to more than 10,000." The team last night played its first home game of its Western Conference Semifinal series against the Canucks, and Cotsonika wrote, "Walking the streets of Music City on Monday afternoon, you could find hockey amid the honky-tonks" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/3).
BOLT OF MOMENTUM: The Lightning are up 3-0 in their Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the Capitals, and WFTS-ABC's John Thomas noted the team "in the last 2 weeks alone" has "sold an additional 1,500 season tickets." That is a "very good push as they try to reach 10,000 season ticket holders for next year -- 4,000 more than last year." Lightning COO Steve Griggs said that the team is "pulling out all the stops." Griggs: "We want to make sure we are sold out every single game next year" (ABCACTIONNEWS.com, 5/3).
CAUTIONARY WORD: In K.C., Terez Paylor notes four-year-old Royals fan Alexis Hoskey was "hit in the face with a foul ball" at Kauffman Stadium Saturday, "resulting in a fractured skull." In response, Royals VP/Community Affairs & Publicity Toby Cook yesterday said that the team will "immediately increase the number of public address announcements it makes during games urging fans to be aware of the dangers of batted balls." Cook: "One of the things we've added to that message is if you get in a position where you are watching the game and you don't feel like you're in a safe spot, you can go to guest services at any time and ask to be reseated. We've always had that policy, we just didn't (tout) it" (K.C. STAR, 5/4).
FEELING GREEN: The NHL has banned the two Canucks fans who call themselves the “Green Men” from touching the penalty box during games and from doing handstands. Denver Post columnist Woody Paige said, "This is creative. This is brilliant. What they bring to the game, the National Humorless League doesn't get it. You've got to allow the fans to have fun and they're having great fun" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 5/3). ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser: “They are fabulous, they're fun and they're not hurting anybody. Do you want the NHL to become the No Humor League? This is a terrible call." But ESPN’s Michael Wilbon agreed with the decision, saying, “Count me as one of the people that finds the Green Men stupid” (“PTI,” ESPN, 5/3).
