Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz yesterday said that Thrashers' move to the city "should be finalized within the next two days." Katz also claimed that the "name of the team will not be the Jets," though prospective Owner True North Sports & Entertainment said that "no decision has been made on the name." True North Dir of Communications & Hockey Operations Scott Brown: "He's speculating" (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 5/25). Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Jeff Schultz wrote NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "will try to convince you Atlanta just didn't want hockey bad enough," but he will "ignore the reasons." He also will "grab millions in a relocation fee from a city that he moved a team from 15 years earlier." Schultz noted the Jets "averaged 11,316 fans in their final season -- 2,000 less than the Thrashers drew this year." Schultz: "Don't expect to read that in the news release" (AJC.com, 5/24).
RUSHING BACK IN? In Minneapolis, Judd Zulgad noted Rush Limbaugh interviewed former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty during his radio show Monday, and during the interview Limbaugh "asked Pawlenty about the Vikings' stadium situation." Pawlenty said, "The rumor is you're gonna buy 'em and move 'em. Is that true?" Limbaugh, laughing, responded: "Well, uh, this interview is about you." When asked if there was "anything to a group involving Limbaugh having inquired about the Vikings' availability," Vikings VP/Public Affairs & Stadium Development Lester Bagley said in an e-mail, "We are 100 percent focused on getting this stadium issue resolved at" the team's desired site in Arden Hills, Minn. Zulgad noted Limbaugh in '09 was part of an ownership group that "discussed buying the Rams" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 5/24).
SENSE OF COMMUNITY: Astros Owner Drayton McLane last week sold the team to Jim Crane, and in Houston, Richard Justice wrote under the header, "If Jim Crane Is Half As Good At Consumer Service As Drayton McLane And Pam Gardner, He'll Be Spectacular." Justice noted in the last decade he has "probably gotten two dozen emails complaining about customer service at Minute Maid Park or describing some special circumstance." Justice: "Each time, the Astros responded like champions. Sometimes it was Drayton McLane himself. Other times it was Pam Gardner. But the Astros responded every time. Their message consistently was: (a) we appreciate your business and (b) we thank you for caring about the Astros." The Astros have "done fantastic work in the community under this ownership" (CHRON.com, 5/24).
