In N.Y., Larry Brooks noted NHLPA Exec Dir Donald Fehr is "conducting 14 meetings this summer, seven in North America and seven in Europe, in an aggressive effort to educate and prepare the union for the upcoming labor negotiation" (N.Y. POST, 7/24). In Boston, Kevin Paul Dupont noted former Bruins RW Mark Recchi is "optimistic" that there will not be a lockout when the NHL CBA expires in Sept. '12. Recchi said, "Both sides would be crazy to get to that point. I am convinced that there is a solution there; it's just a matter of finding it. I think both sides have to keep in mind that it took a long time to recover from the last lockout. And now, unlike then, they've got a basis of an agreement that they can work from" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/24).
GLASS HALF FULL: In Ft. Worth, Drew Davison reports MLB Rangers 2B Ian Kinsler and DH Michael Young "expressed optimism that a lockout will be avoided when the MLB collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 11." Young said, "I don't anticipate any issues. Hopefully it's smooth sailing and we can get it done." Kinsler added, "We're pretty confident, but you never know with something like this" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/27).
REMEMBER THE ALAMO: In San Antonio, Terrence Thomas reported the WNBA All-Star Game, played last Saturday at the AT&T Center before a crowd of 12,540, and the league's community service events at Fort Sam Houston last Friday have San Antonio "racking up rave reviews." Silver Stars GM & coach Dan Hughes said, "I think it's honestly going to become the model for what we try to do with all-star games. I think other franchises are going to realize what is possible." Silver Stars Dir of Business Operations Russell Warren added that while there "haven't been any talks yet, Spurs Sports & Entertainment would certainly look into hosting another all-star game" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/25).
MAGIC TRICK: The South Florida SUN-SENTINEL reports WPS has seen "massive increases in ticket sales" since the Women's World Cup. While a magicJack game in May at Florida Atlantic Univ. against the Beat "drew fewer than 900 fans," the team now "is looking into playing home games at Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium (capacity 20,450)." magicJack is "expecting a sellout crowd" for tonight's match-up with Sky Blue FC, and the team "expects to accommodate double" FAU Soccer Stadium's normal capacity of 1,500 for WPS games. magicJack last Saturday saw its "second consecutive road sellout" for a game against the Beat in front of 9,345 fans (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/27).
