Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross yesterday appeared on WINZ-AM yesterday and discussed the state of the franchise after its 0-4 start to begin the season. He said, "I'm very disappointed, to put it mildly, I guess." Ross added, "Everybody involved with this team -- the players, the coaches -- [is] disappointed being 0-4. You can't be any other way. I think we have to stay together and really get behind our coach. I believe that Tony [Sparano] is the right coach." In Ft. Lauderdale, Mike Berardino notes Ross "cast his vote for patience, which might not fire up the fan base but is significant because, well, his is the only vote that truly counts here." Ross said, "I really appreciate your fan support. I feel as frustrated as you do. When you hurt, I'm hurting. And I'm dedicated to making sure we turn this around as fast as possible" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/4).
CITY OF ANGELS: In L.A., Bill Shaikin writes the Angels need "some creative tension in the front office, to take [manager Mike] Scioscia's ideas and bounce them off a general manager with the authority to bounce back." Shaikin: "This is about far more than Scioscia, a rock of credibility for a previously wayward franchise. This is about an organization that has struggled to identify Plan B when Plan A fails, and has resorted to taking on money far too often." Shaikin adds if team Owner Arte Moreno "is not going to win bidding wars in free agency -- and he didn't with CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and Carl Crawford -- then he needs a strong general manager with a Plan B, C and D ready to go, to avoid another roster overloaded with slap-hitting infielders, old outfielders and middle relievers" (L.A. TIMES, 10/4).
THE LATEST ON THEO: Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts appeared on Fox Business’ “Cavuto” last night, and host Neil Cavuto asked, “Who’s the leadership going to be?" He mentioned Red Sox GM Theo Epstein by name and said, "I’m thinking, ‘That’s a perfect guy.’” Ricketts was noncommittal and said, “There are a lot of good candidates out there” (“Cavuto,” Fox Business, 10/3). Comcast SportsNet New England’s Sean McAdam said there is a "tug" on Epstein between going to the Cubs and staying with the Red Sox. McAdam: "There’s the challenge of going to Chicago and doing for the Cubs what he did for the Red Sox. That makes him an immortal in baseball executives. ... The allure of that has to be undeniable. On the other hand, I think there is a loyalty to (Red Sox Owner) John Henry, who was the guy who made him a general manager here at the age of 28. I think he wants to fix the mess that has been created here" ("Chicago Tribune Live," Comcast SportsNet Chicago, 10/3).
ON THE PROWL: For the third consecutive season, the Predators will offer single-game ticket discounts on specific days of the week. The team’s single-game tickets average $45 for the upper level and $80 for the lower. For Thursday games, the team will give discounts to college students for $15 upper-level tickets and $25 lower-level seats. On Tuesdays, the club will sell a two-pack of upper-level tickets for $49 and a two-pack lower level tickets for $99. The club will also offer a military discount for all games good for $60 lower-level tickets and $25 upper-level seats (Fred Dreier, SportsBusiness Journal).
