Suns GM Ryan McDonough was officially introduced Thursday, and Suns President of Basketball Operations Lon Babby said, "He's prepared for this all his life, I think. We couldn't be more thrilled or more excited." McDonough's "league-wide respect was generated during a 10-year rise from video guy to assistant GM with the Boston Celtics," and he "seems to have sufficient analytical chops and in-person scouting tenacity to satisfy all would-be critics." McDonough: "I wasn’t going to leave unless it was a fantastic opportunity. I feel like this is that opportunity" (FOXSPORTSARIZONA.com, 5/9).
PRICE CUT: In Boston, Callum Borchers notes the "average price to see" a first-round Bruins Stanley Cup Playoff game at TD Garden is "$236.12 on the secondary ticket market." That is 5% "lower than prices commanded two years ago" when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Data from TiqIQ shows during last year's playoffs, "when the team attempted to defend its title, prices were down" by 10%. The decline "suggests a psychological shift among fans of a championship-starved sports franchise." The pursuit of "a long-awaited prize -- and the hope that this is the year -- may be more compelling than the quest to win it all again" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/10).
POLICY CHANGE: In DC, Rick Snider writes "only a public relations fiasco forced" the Nationals to change their ticket exchange policy for rescheduled games and "not some change of heart by officials." The Nationals "get no points for the reversal because it was poor judgment to start." The team "needed to return to their old policy," as it "can't afford to burn customers." Crowds at Nationals Park are "growing for now, but angering fans risks long-term ramifications." Any "time clouds gather, fans would have been reluctant to buy tickets for fear of being burned" (WASHINGTON EXAMINER, 5/10).
GETTING TECHNICAL: INFORMATION WEEK's Jonathan Feldman noted MLB Giants Senior VP & CIO Bill Schlough "gives a lot of credit" to team President & CEO Larry Baer for "setting the tone of the organization." But it also is "pretty obvious, to hear Schlough talk, that he sets a great tone for his employees." Not only does Schlough "wear a World Series championship ring, but also, the intern at the time got a ring." The Giants' IT team "lives and breathes baseball." Schlough: "Our whole office walked in the parade, got on floats in the parade. It's a mindset that permeates from the top" (INFORMATIONWEEK.com, 5/9).
