The '13 NHL Draft was held Sunday at Prudential Center in Newark, and as soon as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman walked on stage to begin the Draft, he was booed loudly. Bettman told the crowd, "Good afternoon, I love your energy. We're going to have a good afternoon, but this is a home game for me." When the No. 9 overall pick came up, Bettman came out to more booing and said, "I think you're going to want to hear this." The Devils traded the No. 9 pick to the Canucks for G Cory Schneider, which then elicited a cheer from the crowd ("NHL Draft," NBC Sports Network, 6/30). The league also announced Wells Fargo Center will host the ’14 draft. It will be the first time that Philadelphia has hosted the event (Christopher Botta, Staff Writer).
BAG LADY: In Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter reported the NFL's new
bag policy "is not playing well with the Atlanta fanbase, especially the women." Atlanta-based Howicit.net Web Content & Fan Interaction Manager Sharon Ferguson said, “Women I spoke to, while they understand the reasoning behind the policy, feel that it is a big inconvenience to women who carry personal feminine-hygiene items and baby items in their bags.” Georgia Dome Security Manager Carl Herron said, "I believe it will make it a little faster and efficient because of the clear bags will be only examined once they get into the lines to get into the stadium.” The NFL said that it "polled some of its female fans and believe they will adjust to the new rules" (
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/29).
ROOKIE PHENOM: In California, Jeff Miller wrote MLB needs to put Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig in the All-Star Game because he is a "fan favorite" and has "displayed a flair for great theater." Puig has become "the most interesting player in his sport to watch" and is "simply the most fan-friendly player in baseball today." Miller: "If his name appeared on the ballot, do you honestly believe he wouldn't be voted in to start?" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 6/30). However, Fox' Tim McCarver said, “It would be great business by Major League Baseball to have him on the All-Star team. I just don’t think he belongs there" ("Yankees-Orioles,” Fox, 6/29).
WHAT WOMEN WANT: In Hartford, John Altavilla notes WNBA rosters are "limited to 11 -- just 132 jobs in the world's top pro league for women." When those players are "injured, either for the short or long term, they can't be replaced, in most cases, unless their team wants to cut them or someone else to bring in a health reserve." Roster size "promises to be one of the major points of contention" when the league's CBA is renegotiated. Sources said that adding an "extra player to each of the 12 rosters would likely add approximately $100,000 to each team's operating expenses" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/1).
