In S.F., Bruce Jenkins wrote the NBA's global outreach "has dramatically transformed the league." Place an "exhibition game or goodwill tour anywhere in the world, and you'll find kids taking up the game in earnest." This will be a "typically active preseason week for the NBA's international exploration, with the Warriors and Lakers in China, the Wizards and Bulls in Brazil, and the Rockets and Pacers in Taiwan." NBA Commissioner David Stern knows that "every NBA overseas adventure is bound to generate fervent interest, and that's what separates his sport from the NFL." Every time NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "pretends one of his overseas games is anything more than a cash grab, he's kidding himself" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/13).
YOUNG GUNS: In Boston, Steve Conroy wrote we are "living in the era of the flourishing teenager in the NHL," thanks to players like Avalanche C Nathan MacKinnon, Flames C Sean Monahan, Jets D Jacob Truba, Panthers C Aleksander Barkov and Sharks C Tomas Hertl. This "youthful explosion is just the exclamation point on a trend that's been going on since" the '04-05 lockout, partly due to the "institution of the salary cap." With only "so much money to play around with, general managers must look for inexpensive talent to fill out their roster, and talented kids on the relatively affordable entry level is a good place to start" (BOSTON HERALD, 10/13).
PHONE A FRIEND: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley wrote MLB Commissioner Bud Selig is "old school." He likes to "pick up the phone and talk to people." The latest phone call from Selig was "one of those mostly pleasant conversations." Bickley: "He wanted me to know that he isn’t exactly thrilled about a one-game playoff, either. But he doesn’t see many options." Selig said that the clubs will "never let him shorten the regular season, that he tried it once" and curried no support. He said that he has "received zero complaints from any of the teams that have lost a one-game playoff" (AZCENTRAL.com, 10/9).
