The Trail Blazers said that the team's return to the NBA playoffs after a two-season absence has "produced a robust interest in tickets," which went on sale yesterday. Blazers Corporate Communications Manager Kris Koivisto in an e-mail wrote, "Playoff ticket sales have been strong thus far." The team "did not have a specific number sold," as ticket sales "are ongoing" (OREGONLIVE.com, 4/7).
BROWN OUT: SMU basketball coach Larry Brown yesterday in an interview on SiriusXM said Knicks GM Steve Mills "has no clue." In N.Y., Marc Berman notes Brown, who coached the Knicks in '05-06, during a "diatribe" against the Knicks also "took issue with the timing" of President Phil Jackson’s hiring with Knicks coach Mike Woodson still employed. Woodson served as an assistant coach under Brown with the Pistons. Brown: "You don’t bring somebody in in the middle of the year and basically let Mike Woodson feel like he’s not even part of this" (N.Y. POST, 4/8).
MOVIN' ON UP? In DC, Steven Goff reported many DC United supporters "groaned when the club agreed to move the June 7 match" against the Crew from RFK Stadium to FedEx Field "in order to be part of a doubleheader with the Spain-El Salvador friendly." Switching venues "disrupts the game-day routine and causes transportation headaches." The "discontent grew" for some season-ticket holders when they "received their new seat assignments" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/7).
HOT 'LANTA: In Atlanta, Mark Bradley writes MLS "isn’t going to draw NASCAR-sized crowds, not here or anywhere." But if you "fuse the elements -- Atlanta as an international city plus Atlanta as a hotbed of youth soccer" -- Falcons Owner Arthur Blank's new expansion franchise "should draw enough paying customers to pay the light bill." Atlanta "as an MLS city makes sense" and the timing "is right." Bradley: "This much-lampooned sports market is as ready as it'll ever be" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 4/8).
