In Chicago, Rick Morrissey writes under the header, "Hey, McCaskeys, It's Not Personal -- You're Just Awful At This." Morrissey: "There has been one constant throughout my 14 years of writing columns in this town, and it’s the institutional ineptitude of the Bears. At almost every turn, they have made the wrong choice on the biggest decisions." The McCaskeys "have a death grip on this franchise," yet they "don’t know football." This most certainly "is not what an NFL franchise is supposed to look like" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/18).
WE'LL LEAVE THE LIGHT ON: In Sacramento, Jason Jones notes NBA Kings Managing Partner Vivek Ranadive "is aware some fans are angry coach Michael Malone was fired Sunday." Some have "wondered if Ranadive will be a meddling owner who stands in the way of the Kings’ chance for success on the court." Ranadive said that he is "too busy to meddle in the day-to-day operations of the Kings, and he receives advice" from Advisor to the Chair Chris Mullin and GM Pete D’Alessandro. Ranadive: "It’s kinda like we were in San Quentin. Now we’re in Motel 6. But I want to go to the Four Seasons" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/18).
SLOWING DOWN THE PACE: In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle noted the Pacers "could find themselves plunging toward the cellar" of the NBA’s mediocre Eastern Conference. That scenario would "certainly have a damaging impact on the Pacers in their fiscally conservative hometown." Through 13 home games, the Pacers’ "average home attendance" stands at 15,913, down from 17,501 last year. That is a "long way from the talk coming out of the Pacers’ front office after last season, when team owner Herb Simon was pushing his sales team to go for 18,100 plus per game" (IBJ.com, 12/17).
