Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban yesterday wrote on Cyber Dust that his initial exchange with Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer after Clippers C DeAndre Jordan re-signed with the team was "more than a little frigid." But Cuban added they both "cleared the air on a few things" related to Jordan backing out of his verbal commitment to the Mavericks. Cuban: "I told him exactly what I told other owners, I didn't have a problem with his hail Mary approach to keeping a player. I understood why they did it. And even how they did it. They got their player back. End of story" (LATIMES.com, 7/15).
THE LIONS' DEN: Orlando City SC is "increasing its season ticket availability to 18,000" for the '16 season. Club officials previously said that they had "sold out of the entire 14,000 season ticket offering" for the inaugural '15 season, "creating a waitlist for next season." The club in June said that it would increase the planned capacity of its new stadium "from 19,500 to between 25,000 and 28,000" (AP, 7/15).
PUBLICITY REIGNS? In Seattle, Matt Pentz reports neither NWSL Seattle Reign F Megan Rapinoe nor G Hope Solo, both members of the World Cup-winning U.S. national team, "will play" in Saturday's road match against the Washington Spirit. The two were "welcomed home with a rousing ovation this past weekend" and then "headed back on the road, missing practice" yesterday to attend the ESPYs. Reign coach Laura Harvey: "When we heard the commitments that they had through winning the World Cup, it became a bit of an unrealistic ask that they should do all of the stuff they’ve been asked to do over the past few weeks and then be expected to go out on the field" (SEATTLE TIMES, 7/16).
STAYING INDOORS: In Las Vegas, Steve Carp reports the AFL has "taken over the daily operations" of both the Las Vegas Outlaws and New Orleans VooDoo, both of which will "complete the season." There were "numerous problems within the business side" of the Outlaws. The team "had a hard time implementing a sound marketing strategy and several front office employees went weeks without receiving a paycheck." The debut of the team on March 30 against the San Jose SaberCats "drew a crowd of 6,662," but attendance "continued to decline" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/16).
