In N.Y., Tim Rohan writes Mets co-Owner Fred Wilpon "rarely asserts himself publicly." Instead, he has "increasingly moved out of public view" -- almost always allowing his son, COO Jeff Wilpon, to "be the most visible member of the ownership group." But throughout this playoff run, Fred Wilpon has "seemed more visible, particularly on the field during batting practice, sometimes visiting with players near the batting cage." When celebration ensued following the Mets' series-clinching victory in Game 4 of the NLCS, Fred Wilpon joined Jeff "for the trophy presentation, praised his players in a brief TV interview and then drifted into the background." It was "one of the few times he has spoken publicly in recent years" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/27).
BAD TO THE BONE: In N.Y., Gary Myers writes Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones is "so desperate to win the Super Bowl for the first time in 20 years and so delusional about the magical powers of the Cowboys brand, that he is embracing" DE Greg Hardy when he "should suspend him or just get rid of him" following Hardy's actions since returning from a league suspension two weeks ago (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/27). YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson wrote the Cowboys' "desperation" has become Hardy's "greatest advocate." It has served as "his enabler, really" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/26).
UNITED WE STAND: A spokesperson for MLS expansion club Atlanta United said that the team has "surpassed 26,000 pledges for season-ticket sales" for its inaugural season in '17. In Atlanta, Doug Roberson noted those pledges are "from the slightly more than 9,000 members of its Founder’s Club." The Sounders "set the record for an expansion team with approximately 22,000 season-tickets sold" in '09 (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/24).
LIONS' PRIDE: In Orlando, Alicia DelGallo notes NWSL expansion club Orlando Pride yesterday announced that U.S. women's national team F Alex Morgan will be one of the team's "inaugural members" after a trade with the Portland Thorns. Parent club Orlando City SC Founder & President Phil Rawlins "made no promises" to fill the Citrus Bowl like he did for OCSC's inaugural home game, but he "has high expectations for the Pride's first season" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/27).
