NFL Cardinals President Michael Bidwill said that Metallica's Aug. 4 concert at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium is going to send the team "on the road for a portion of training camp." Bidwill added that the Cardinals will spend a "good portion of the first week of camp elsewhere." In Phoenix, Kent Somers notes the Cardinals "practiced with the Chargers in San Diego last August while the stadium hosted a concert by Guns N' Roses" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/15).
GOOD INTENTIONS: In San Diego, Tom Krasovic wrote even if the Padres are "really lucky, a ninth losing season in 10 years probably awaits" the club in '17. The "best-case reasonable scenario" would not see a Padres winning team until '19. That would be "seven-plus years" after Padres co-Owners Ron Fowler and Peter Seidler bought the club. Krasovic: "Seidler and Fowler come off as such decent people, the positive image they project may temper the view of the franchise's on-field rut." But a "reasonable conclusion is that when they bought the Padres, neither man was ready for the uniquely rough task of building up a big-league baseball franchise" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/13).
BUY NOW: In Atlanta, Tim Tucker reported Braves stock has gone up 10.3% over the past three trading days since reports emerged last week that the Marlins have a "handshake agreement" to be sold for $1.6B. Liberty Media, which owns the Braves, has "suggested previously that the market was undervaluing" the club (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/14).
INK LINK: The Union have begun a region-wide search to hire a Chief Tattoo Officer. The MLS club is looking for a locally based, reputable resident tattoo artist or full shop to serve in a residency capacity for players and staff. Union VP/Marketing Doug Vosik said, "We are looking for a partner with a wide variety of talents and skills, and someone who can offer a broad range including American traditional, as well as Japanese, realism, new school and more" (Union).
