ESPN.com's Ryan McGee wrote NASCAR postrace driver fights "aren't business as usual," and that is "what makes them so great." Kyle Busch and Joey Logano "shouldn't be fined" for their fight last weekend. On Sunday night and Monday morning, there were national news outlets talking NASCAR -- "even in the midst of conference hoops tournaments and NCAA bracket reveals." McGee: "Chatter is chatter and buzz is buzz." But now the "hope in the halls of NASCAR is that there will be a show given -- not punches thrown" -- this weekend in Phoenix (ESPN.com, 3/14).
FACE OFF: SPORTSNET.ca's Elliotte Friedman noted the NHLPA is "steadfast in the belief it should not have to give up anything" to go the '18 PyeongChang Games, and with owners like the Capitals' Ted Leonsis "publicly revealing he will let his stars go, the union feels it’s in a stronger bargaining position." That "would make it seem like the NHL is boxed into a corner." But if Commissioner Gary Bettman "didn’t want to go, the announcement would be done already." Friedman: "So, what are we waiting for?" (SPORTSNET.ca, 3/14).
OPEN THE WALLETS: NYC FC MF Andrea Pirlo told Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport that MLS "must change its rules on transfers and salaries if it is to compete with the likes of the Chinese Super League." Pirlo said that theMLS salary cap "must be scrapped and free movement of players needs to be introduced if the league wants to compete for top stars." Pirlo: "Enough with the three exceptions to the salary cap, which is too little to convince other stars to come here. They need to develop a liberal system where you can buy and sell players without restrictions" (ESPNFC.us, 3/14).
