In DC, Candace Buckner notes Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld "received a contract extension" months before the team lost in the first round of the playoffs. A source said that the team "offered the extension in the fall." The deal keeps Grunfeld in DC through at least next season while "granting him an unusual vote of confidence that few team executives have enjoyed in the modern professional sports landscape: 16 years of control." Among current execs, only Pat Riley (Heat), R.C. Buford (Spurs) and Danny Ainge (Celtics) have run NBA front offices longer than Grunfeld (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/3).
LOST THE NUMBER? WNBA Lynx coach & GM Cheryl Reeve said that after winning the league title last year, her team is "still waiting on the customary White House invitation." She noted that President Obama "contacted the team immediately after it won the WNBA championship" in '11, '13 and '15. In St. Paul, Dane Mizutani in a front-page piece notes it is "believed that the Lynx are the only major sports team to win a championship and not receive a White House invite." If an invite comes, it "would be a team decision as to whether or not they would attend" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/3).
DRESS CODE VIOLATION: In Tampa, Tom Jones noted the Lightning are "trying to stop fans from wearing Bruins shirts along the glass and in the luxury suites" during their second-round series. While it "might seem amateur," what those from Chicago and Boston and other places "don't understand is just how unique Tampa Bay is in the sports landscape." The Lightning want to have the "same home ice-advantage that every other NHL team has during the playoffs" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/2).
RIDE THAT PONY: Tim Tebow's Double-A Eastern League Binghamton Rumble Ponies helped the Akron RubberDucks bolster attendance this week, marketing normally empty suites as "Tebow's Terrace" with $30 tickets. RubberDucks GM & COO Jim Pfander said that Tebow brought in new fans, took scores of selfies and signed hundreds of autographs. The RubberDucks averaged more than 3,800 fans for the weekday series including more than 4,300 on Tuesday. That is double or more than 1,900 fans Pfander said the team drew the same time last year (Michael Sunnucks, Staff Writer).
