SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL's Adam Stern cites sources as saying that Comcast is "no longer actively discussing buying an equity stake in NASCAR," raising the prospect of the France family "remaining fully in control of the sport for the foreseeable future." Comcast "seriously explored the idea over the last year, and was consistently mentioned as a suitor for most of this year." But industry sources said last week that it "appears that negotiations between Comcast and NASCAR ended without a deal for now" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/22 issue).
SITTING THIS ONE OUT: REUTERS' Peter Rutherford cites sources as saying that Chinese players on the LPGA have "pulled out of this week's tournament in Taiwan at the 11th hour, after being told by someone 'high up' in China to skip the event." Sources said that Shanshan Feng and Yu Liu, the only two Chinese golfers confirmed for the Swinging Skirts Taiwan Championship, were "told during last weekend's event in Shanghai that they should not play." The picture profiles of both players as of yesterday were featured "on the tournament's official website," but earlier today both profiles "were gone" (REUTERS, 10/23).
HOOP DREAMS: Rockets GM Daryl Morey said due to the growing popularity of the NBA, he believes the NFL "will be behind" the basketball league in years to come. Morey: "The NFL will be like two of the top sports in the '50s, horse racing and boxing, where they're still talked about but it's not part of the zeitgeist of this country. I do think the NBA will absolutely be that" ("The Woj Pod," ART19.com, 10/21).
