In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan writes the T'Wolves were once the "dumbest sports organization in America, and there is reason to believe that they aren't anymore." The two "reasons to feel encouraged" by the team's search for a replacement for former coach and President of Basketball Operations Tom Thibodeau are that the "candidates are legitimate," and that the process is simple and professional. T'Wolves CEO Ethan Casson is "respected in the organization for the work he's done on the business side, and was aggressive in removing Thibodeau when he thought the time was right." At the very least, the "process isn't an embarrassment this time" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/1).
END OF AN ERA: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi writes of Magic co-Founder Pat Williams' retirement, "Thank God that this Orlando treasure is not retiring because of failing health." Williams made clear that his retirement "has nothing to do with his health." Instead, Williams, who has run 58 marathons, has 19 children and written 104 books, is "retiring because he has too much left to do." He "wants to build a leadership library," and to "spearhead the building of a monument in front of the Amway Center for those original 14,000 fans who believed in the Magic" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/1).
POWER STRUGGLE: ESPN's Pablo Torre said Broncos President of Football Operations & GM John Elway is "basically using a Super Bowl" to "mask the fact that they don't really know what they're talking about when it comes to quarterback evaluation." The Broncos selected QB Drew Lock in the third round of the NFL Draft after trading for Joe Flacco this offseason, and ESPN's Bomani Jones said Elway "should not have his job." Jones noted Elway "has been demonstrably bad at that job" since Super Bowl 50, but "nobody has more power" than he does in Denver ("High Noon," ESPN, 4/29).
