In Cleveland, Chris Fedor wrote there are "never any guarantees when it comes to a rebuild," but the Cavaliers' approach with the hires of Michigan's John Beilein as coach and Cal's Lindsay Gottlieb as an assistant has been "clear and pointed." The qualities the Cavs value most have "become obvious." Fedor: "Age doesn’t matter. Neither does race. Same goes for gender." Because of these college hires, the Cavs’ approach "may seem unconventional." But this is a "forward-thinking organization that prides itself on inclusion" (CLEVELAND.com, 6/13).
THE RIGHT MOVE: In Phoenix, Kent Somers notes the Coyotes have "attempted to make hockey work" in the market since the team moved to Arizona in '96. But the emerging situation involving Alex Meruelo's desire to purchase the team "could be different." Meruelo has the "money and business acumen to turn the Coyotes into a winner and keep them in the Valley." Rather than "buying assets on the cheap and flipping them, Meruelo has a history of buying them and improving them" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/14).
NO MAN'S LAND: In L.A., Arash Markazi wrote the Angels "want nothing to do with Los Angeles outside of enjoying the economic benefits of being associated with the city." Walk around Angel Stadium and peruse the team store, and fans will be "hard-pressed to find 'L.A.' or 'Los Angeles' anywhere." The Angels are a "team without a city." They "spurned Anaheim by dropping the city’s name and claimed Los Angeles in name only." There is "nothing worse than being inauthentic and doing something halfway, and the Angels claiming Los Angeles represents both" (L.A. TIMES, 6/13).
