YAHOO SPORTS' Chase Kell noted a group of Raptors fans in support of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement have "raised more than $34,000 to make and distribute as many as 7,000 T shirts" to fans taking in the team's season opener next Tuesday against the Pelicans. The Raptors are "not at all involved with the giveaway, nor has the organization officially endorsed it in any way" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/17).
FAMILY BUSINESS: ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss noted in the wake of his father's death, Cardinals President Michael Bidwill will "add the title" of Chair. Bill Bidwill "held that title until he died on Oct. 2." Otherwise, there "won't be any changes in the operation or ownership structure of the Cardinals" (TWITTER.com, 10/17).
POINT MAN: In Sacramento, Marcos Breton noted "without Kevin Nagle," there would not be an incoming major announcement on Monday that the city has landed an MLS franchise. The USL Republic FC Chair & CEO "should go down in local history as the indispensable man whose commitment and financial resources kept Sacramento's MLS dream alive when it easily could have died." Nagle took Republic FC "from a scrappy start-up team playing minor league soccer at the state fairgrounds to an organization granted entry into America's premier soccer league" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/17).
