In Boston, Jason Mastrodonato writes a Red Sox fan said that he was trying to bring a sign into the stadium that said, “Pay Devers please,” made in Bruins colors, gold and black, but the Fenway Park security team "confiscated it at the gate." A Red Sox spokesperson said that the sign “was not in violation,” but the security officials at Gate E “made a subjective judgement call because this was an NHL event.” The spokesperson added, “had they run it by management, it would have been allowed and we are stressing that with the team that was on site.” Mastrondonato writes when Red Sox owner John Henry walked from the field onto the stadium, “he was booed” (BOSTON HERALD, 1/3).
HATE IT OR LOVE IT: In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote the Nets are “playing as well as any team in the league.” They may be a team that basketball fans outside N.Y. -- and "frequently within the city limits -- love to hate.” But they have “once again made themselves a team to watch, and perhaps the team to watch right now in professional basketball.” At a time when their league “very much needs a compelling narrative, the Nets are it, like it or not. Hate them or not” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/31).
MONEY WELL SPENT: In Toronto, Chris Johnston noted that the Maple Leafs organization were fined $100,000 by the NHL this past week “for getting a jump on the holiday break.” All indications suggest the players “were comfortable with an evening flight to St. Louis on Boxing Day despite having the negotiated right to spend it at home instead.” Johnston wrote it is "probably no coincidence that they had a smoother re-entry than the other teams that jumped directly onto the road.” They had to “break the rules to do it," and "won’t want to repeat that transgression any time soon.” The NHL will “swing a much bigger hammer if it happens again.” But in a season with "so much riding on it -- one where nothing can or should be left to chance" -- the Leafs can "probably view the $100,000 dropped as money well spent” (TORONTO STAR, 12/31).
