"I had to make a decision about a brother. I hope he gets a soft landing and finds (the job) he wants" – Bobcats Owner Michael Jordan, on the internal restructuring that led to former President of Basketball Operations Rod Higgins leaving the organization (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/14).
"Somewhere along the line, it became a badge of honor to be part of this group. ... I’m not telling you the people that do it after us can’t do it better, but what I am telling you -- because I know it to be true -- is you cannot put more of yourself, you cannot put more of your heart, you cannot put more effort forth to covering an event" – ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, signing off today on the net's U.S. Open coverage, as Fox takes over from ESPN and NBC next year (ESPN, 6/15).
"This was not a brand play, period" – Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, on the team's decision to participate in HBO's "Hard Knocks" (ESPN.com, 6/15).
“I think it might be the most viewed game that any American soccer team has played in the World Cup. That’s how this thing has taken off” – N.Y. Daily News' Mike Lupica, on tomorrow's U.S.-Ghana match (“Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 6/15).
"America is a soccer nation, but that soccer nation really rises around the World Cup" – MLS Commissioner Don Garber, on the popularity of soccer in the U.S. (“Today,” NBC, 6/15).
"The World Cup is cancelled for me. I'll drop the plans to travel to Brazil. I assume that I'm not welcome by FIFA any more" – FIFA Special Advisor Franz Beckenbauer, on the organization's decision to suspend him for 90 days for allegedly refusing to cooperate with an investigation into World Cup bidding (TORONTO SUN, 6/15).
