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Emails Show Sonics Ownership Pushed as Early as April '07 to Relocate to Oklahoma City
Published 4/10/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
In a clear sign that the current Seattle SuperSonics ownership has always intended to relocate the team to Oklahoma City, emails from minority ownership to co-owner Clay Bennett show that as early as April 2007, and possibly earlier, plans were being put in place to move the team, despite public communications to the contrary. As reported by the Seattle Times: On April 17 last year, team co-owners Clay Bennett, Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward talked about whisking the Sonics away to Oklahoma as soon as possible even though it would mean breaching the KeyArena lease, according to the city's motion filed in U.S. ...

Walsh: Isiah Thomas To Coach End of Season. Any Changes Before Draft
Published 4/10/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Isiah Thomas was pushed out of his position as Knicks president last week by Donnie Walsh, and now his time as coach may be numbered, as well. Walsh said that Thomas will remain as coach of the Knicks through the regular season, but added that if any changes to the coaching position were to take place, it would be before the NBA Draft. As reported by The AP: Walsh insists he hasn't decided on Thomas' future with the team, but the Knicks' 23-56 record clearly works against the coach. "You can say I have an open mind as far as any conversation I'm going to have," Walsh said. "I still don't think we've played well, there's a lot of ...

Agreement Reached to Make Changes to MLB Drug Policy
Published 4/10/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
A tentative agreement that further strengthens MLB’s drug testing policy has been reached, marking the third time the Joint Drug Agreement (JDA) has been altered in mid-term of a collective bargaining agreement (see the current JDA). The changes, which have been in the works for weeks, will center on further recommendations from the Mitchell Report. According to lawyers familiar with the changes to the policy, an independent overseer of the drug testing program will be appointed. As reported by the NY Times: The overseer will be appointed to a fixed term and will be given many protections from dismissal, said ...

US Firm Dresses Clergy for Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium
Published 4/10/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
With Yankee Stadium now in its final season, there has been talk of the final game ever being played within The House That Ruth Built being an outdoor NHL game. But, the final year of Yankee Stadium will see something completely different when Pope Benedict XVI visits later this month. While this author is not Catholic, the following news by way of press release is one of those, "You never thought of that" bit of news interesting enough to pass along. When the faithful come forward for communion at the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium on April 20th, they will be served by 500 Catholic priests and ...

CBS’ ‘Shinning Moment’ Down 6% from Last Year
Published 4/10/2008 by Nick Kappel at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
How is the ratings game, as it pertains to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship? Here's how the Final rated... As reported by Mediaweek: The CBS Sports telecast of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship final game last night (April 7), in which Kansas defeated Memphis 75-68 in overtime, averaged a 12.8/20 rating in the metered markets, down 6 percent from last year’s Florida vs. Ohio State final, which averaged 13.6/22, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Kansas fought back from a nine-point deficit with 2:12 remaining in regulation to force overtime on a three-point shot by Mario Chalmers ...

MLB Drug Policy Oversight Will Not Be Wholly Independent
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
As reported earlier Thursday (Agreement Reached to Make Changes to MLB Drug Policy), management and the union representing the players are on the verge of updating MLB’s drug testing policy (see the current Joint Drug Agreement) by removing the current health policy advisory committee (HPAC), and moving to a new system with oversight by an independent body. Word late Thursday is that while the system of testing by an independent will be instituted but they may not have oversight over every aspect of administering the policy. As reported by The AP: Negotiators are close to an agreement that would ...

Nike and Kobe Bryant Launch Hyperdunk Basketball Shoe
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Nike and Kobe Bryant this week launched the Nike Hyperdunk, which Nike touts as the "lightest and strongest basketball shoe ever." Nike unveiled the technology in advance of the Olymics in Beijing this summer. “Our performance product for Beijing is some of the best work Nike has ever done,” said Nike President and CEO Mark Parker. “The Nike Hyperdunk is a prime example of our commitment to deliver extraordinary innovation and lightweight performance product to the world’s best athletes. Every gram counts in competition. Athletes need superior lightweight footwear and apparel that they can compete in with confidence and that’s exactly what we’ve ...

Bears and United Airlines Reach Naming Deal for former Cadillac Club at Soldier Field
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
When the Chicago Bears season kicks-off this year, fans checking in to the club section of Soldier Field will find a newly named premium lounge, the United Club. As part of a renewed, seven-year partnership agreement between United and the Bears, United will have the home ...

Curse? Red Sox T-Shirt in Slab of New Yankee Stadium
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
Could the Yankees become cursed? A Red Sox fan working on the new Yankee Stadium has reportedly buried a tee-shirt in the concrete slab of the visiting team’s locker room in an unknown location. As reported by the NY Post ...

NBA.com Shatters Traffic Record. Kobe Bryant & Pau Gasol Lead in Rankings
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently leading three major traffic categories on NBA.com this 2007-08 NBA season.  Lakers guard Kobe Bryant leads the top 10 list as the most popular NBA player page on NBA.com, with more than 2.5 million page views received to date, marking the second straight season his player page has been the most viewed.  Lakers trade acquisition Pau Gasol currently leads all international players with more than 1.3 million page views, and the Lakers are leading all NBA team Web sites with nearly 50 million page views to date.   During March 2008, NBA.com set the all-time monthly traffic record to the site with more than 191 ...

Bryant Gumbel Leaves NFL Network: "We'd all be better served going in different directions"
Published 4/11/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
After two-years, Bryant Gumbel has left the NFL Network, leaving the league-run net to hunt for a replacement to team with Cris Collinsworth. "I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to call NFL Network games the past two years, which was a new experience for me," Gumbel said in a statement. "But we've agreed that we'd all be better served going in different directions." NFL Network has already started the search for the replacement for Gumbel. ...

On Baseball Prospectus: Not Quite Catching All the Action
Published 4/12/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
With the weekend upon us, many of you are thinking, “I’ll catch some games on MLB Extra Innings, or on MLB.TV”, well... not really. Today, on Baseball Prospectus, I go over the national and local blackout policy for those stuck with MLB Extra Innings, MLB.TV and blank screens today. As I write in Blackout Blues: Not Quite Catching All the Action: Let's start with MLB's pure money grab: national exclusivity deals. Every Saturday, from 1:10 PM ET or before 7:05 PM ET, all games are blacked out due to an exclusivity agreement with FOX, which typically broadcasts one ...

See It: NBA D-League Schedule Set
Published 4/13/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Idaho Stampede and the Austin Toros have secured the top seeds and a bye in the opening round of the 2008 NBA Development League Playoffs presented by Delta. The D-League playoffs will begin on Tuesday, April 15, in Bismarck and Los Angeles. ...

When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism
Published 4/13/2008 by maury at Maury Brown's Biz of Sports
There is no category for this topic here. There is baseball, basketball, hockey, football, and auto racing, but there is nothing for topics of far more importance. This, being my personal blog, has been about commentary on sports. It has never been about my views on matters outside of that. And, it has never been a place where you would find anything personal. Today, that changes as I find myself placed in a new cause. It is one that touches myself, my family, and as I will outline below, a growing and alarming number of families. Over the past year, our youngest son has not been developing at the rate that most children do. At first, we ...

Quotes from Buck Martinez Today on TBS
Published 4/13/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
The following are quotes from Buck Martinez during today's Cubs v. Phillies game on TBS.  Chicago Cubs (6) @ Philadelphia Phillies (5) (10 innings) Announcers Chip Caray and Buck Martinez Martinez on Phillies second baseman Chase Utley: “(Chase Utley) is just a hitting machine, getting better and better with each year…When you are hot like Chase Utley you can see the ball well and you can do just about anything you want to do at the plate.” Martinez on the differences in American and Japanese pitching: “One thing ...

FOX Cuts Off Yanks/Sox Game and Switch to NASCAR
Published 4/13/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
As Yogi Berra (and Lenny Kravitz) said, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” With a rain delay for Saturday’s Yankees v. Red Sox game on FOX, the network tried to squeeze in all of the game, plus keep their contractual obligation with NASCAR to show all of the race in Phoenix. They nearly pulled it off. As reported by The AP: A long rain delay during Saturday's Yankees-Red Sox matchup on Fox created the possibility that the game would overlap with the NASCAR race from Phoenix. Fox gambled that it could squeeze in both events -- and came up two pitches short. The final out was televised on ...

Dunkin' Donuts Selects FSG for Marketing Campaign
Published 4/14/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) today announced that Dunkin' Donuts, the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, has selected FSG as its sports marketing agency of record.   In this role, FSG will help Dunkin' Donuts shape its sports marketing strategy, develop programs that leverage Dunkin's current broad-ranging portfolio of marketing assets, and maximize the value of its future sports, entertainment and event marketing partnerships. FSG will also work with Dunkin' Donuts' national sponsorships team and field marketing managers to negotiate potential sports properties, agreements, and provide tactical support for its ...

The Spurs Can’t Push the Suns Around Anymore
Published 4/14/2008 by David Friedman at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Regardless of what the standings say or what certain "experts" declare, arguably the two strongest and most well rounded teams in the West are the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns--and last Wednesday the Suns demolished the Spurs 96-79 in San Antonio. This is the Suns' second win in a row versus the Spurs since acquiring Shaquille O'Neal and just their third win in San Antonio in their last 15 tries. Amare Stoudemire finished with 21 points and four rebounds, leading a parade of six Phoenix players who scored in double figures, including Shaquille O'Neal (16 points on 7-9 shooting plus nine rebounds in just 24 minutes), Leandro Barbosa (14 points) and ...

Best Screenplay Oscar Goes To: Four Men and a Jersey
Published 4/14/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
There are no Oscars for Major League Baseball. Nothing like the studio wars in the ‘30s and ‘40s when the likes of MGM and Warner Brothers vied for the theater going public. But, baseball has a rivalry like no other that could come out of Hollywood central casting in the Red Sox and Yankees. Few, if any, haven’t heard the news that a construction worker placed a David Ortiz Red Sox jersey in a cement slab at new Yankee Stadium in an attempt to “curse” the Yankees. This act would have been a Rembrandt if not for the fact that the construction worker tipped off some fellow workers, who then ratted him out. If he had taken a ...

Blackout Restriction Lifted For Johnson's DBack Return
Published 4/14/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
MLB.com will exclusively stream a free special presentation of MLB.TV when Randy Johnson makes his season debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at 10:15 p.m. (EDT). The game will be available without local blackout restrictions in the Phoenix broadcast territory. "We are grateful for the leadership of Jeff Moorad and Derrick Hall in providing Diamondbacks fans this exclusive opportunity to see tonight's game," said Dinn Mann, executive vice president, Content, MLB.com. "By agreeing to lift the local blackout, FOX Sports Net Arizona demonstrated a tremendous spirit of partnership with the ballclub and the industry, giving Arizona ...

"NBA on TNT" Sees Double-Digit Ratings Growth, Key Demo Wins
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
TNT announced today that it scored big with its 2007-08 NBA regular season coverage delivering double-digit growth in ratings, households and key demos. For the 52 games the network yielded a 1.1 US rating, a 13% increase over the prior season, as well as a 14% increase in households (1,211,000 vs. 1,061,000). Additionally, TNT experienced major growth across all key demos, yielding increases of 25% or higher across audiences including A18-34, A18-49, A25-54, M18-34, M18-49 and M25-54. “This NBA season has been intensified by compelling trades, competitions and storylines and we’re thrilled that fans have been tuning in to TNT each week to watch the ...

Blue Note? Blazers Request Waivers on Darius Miles
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Pursuant to NBA procedures with regard to career-ending injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers have requested waivers on forward Darius Miles, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today. An independent medical examiner jointly appointed by the NBA and the NBA Players Association examined Miles and determined that the damage to Miles’ right knee is severe enough to qualify as a career-ending injury. Miles has missed all of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons, last appearing in a game for the Trail Blazers on April 15, 2006. “Given the serious nature of his knee injury, we agree with the doctor’s conclusion that Darius has sustained a ...

NBA Extends Digital Archiving Deal. Plans to Eventually Archive All 400,000 Hours of Film
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The NBA and computer solutions company SGI today announced a multiyear extension of their relationship to expand the league's digital workflow and media management system, the NBA Digital Media Management System. NBA Digital Media Management System was launched during the 2006-2007 season with SGI and allows the league to simultaneously ingest and archive footage from up to 14 NBA games, edit the archival content on the fly, provide full game broadcasts, clips and other NBA content to 214 countries worldwide. The new agreement will allow the NBA to accelerate and double the historical digital archiving effort by ingesting 60,000 hours of video ...

DirecTV Offering All Mariners Games on FSNW
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
Those wishing to watch the Mariners on DirecTV, Liberty Media’s buyout of News Corp’s 41 percent stake in DirecTV means they now own FSN Northwest. According to Multichannel News, In announcing the additional games package, DirecTV said it now has a leg up on cable operator GCI, which has not yet struck a new deal, in bringing all of the Mariners actions to baseball fans in Alaska. The deal means an extra 45 games will be shown on the satcaster. Financial terms were not disclosed. What do you think? Don't forget to leave your comments ...

Randy Moss Chooses Pony International for Shoe Line
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Today, Pony International announced the company has agreed to an exclusive partnership to design the Randy Moss signature athletic footwear and clothing line. The first wave of Pony's Moss branded gear will arrive in stores August 1, 2008. "I get approached to endorse a ton of stuff each year that really doesn't mesh with who I am or what is important in my life, this agreement with Pony lets me help to give back and help the next wave of young players coming up," said Moss. "I really appreciated the way Pony presented their concepts for my signature brand and wanted to make a great performance line of clothes and shoes for the serious competitor to ...

TNT Announces NBA Playoff Announcer Teams
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Turner Network Television (TNT) today released its announcing teams for the network’s 40 games in 40 nights of NBA Playoffs coverage. TNT has exclusive coverage of the entire Western Conference Finals. TNT will use its full slate of NBA announcers with play-by-play veteran Marv Albert paired with analyst Reggie Miller, Kevin Harlan will provide play-by-play alongside analyst Doug Collins, and Dick Stockton will team with analyst Mike Fratello. Returning to the network for this year’s playoff coverage play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin will team up with an analyst to be announced. Sideline reporters include Craig Sager, David Aldridge and Cheryl Miller, with ...

The BSN’s Sports Challenge for Autism Awareness
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
As the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, I want to issue a challenge to those in the sports media: spread autism awareness. Over the last 48 hours, I have seen mainstream and alternative media rise to this occasion since I made it known publicly that one of our sons has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (see details here at When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism). Those outlets and individuals include: Tim Lemke of the Washington Times (Helping Autism Research) Carolyn Hastings with ...

The Business of Sports Network's Sports Challenge for Autism Awarenes
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
As the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, I want to issue a challenge to those in the sports media to a challenge: spread autism awareness. Over the last 48 hours, I have seen mainstream and alterative media rise to this occasion since I made it known publicly that one of our sons has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (see details here at When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism). Those outlets and individuals include: Tim Lemke of the Washington Times (Helping Autism Research) Carolyn ...

The Business of Sports Network's Sports Challenge for Autism Awarenes
Published 4/15/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
As the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, I want to issue a challenge to those in the sports media to a challenge: spread autism awareness. Over the last 48 hours, I have seen mainstream and alterative media rise to this occasion since I made it known publicly that one of our sons has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (see details here at When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism). Those outlets and individuals include: Tim Lemke of the Washington Times (Helping Autism Research) Carolyn ...

Harold Reynolds Settles Suit With ESPN
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
In July of 2006, former MLB player and television analyst Harold Reynolds was fired from ESPN after he was accused of sexual harassment for a hug that Reynolds claims was “a total misunderstanding.” In the first interview after being fired (read the interview with Charley Steiner here on Maury Brown’s Biz of Sports) Reynolds said, “What I can tell you is number one that my conscious is clear on this whole issue. I feel like I was wrongfully terminated.” He filed a wrongful termination suit against ESPN in October of ’06 (see Harold Reynolds v ESPN), and was seeking up ...

2008-2009 NFL Schedule Announced
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The NFL announced today its 17-week, 256-game regular-season schedule for 2008, which kicks off on Thursday night, September 4 and concludes on Sunday, December 28.  The season begins with the NFL’s annual Thursday primetime kickoff game.  This year the opener on September 4 on NBC (7:00 PM ET) features the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants at home against the NFC East Division-rival Washington Redskins.     In a format introduced in 2004, the Super Bowl champion hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff.  Super Bowl XLIII will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, followed by the AFC-NFC Pro ...

Nestles, Minor League Baseball Reach Sponsorship Deal
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
Nestles and MiLB have reached a sponsorship deal by hosting Nestle Drumstick Family Days at ballparks around the country. During these family-centric events, Drumstick will provide ticket discounts and activities for families, as well as visits from the Nestle Drumstick Family Days tour, which is touring the nation in support of the MiLB sponsorship. In addition to the Nestle Drumstick Family Days, selected MiLB teams will also be hosting birthday parties, which include ticket discounts, recognition by the team, special Nestle Drumstick-branded birthday gifts and, Nestle Drumstick cones. Nestle Drumstick cones are topping off this partnership ...

Sports Media Journal Interviews Maury Brown
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
For those interested in how the Business of Sports Network was started, and where it is headed, Sports Media Journal has an interview today with me on a broad range of topics. SMJ Interview- Maury Brown, Business of Sports Network. Here's a sample... SMJ- What was the impetus, and timeline, in creating the four sports-specific “Biz” sites? M.B.- The Biz of Baseball was launched in September of 2006 based on the idea that you could have a central location where a vast amount of information in the way of documents, stadium ...

Yardbarker Taps ESPN Sales Veteran Tim Ware as VP
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
Yardbarker, the online sports community and branded vertical ad network, announced today that it has hired digital sales veteran Tim Ware as Vice President of Advertising Sales. The Business of Sports Network (Bizball LLC) has recently signed on as a partner in the Yardbarker Network. With nearly 20 years experience in the electronic media space, including the last nine with ESPN Internet Group, Ware has been charged with ramping up Yardbarker's advertising business and has opened the company's New York office. He will report directly to CEO Pete Vlastelica. The hire comes just two weeks ...

Eagles Select Ticketmaster for Secondary Ticket Sales
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Philadelphia Eagles have selected TicketExchange by Ticketmaster as the team's authorized resaler for secondary ticket sales. Season ticket holders will be able to use Eagles TicketExchange to post tickets for resale to other fans. "We chose TicketExchange in response to demand from our fans and season ticketholders for a safe and convenient way to buy or resell Eagles tickets," said Mark Donovan, Senior Vice President of Business Operations for the Eagles. "TicketExchange will give fans more opportunities to secure hard-to-get tickets to Eagles games at Lincoln Financial Field." Ticketmaster will also continue to serve as the team's ...

Running on "Good Faith": Why Sonics Ownership Will Slip Out the Door on a Flagrent Foul
Published 4/16/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
On more than one occasion, I’ve been told that business and sports just, “Ain’t right.” In other words, the pureness of sports (whatever that is today) is bastardized by rich fat cats and convoluted legalese. And, you can often times, step back, be dispassionate about major league sports, and say, “Never forget that it’s a business first and foremost.” Well, I seem to talk a good talk on that last point. You can’t help and look at the case of the, at least for now, Seattle SuperSonics and say that a words like “intent” and “good faith” have been given such a broad definition that you could drive a truck through it. When the embarrassing news ...

Forbes Releases 2008 Annual MLB Club Valuations
Published 4/17/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Baseball
An annual rite of passage has come, yet again. One that many will pour over, and owners will scoff. Forbes magazine has released their valuations of all 30 clubs in Major League Baseball. It should be no surprise who is ranked the highest. As reported by Forbes: Upshot: Team owners are getting rich like never before. During 2007, revenue for MLB's 30 teams went up 7.7%, to $5.5 billion. The average team is now worth $472 million, 9.5% higher than last year and 143% more than when Forbes first calculated team values in 1998. Again the Bronx Bombers sit atop baseball with a value of $1.3 billion. George Steinbrenner, ...

TNT Announces NBA Playoff Schedule. Adds Mike Dunleavy as Playoff Analyst
Published 4/17/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
TNT announced today that coverage of the NBA Playoffs tips off this Sun., April 20 at Noon ET with a special half-hour preview of the playoff match-ups featuring Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Magic Johnson. The preview show will be followed by a tripleheader starting with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic hosting Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors at 12:30 p.m. ET in the first game of the series. Calling the action will be L.A. Clippers head coach and former NBA Coach of the Year Mike Dunleavy who will partner with play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin; Stephanie Ready will provide courtside reports. At 6 p.m. ET, Andre Iguodala and the ...

Post Season Hardware Picks from Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Reggie Miller
Published 4/17/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The following are the picks for post-season hardware by TNT NBA analysts, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Reggie Miller: Source: TNT OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK When Sports Becomes a Small Matter: A Child and Autism - Maury Brown's Biz of ...

Simon Says: Pacers Co-owner Hires Himself to Replace Donnie Walsh
Published 4/18/2008 by Nick Kappel at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon announced on Wednesday that he will step in as CEO of Pacers Sports Entertainment after 25 years of hands-off ownership. The announcement comes three weeks after former president and CEO Donnie Walsh left the team to become president of the New York Knicks. ...

Owners Approve Relocation of Sonics. Legal Battles Will Determine Fate
Published 4/18/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
At the NBA Board of Governors meeting today in New York, the league’s 30 owners approved the request for relocation of the SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, 28-2, with Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks and Paul Allen of the Portland Trail Blazers voting against the move. With the approval, Seattle can only hope that legal challenges will keep the team in place until at least 2010. Other lawsuits are pending, as well. As reported by The AP: Seattle has filed suit trying to force the Sonics to remain in the city until the lease expires in 2010, while Bennett wants to buy out the remainder. The city already has rejected Bennett's ...

Biz of Football's NFL Mock Draft by Nick Kappel
Published 4/19/2008 by Nick Kappel at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
    The following is a Mock Draft by Business of Sports Network staff member, Nick Kappel While I expect several trades to complicate the first round on draft day, it is impossible for me to predict them in a mock draft. These picks are based mainly on team need and player rankings. If enough change happens in the ...

D-League Finals Schedule Released
Published 4/20/2008 by Maury Brown at The Biz of Basketball :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
The Idaho Stampede and the Austin Toros will play for the 2008 NBA Development League Championship in a best-of-three Finals series beginning on Monday, April 21 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET. The regular season West Division champions, the Stampede advanced to the Finals with a 97-90 victory over Los Angeles D-Fenders on Friday. The Toros, the Southwest Division Champion advanced by defeating the Sioux Falls Skyforce , 99-93, tonight in Austin. By virtue of their league-leading regular season record, the Stampede secured home court advantage and will host games two and three of the Finals. Game ...