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07-18-2007, 02:51 AM
Mike Finger
San Antonio Express-News
In mid-July, the biggest news in sports comes not from the playing fields but from the front offices and boardrooms. Most of the negotiations are far from over. But it's never too early to break them down.
THE DEAL: The inception of a Division I college football playoff.
THE DETAILS: The New York Post reported Tuesday there is growing support among athletic directors, conference offices and TV networks for a four-team playoff within the current BCS format. The first football "Final Four" could be played in 2011.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: The changes are approved and embraced, paving the way for the dream scenario — an eight-team playoff featuring the six major conference champions and two at-large teams.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: The college presidents and bowl executives once again balk at the idea, dooming college football to another century of mythical championships.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Uncertain. But it probably ends with someone from either Boise State or Notre Dame whining.
THE DEAL: The purchase of the Chicago Cubs by Mark Cuban.
THE DETAILS: The Dallas Mavericks owner submitted an application this month to Major League Baseball to examine the finances of the Cubs, who are up for sale.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Empowered by an owner who actually cares about winning, one of the most storied franchises in sports finally gets back to the World Series.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: Cuban banishes a small-but-dazzling player (Alfonso Soriano) to Phoenix and decides to build the team around a 7-foot David Hasselhoff fan.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Bud Selig bumps into David Stern at the same after-hours support group.
THE DEAL: The acquisition of Ime Udoka by the Spurs.
THE DETAILS: In search of a small forward to play behind Bruce Bowen, the Spurs reportedly are in talks with Udoka, an unrestricted free agent who averaged 8.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last year for Portland.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Udoka, a well-traveled guy with a good 3-point stroke and a knack for tough defense, turns himself into the next Bowen.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: Udoka sits behind the bench in a sport coat all season, then is traded with Ian Mahinmi to Houston for a guy who refuses to leave Latvia.
LIKELY OUTCOME: He signs with the Spurs and delivers a solid-but-unspectacular season, leading R.C. Buford disciples Sam Presti and Danny Ferry to wage a bidding war over Udoka's cousin next summer.
THE DEAL: Fire-sale trades by the Rangers and Astros.
THE DETAILS: With the state's two major-league teams hopelessly out of the playoff race, big-name players such as Mark Teixeira, Eric Gagne and Brad Lidge could be packing their bags by the end of the month.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Taking advantage of teams panicking at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Rangers and Astros are able to deal their expensive stars for young talent that pays dividends in the 2008 and 2009 races.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: General managers Jon Daniels and Tim Purpura settle for underwhelming packages in return and give away their stars for fringe prospects who never pan out.
LIKELY OUTCOME: All the big names stay put, with the only blockbuster coming when the Rangers trade Sammy Sosa to the Twins for a bag of (uncorked) bats and a player to be named later.
THE DEAL: Texas A&M gets a new shoe-company sponsor.
THE DETAILS: The Aggies have ended their relationship with Nike and signed a lucrative contract with adidas.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Using the millions of dollars from the deal to invest in its already state-of-the-art facilities, A&M strengthens its reputation as a rising program.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: YouTube clips of Dennis Franchione wearing adidas' new TechFit Fusion sleeveless workout tee.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Just when A&M gets used to having the adidas stripes around, they up and leave for Kentucky.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA07182007.01CMike_Finger_Column.2bc7530.html
San Antonio Express-News
In mid-July, the biggest news in sports comes not from the playing fields but from the front offices and boardrooms. Most of the negotiations are far from over. But it's never too early to break them down.
THE DEAL: The inception of a Division I college football playoff.
THE DETAILS: The New York Post reported Tuesday there is growing support among athletic directors, conference offices and TV networks for a four-team playoff within the current BCS format. The first football "Final Four" could be played in 2011.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: The changes are approved and embraced, paving the way for the dream scenario — an eight-team playoff featuring the six major conference champions and two at-large teams.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: The college presidents and bowl executives once again balk at the idea, dooming college football to another century of mythical championships.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Uncertain. But it probably ends with someone from either Boise State or Notre Dame whining.
THE DEAL: The purchase of the Chicago Cubs by Mark Cuban.
THE DETAILS: The Dallas Mavericks owner submitted an application this month to Major League Baseball to examine the finances of the Cubs, who are up for sale.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Empowered by an owner who actually cares about winning, one of the most storied franchises in sports finally gets back to the World Series.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: Cuban banishes a small-but-dazzling player (Alfonso Soriano) to Phoenix and decides to build the team around a 7-foot David Hasselhoff fan.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Bud Selig bumps into David Stern at the same after-hours support group.
THE DEAL: The acquisition of Ime Udoka by the Spurs.
THE DETAILS: In search of a small forward to play behind Bruce Bowen, the Spurs reportedly are in talks with Udoka, an unrestricted free agent who averaged 8.4 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last year for Portland.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Udoka, a well-traveled guy with a good 3-point stroke and a knack for tough defense, turns himself into the next Bowen.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: Udoka sits behind the bench in a sport coat all season, then is traded with Ian Mahinmi to Houston for a guy who refuses to leave Latvia.
LIKELY OUTCOME: He signs with the Spurs and delivers a solid-but-unspectacular season, leading R.C. Buford disciples Sam Presti and Danny Ferry to wage a bidding war over Udoka's cousin next summer.
THE DEAL: Fire-sale trades by the Rangers and Astros.
THE DETAILS: With the state's two major-league teams hopelessly out of the playoff race, big-name players such as Mark Teixeira, Eric Gagne and Brad Lidge could be packing their bags by the end of the month.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Taking advantage of teams panicking at the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Rangers and Astros are able to deal their expensive stars for young talent that pays dividends in the 2008 and 2009 races.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: General managers Jon Daniels and Tim Purpura settle for underwhelming packages in return and give away their stars for fringe prospects who never pan out.
LIKELY OUTCOME: All the big names stay put, with the only blockbuster coming when the Rangers trade Sammy Sosa to the Twins for a bag of (uncorked) bats and a player to be named later.
THE DEAL: Texas A&M gets a new shoe-company sponsor.
THE DETAILS: The Aggies have ended their relationship with Nike and signed a lucrative contract with adidas.
BEST-CASE OUTCOME: Using the millions of dollars from the deal to invest in its already state-of-the-art facilities, A&M strengthens its reputation as a rising program.
WORST-CASE OUTCOME: YouTube clips of Dennis Franchione wearing adidas' new TechFit Fusion sleeveless workout tee.
LIKELY OUTCOME: Just when A&M gets used to having the adidas stripes around, they up and leave for Kentucky.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA07182007.01CMike_Finger_Column.2bc7530.html