FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Brad Humphreys spends a lot of time studying the economics of professional sports. It's his specialty, and the University of Alberta economics professor says there's a good reason why there is no NFL team in Los Angeles. "Leverage," he said. Since the Raiders and Rams left in 1995, Los Angeles has been the NFL's boogeyman, an illusory threat to markets that don't sell enough tickets, or won't subsidize a new stadium -- illusory because Los Angeles has traditionally had the same problems that plague other troubled markets. Suddenly, however, the boogeyman is real, and the Minnesota Vikings are in his sights. Not only is relocation a real threat, it seems to be the Vikings' only real leverage as they push for a stadium they deem vital to the health of the franchise -- a new home built on the Metrodome site estimated to cost at least $900 million. Developments Thursday indicate the team is ready to play hardball.

St. Paul Pioneer Press

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Several clubs have expressed interest in Jason Bay in what is a down market for upper-level talent. "Without getting into numbers of clubs, there's been - I'd use the word "extraordinary" level of interest," said Bay's agent, Joe Urbon. "There hasn't been any surprise in the clubs that have contacted us." Urbon declined to comment on the specifics of the negotiations with the Sox, though Sports Illustrated reported that Bay had rejected a four-year offer for approximately $60 million from Boston.

Boston Globe

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Mike D'Antoni fears the Knicks' roster might not be better than its horrible 2-9 start and is concerned a 20-win season would scare away LeBron James. At one point yesterday, D'Antoni referred to the Knicks as "dead in the water," but he quickly corrected himself. If Allen Iverson sparkles and warrants a new contract, he could turn into a lure for James. Leon Rose is the agent for both James and Iverson, who has the Knicks on top of his list.

New York Post

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While the focus at Vancouver Canucks practice Thursday was supposed to be on the impending return of sniper Daniel Sedin, much of the attention instead centred around a shot that had nothing to do with pucks. British Columbia's provincial health officer says members of the National Hockey League team jumped the queue when they received their H1N1 vaccinations earlier this week.

The Globe and Mail

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You don???t have to be at courtside to get a favorable impression of Tennessee basketball. An upper-deck view was just fine for Tobias Harris. Two days after watching the Vols from the upper deck at Thompson-Boling Arena, the highly sought-after power forward from Half Hollow Hills West High in Glen Head, N.Y., announced that he had signed with UT. he 6-foot-8, 210-pound Harris, who made his announcement live on ESPNU on Thursday evening, is the highest-rated player ever to sign with the Vols, according to recruiting-service rankings.

Tennessean

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Landon Donovan has never lost an MLS championship final, and has claimed the top prize three times - in 2001, 2003 and 2005. He stated that in some ways, this game will mean more because of the Galaxy's recent prolonged absence from the playoffs. What is unstated, but still a lingering truth, is that 2009 may also be Donovan's final year in MLS and his last chance at the domestic title.

goal.com

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When UFC President Dana White criticizes Fedor Emelianenko's decision to fight on M-1 Global and Strikeforce co-promoted cards instead of fighting in the UFC, he likes to say it's proof that Fedor doesn't want to fight the best on a consistent basis.

mmafighting.com

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Rusty Wallace Racing is moving its Nationwide Series team from Chevrolet to Toyota next season. Wallace, who is a NASCAR analyst for ESPN, also will represent the Toyota brand on a national basis. His team will field cars for Steve Wallace and Brendan Gaughan. RWR had used Chevrolets the past two seasons.

Associated Press

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So where does Marty Evans go from here? The acting commissioner steps aside on Jan. 4 when Michael Whan takes over, but Evans gave up her spot on the LPGA Board of Directors to assume her interim role. Evans could rejoin the board with two openings for independent directors to be filled sometime early next year, but Golf World reported this week that there are some significant maneuvers under way that may reshape the board. According to sources cited in the report, Dawn Hudson will remain on the board but is unlikely to be re-elected chairwoman because of "backlash for allowing the Carolyn Bivens situation to go on for so long." Bivens was forced out as commissioner in a player revolt in July. The report also stated that Evans has told the board that she will only serve again if she is elected chairwoman, but that player directors might not support that move because of Evans' role in recent layoffs at the tour.

thegolfchannel.com

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Ana Ivanovic has spent recent weeks recharging and has turned to a familiar face -- coach Sven Groeneveld -- to restart her quest to return to the top 10. Coming off a disappointing season in which she finished with a 24-13 record, including a 3-4 mark in her last seven matches, Ivanovic has reunited with Groeneveld to prepare for the 2010 season. "I feel rested and like I am about to re-start everything. The most important thing is to stay injury free and to train in the right way," Ivanovic told the Serbian newspaper Sportski Zurnal. "I will be working again with Sven and it gives me confidence to think how well we worked together during the off-season two years ago." The 22-year-old Ivanovic reached only one final, falling to Vera Zvonareva in the Indian Wells final in March. She failed to reach a quarterfinal since Indian Wells, a streak of nine consecutive tournaments.

Tennis Week

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