In N.Y., Jack Curry reported "about 160 senior citizens who are also Yankees fans ended up getting a significant seat upgrade at Yankee Stadium on Monday afternoon as they paid $5 to sit in $375 field-level seats between first and third base." The Yankees "offer an allotment of senior-citizen tickets for $5 to about two dozen games." When the team runs out of those tickets, senior citizens "can purchase the next cheapest available ticket for half price." Since the next cheapest ticket available for yesterday's Blue Jays-Yankees game was for $375, the Yankees "realized that someone expecting to buy a $5 ticket was not going to spend an extra $182.50" ( NYTIMES.com, 7/6 ). SIGNING PERIOD : The GLOBE & MAIL's Eric Duhatschek notes the NHLPA has "filed a grievance arguing the Chicago Blackhawks failed to properly submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents by the 2009 deadline stipulated" in the CBA. An NHLPA spokesperson said that the matter is "now heading to an independent arbitrator." At issue is whether the Blackhawks "followed the proper protocols as mandated by the CBA in sending out qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, a mechanism that permits them to retain negotiating rights to the players." But the team yesterday "made a pre-emptive strike to head off the effects of any potential ruling against them by signing five" of the six affected players to new contracts ( GLOBE & MAIL, 7/7 ). PACKAGE DEAL : In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports the Vikings' signing of QB Brett Favre is "expected to be announced in time for the start of the team's single-game tickets sales July 20." The Vikings will host the Packers on October 5, and the team is "planning to require anyone buying a ticket to that game to also buy a ticket to the Aug. 21 exhibition game against" the Chiefs ( ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/7 ). MEN OF HONOR : SI.com's Jon Heyman ranked his midseason MLB Execs of the Year, listing Tigers President, CEO & GM Dave Dombrowski, Rangers GM Jon Daniels and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein as his top three AL Execs. Dodgers GM Ned Colletti, Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd and Phillies GM Ruben Amaro were ranked as his top three NL Execs ( SI.com, 7/6 ).
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