Flash Seats in Court again

Electronic ticketing venture Flash Seats filed a federal lawsuit on Monday seeking to guard against what it considers patent infringement.
The lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware alleges that Irvine, Calif.-based Paciolan’s Ticket Marketplace infringes on Flash Seats’ patent for electronic ticketing. The lawsuit seeks a court order protecting its patent and awarding unspecified damages.
Flash Seats offers sports teams and live entertainment venues paperless electronic ticketing, and provides season ticket holders a way to sell and transfer seats electronically.
Sam Gerace, Cleveland-based Flash Seats’ chief executive officer, said the lawsuit was filed “to protect our customers against imitators who have not done the hard work of innovation.”
The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly a year ago were the first NBA team to agree to use the ticketing technology. Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert is also the principal owner of Flash Seats.
Paciolan provides sports and entertainment venues with the software needed for automated ticketing.
The company enables venues to sell directly to customers, unlike ticketing providers that compete with sports and entertainment organizations, Paciolan says on its Web site. In doing so, Paciolan says it helps to fill empty seats and improve customer relationships.

Source:  Business Week 
 

Eric Williams comes full circle

He has traveled a long, oft-frustrating road since being traded from the Celtics to the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2003, but forward Eric Williams was back yesterday, auditioning with three other players for an invitation to training camp.
Williams, Uruguayan power forward Esteban Batista, center Kelvin Cato and small forward Linton Johnson are all expected to continue workouts today.
Following Cleveland, Williams made stops in New Jersey, Toronto, San Antonio and Charlotte.

Ferry Vows Revenge

Cleveland Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry, who played at Duke, arrived at the Cavs’ new $25-million practice facility this week to find one of his office walls painted Carolina blue, complete with a professional-looking UNC logo and a Tar Heel footprint.

“I have no sense of humor when it comes to that,” Ferry told reporters. “This is my office for one day. Tomorrow it will be fixed.”

Pranksters also arranged for coach Mike Brown’s office to be painted pink.

Ferry promised revenge.

A quick check of the roster revealed no former Carolina players. But check out the coaching staff: John Kuester, an assistant, played for Carolina in the 1970s. But he’s probably being framed.

Other suspects? How about LeBron James?

Wine and Gold Scrimmage

Cleveland Cavaliers
CAVALIERS 2007 WINE AND GOLD SCRIMMAGE DETAILS
WHAT: Cavaliers Intrasquad Scrimamge
WHERE: University of Akron’s James A. Rhodes Arena aka The Jar
DATE/TIME: Friday, October 5. Tipoff is at 7:00 PM, doors open at 6:00 PM and the outdoor Fan Fest starts at 5:00 PM.
PARKING: Media parking is available in Lot 2. Please give your name to the lot attendant and they will direct you on where to go.  To get to Lot 2, exit Route 8 at the Carroll/Buchtel exit and proceed west on Carroll Blvd before turning right into Lot 2

Lebron Not Impressed With The Celtics, For Now!

LeBron James and several of his fellow NBA Eastern Conference stars have been impressed with how the Celtics put together a star trio of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce in the offseason. James and Co., however, believe the jury is still out on whether the Celtics can immediately jell into an East power.

“You can’t say that right now,” said James, a three-time NBA All-Star. “They have enough talent to compete with everyone in the NBA. But you don’t know until you go out there and play a game.”

But Pistons star Billups thinks the East might still belong to Cleveland right now. “You got to go with Cleveland right now,” He said. “They won the East last year.”

Source: Boston.com

Pavlovic Threats to Play In Europe

Last Friday Pavlovic’s agent, Marc Cornstein, indicated that the sides were ”very far apart” on contract terms, and said Pavlovic may consider playing in Europe next season if he can’t come to terms on a long-term contract with the Cavs.

Danny Ferry didn’t comment on the matter as has been his position all summer, said he would not comment on ongoing talks.

Pavlovic and his agent’s threats seem to be hollow. Most European teams have started training camps already, and most rosters are filled. Also, Sasha never played in Europe’s pro leagues.

Pavlovic is a restricted free agent, if he cannot get another team to sign him to an offer sheet, or come to a long-term agreement with the Cavs, he would be required to take a one-year qualifying offer of $2.8 million.

Source: Akron Beacon Journal

James to Host SNL season opener

Chart-topping hip-hop artist Kanye West and NBA superstar LeBron James have signed on to headline “Saturday Night Live’s” 33rd season premiere in New York.

This marks the second time West will perform on an “SNL” season opener, NBC said.

The first episode of the new season of the sketch comedy show is slated to air on NBC Sept. 29 with James, a forward for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, playing host.

Ben Wallace Speaks Out

Ben Wallace speaks with WDFN-AM during a recent stint in Michigan to spread the word about the new, low-cost ($14.98) basketball shoes he’s promoting.
Wallace says he knew Cleveland would come out strong, but was still surprised the Pistons lost the series.
While watching the series, he says couldn’t help but think of what he would have done had he still been in a Pistons uniform while LeBron James was blowing through the Pistons’ defense. “Somebody’s gotta step up and try to stop this guy,” Wallace says, “send him to the foul line or something.”
Regardless of the loss to the Pistons last year, “it was a great learning experience for a young group of guys.” And he’s confident with where the Bulls stand right now. “We’re definitely in a position where we can compete with anybody in this league.”

Source:  Mlive.Com