Pregame Show Is Called a ‘Disaster’

The Disney pregame show that got booed on opening night Wednesday also drew bad reviews from Disney Sports Enterprises President Tony Tavares.

“It was a disaster,” Tavares said. “I’m not blaming the fans at all. I didn’t like it either.”

The 20-minute show featured combatants wearing other teams’ jerseys who dropped from the rafters and menaced youngsters until the revamped mascot “Wild Wing” came to the rescue. The show had none of the usual fireworks or lasers and was criticized by Tavares for being “too dark.”

“No. 1, it obviously didn’t come off the way you would want it to,” he said. “No. 2, it was much more understated than anything in the past.”

The show was produced by Disneyland Entertainment, which has been involved in some previous entertainment snafus and isn’t as accustomed to the particular demands of sports productions. Tavares took some responsibility, saying he hadn’t been as involved because he is also overseeing the Angels.

*

Bernie Nicholls has lobbied to be a Mighty Duck twice, without luck.

The Ducks feigned interest in him as a free agent last summer but never made an offer.

“In the summer I thought I was going to have the opportunity to play with [Paul] Kariya and [Teemu] Selanne,” said Nicholls, who later signed with San Jose. “That would have been fabulous.”

The Ducks signed Jari Kurri instead.

After seven games, Nicholls has four goals and nine points and no ill well toward the Ducks.

“I want to play well against every team,” he said. “It wasn’t like they screwed me over. I respect their GM and the organization.”

*

Duck scratches were Kariya (abdominal injury), Valeri Karpov, Adrian Plavsic and Barry Nieckar. Shark scratches included Todd Ewen (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Marty McSorley (arthroscopic hip surgery).