Angel owner Jackie Autry denied a report in yesterday's L.A.
TIMES that she and husband Gene Autry are trying to sell the club
for $130M. Jackie Autry: "No one outside myself knows about
this. Gene doesn't even know about it. That's why I've been so
sensitive to keep it out of the papers. I have told interested
parties the club is not for sale at this time, and that remains
the situation." Autry said she is only trying to sell a minority
interest in the club and that the minority owner "would
immediately be in charge of day-to-day operations." However,
sources close to Autry "insist that a prospective buyer would be
a minority owner only until" Gene Autry's death. Autry has
"engaged only preliminary talks" with four prospective buyers,
and she would not identify a front runner, but the Walt Disney
Co. "apparently is falling out of contention." Lakers owner Dr.
Jerry Buss said he would be interested in buying the Angels but
has yet to negotiate with Autry (Bob Nightengale, L.A. TIMES,
9/16). ESPN's Gary Miller, during the 2am edition: "Jackie
Autry said they are only exploring selling a minor interest in
Angel ownership, terming the report in the L.A. Times a total
fabrication" ("SportsCenter," 9/15).
