With no offers for the Buccaneers on the "horizon, the trust
that owns the team has devised a way to pump some wind into their
sale." A deadline for submitting an offer may be announced to
prospective owners in an "effort to accelerate the deal" (Rick
Stroud, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/14). Jack Donlan, a member of
the three-man trust in charge of selling the team, said the team
needs to prepare for next season, adding, "You have to get things
in place." Trustee Steve Story said the deadline would be placed
on prospective owners "to get things going -- to get a deal
done." The notion of a deadline drew criticism from local
bidders. Tommy Shannon, point-man of a group from Outback
Steakhouse: "I don't understand the sale process. I don't think
anyone does. Is it a sealed bid? An auction? Are they going to
shop around the bids?" Shannon added: "You're buying this at
peak value. This is not a good time to buy" (Joe Henderson,
TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/14). Palm Beach millionaire and interested
buyer, George Lindemann: "It looks like they want us to make an
offer and then they'll shop it around to the next guys. ... No
one is going to make an offer on that basis" (Rick Stroud, ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES, 12/14)
STARR QUALITY: Bart Starr met with Story for 30-minutes
yesterday stating his interest. Story said Starr's group would
keep the Bucs in Tampa (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 12/14).
