In his most direct statement to date, Orioles Owner Peter
Angelos called the Buccaneers "eminently moveable" and that his
offer of $200M for the team is still on the table. Angelos made
these comments in an interview in this morning's ST. PETERSBURG
TIMES. Angelos cited the 35,000 in attendance at last Sunday's
Bucs/Rams game: "That simply isn't enough fan support to
justify, it seems to me, the retention of an NFL franchise in a
given metropolitan area." Regarding his offer of $200M last
August for the Bucs, Angelos said "one can logically assume that
that is a number that's available since nothing has drastically
changed with regard to the need for a franchise in Baltimore."
He also discounted reports the NFL would interfere if he tried to
move the team. Angelos: "Why should we have a battle (with the
NFL)? We will guarantee 70,000 people will attend each game.
All the sky boxes are sold. All the premium seats are sold. ...
and every team that comes to Baltimore will go home with at least
a $1 million check" (Topkin/Stroud/ Testerman, ST. PETERSBURG
TIMES, 12/15). Angelos, on statements by Bucs trust member Steve
Story that no offers have been made for the team: "We have not
withdrawn the proposal that was made to the Culverhouse
representatives" (Jon Morgan, Baltimore SUN, 12/15).
TOUGH COMPETITION: Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner
"confirmed" last night that former Chrysler Chair Lee Iacocca and
Twins Owner Carl Pohlad are "prospective buyers" in his group
pursuing the Bucs (Topkin/Stroud/Testerman, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES,
12/15).
