The CFL may have suffered a "setback" yesterday when Larry
O'Brien, President of Calian Technology, informed CFL Chair John
Tory he was not interested in gaining control of the Ottawa Rough
Riders. But today's OTTAWA CITIZEN reports sources confirming
that Calian's minority shareholder, COMSAT, owners of the NBA's
Nuggets, may be interested in the Rough Riders. Tory hopes to
have the sale of the Riders completed by February 15 to any group
interested in keeping the team in Ottawa. But the team's heavy
debt, as well as the lack of any CFL expansion revenues for an
"unspecified period" has kept prospective buyers away. O'Brien
would not specify why he "gave up on the Riders," but he viewed
the team as a good business opportunity. O'Brien: "I realized
owning a CFL team is not a part-time position. ... I realized we
should not go forward." Tory stated he was "buoyed by the
interest" of a U.S. based party who would keep the team in
Ottawa. Sources later confirmed the party as COMSAT (Don
Campbell, OTTAWA CITIZEN, 1/26).
NEWS & NOTES: At the CFL league meetings in Edmonton, the
league voted to retain its East-West Division format.
Representatives for both the Rough Riders, and Las Vegas Posse
failed to show up -- "It didn't look good for a league trying to
get its house in order" (Kent Spencer, Vancouver PROVINCE, 1/26).
The latest home for the Posse is reported to be Jackson, MS, with
reports that two Mobile, AL, businessmen are ready to buy the
team and move them to Jackson (Gary Kingston, VANCOUVER SUN,
1/26). Winnipeg GM/Coach Cal Murphy urged a "go slow" approach:
"Baltimore, Birmingham, and Shreveport are pretty solid and I
think Memphis will be solid as well. But it's important we go
into the right markets" (Reg Curren, CP/Toronto GLOBE & MAIL,
1/26).
