Wayne Gretzky and his agent, Mike Barnett, will meet today
with Kings Governor Bob Sanderman, who is authorized to act on
behalf of co-Owners Edward Roski and Philip Anschutz, to discuss
the probable trade of the Kings' star (Helen Elliott, L.A. TIMES,
2/27). A deal with the Blues remains on hold over a "conflict"
over Gretzky's marketing rights. The Blues want to sign Gretzky
before trading prospects to the Kings, and want "to make back
some of their investment by controlling Gretzky's likeness or
rights to, say his farewell season," according to Frank Brown in
the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. However, Brown notes that "it would be
inane for Gretzky to surrender those rights" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
2/27). In this morning's N.Y. POST, Brooks & Everson report the
Blues believe "they can handle" the finances of a Gretzky deal if
they receive his marketing rights -- "pegged by one source at $17
million" over three years (N.Y. POST, 2/27). ESPN's Al Morganti:
"I think the St. Louis Blues assumed a little too much when they
thought the deal was absolutely in place for Wayne Gretzky. The
marketing could be a real problem when they get down to the
numbers" ("SportsCenter," 2/26). Kevin Allen reports the Blues
"don't know" whether the hold-up centers on Gretzky's desire to
keep marketing rights or whether he wants more than the $7M/year
they are offering (USA TODAY, 2/27). The L.A. TIMES' Elliott
identifies marketing rights as "income from personal
endorsements" (L.A. TIMES, 2/27). ESPN's Dan Patrick: "Strong
speculation that Gretzky and the owners will decide how to
position themselves at a press conference to announce this trade"
(SportsCenter, 2/26).
KING'S-EYE VIEW: Frank Brown notes the Kings' interest in
keeping Gretzky could involve plans to "keep him for a farewell
tour that might coincide with the opening of a new arena in two
years" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/27). Former Kings Coach Barry
Melrose, an ESPN analyst, says a Gretzky trade could leave the
Kings with less than 10,000 a game (USA TODAY, 2/27). However,
in Toronto, Bob McKenzie reports that Gretzky "no longer wants to
play" in L.A., and although "he's never actually dispensed with
the qualifiers and just said it," there is "no offer the club
could make that would keep him in L.A." (TORONTO STAR, 2/27).
