In Boston, Peter May reports that Larry Bird is
"getting closer" to returning to the NBA. Bird: "I probably
would take any coaching job in the league, except the Boston
Celtics. If I got to put together the team I wanted and the
assistants, I would. I wouldn't do it if it were the
Celtics" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/26)....CT Gov. John Rowland and
his aides had dinner with Patriots Owner Robert Kraft in
Boston last week "to talk about building a new football
stadium in Hartford" (HARTFORD COURANT, 3/26)....In Dallas,
Crescent Real Estate Equities will pay $383M in a previously
announced deal to buy "most of the assets" of Carter-Crowley
Properties, a Dallas company controlled by former Mavericks
Owner Donald Carter. Part of the purchase includes a 12%
stake in the Mavs (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/26)....In
S.F., Glenn Dickey writes it "appears" the Raiders will sell
their PSLs on a "permanent" basis rather than the current
ten-year plan now employed. Oakland Football Marketing
Assoc. Dir Richard Rogers said no agreements have been
finalized regarding a change, but added, "I'm sure we'll be
making some changes" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/26)....The Sharks
sellout streak of 118 games ended on Monday night, when the
Sharks-Oilers drew 17,159. Capacity is 17,442 (SAN JOSE
MERCURY NEWS, 3/25). ...Lightning CEO Steve Oto, on the
benefits of making the playoffs: "From a revenue standpoint,
we're talking about $800,000 to $900,000 per playoff game.
Out of that, we pay various expenses to the NHL office, but
we can net almost half of the revenues" (TAMPA TRIBUNE,
3/25)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL'S "Heard On The Street"
column examines business transactions of Wayne Huizenga's
Florida Panthers Holdings (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/26).
