Execs from the Triad area of NC have pledged $75M "to
form an ownership group to bring major-league baseball to
the region." Don Beaver was named the group's Chair of the
Board. Beaver said "more than" 50 people have invested in
North Carolina Major League Baseball L.L.C." (Raleigh NEWS &
OBSERVER, 6/11)....NFL sources tell Sid Hartman that former
Vikings GM Mike Lynn "made a bid to buy the Vikings and was
told that the 10 owners were not interested in selling"
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/13). Hartman also reported
that Denver attorney Jac Sperling, who has "spearheaded" St.
Paul's effort for an NHL team, will be named CEO of the
organization once Bob Naegele Jr. and his 14 partners "get
the official word from the NHL that they have been awarded a
team." The team will be called Minnesota, and not St. Paul
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 6/12)....In Toronto, Frank
Zicarelli writes "the biggest impact" from the Raptors'
talks with the Maple Leafs on a joint arena is "being felt
at the corporate level, where new sponsors are reluctant to
throw their support behind a team that is in the process of
changing owners for the second time and has no official
home" (TORONTO SUN, 6/13)......In Tuesday's issue, THE DAILY
misidentified the owners of the NPSL Philadelphia Kixx. The
team is owned by a private group headed by Philadelphia
businessman Ed Tepper. THE DAILY regrets the error.
