Northern VA telecom exec William Collins, who heads a
partnership attempting to acquire an MLB team for the
Northern VA area, said that the Expos are the "top candidate"
among the MLB's existing franchises to be bought and moved to
the region within the next few years, according to Mark Maske
of the WASHINGTON POST. Collins also "indicated" that MLB's
proposed realignment of its current clubs has given him
"renewed optimism" that his group will be successful in
securing a franchise for Northern VA, "either via relocation
or expansion, with the same time frame." Collins: "It looks
like Montreal is the best short-term opportunity." Expos
President Claude Brochu was unavailable for comment, but
Acting Commissioner Bud Selig said, "I've talked to Claude
Brochu, and I don't believe he's thinking about anything
right now except saying in Montreal" (WASHINGTON POST, 8/25).
CAROLINA MOVES: Minor league baseball owner Don Beaver
has agreed to buy the Triple A Charlotte Knights from Hornets
Owner George Shinn, according to Justin Catanoso of the
Greensboro NEWS & RECORD. Terms were undisclosed. The
Knights have a long-term lease to Knights Castle, a 10,000-
seat ballpark in Fort Mill, SC, just south of Charlotte,
which "could be expanded to accommodate" -- at least
temporarily -- an MLB team. The NEWS & RECORD's Catanoso
noted a relocated MLB team could play temporarily in an
expanded Knights Castle while its permanent ballpark is built
in the Triad. Should Triad voters reject a stadium tax for a
ballpark next May 5, Catanoso wrote that Beavers role as
Knights Owner "would naturally raise the possibility of an
effort to bring major-league baseball to Charlotte." Beaver
"insisted" that is not his goal (NEWS & RECORD, 8/23).
