A "feisty" Carl Pohlad said Thursday that his effort to
sell the Twins to NC businessman Don Beaver is "no bluff,"
according to Jay Weiner of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.
Pohlad, after meeting with Beaver for the third time in two
days: "This is a real deal. We're moving ever closer to an
agreement." Asked if the negotiations were "a ploy to
pressure" the MN Legislature to build a new ballpark, Pohlad
said, "Nothing could be further from the truth. Why would I
go through the charade of doing all this, if it's a phony
deal, of spending hours and hours on this? I don't care
whether people believe me or not. I'm going about my
business" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES: In MN, Sid Hartman writes that
Pohlad has "many good friends in the banking business in
Charlotte." Hartman: "Pohlad seldom makes a deal unless he
gets something thrown in. If the Twins wind up in
Charlotte, it wouldn't be a surprise if Pohlad receives
stock in one of the big banks there" (STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
MORE BALLPARK WOES? In MN, Robert Whereatt writes that
the possibility of "legislative consensus on one financing
plan" for a new Twins ballpark "seems to be drifting away."
Gov. Arne Carlson, who "has pushed" for a new ballpark,
expressed "some dismay Thursday when asked if it could be
turned around" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/19).
