MN House leaders have told Gov. Arne Carlson's aides
that the votes "are not there to pass any kind of stadium
bill at an October special session," according to Robert
Whereatt of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. House Majority
Leader Ted Winter said Wednesday that he told Carlson's top
aides, "if you push the special session on Oct. 20, you're
doomed to failure." Carlson: "The moment of truth has come.
I still intend to call a special session. I think that all
legislators should vote on it." Meanwhile, NC-based
Wachovia Bank VP Tim Newman, who is COO for NC business exec
Don Beaver's group, said that "no offer has been submitted"
to Twins Owner Carl Pohlad. Beaver is attending the Ryder
Cup in Spain and isn't expected back in NC until early next
week (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/25).
ALL A BLUFF? Clark Griffith, son of former Twins Owner
Calvin Griffith, who plans to offer $80M to keep the team in
MN, told the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER that Pohlad "has no interest
whatsoever" in the team moving. Griffith: "He has no
interest in selling, he only has an interest in having
someone provide him with what he can claim is a valid offer
to move the team." Griffith, on his offer: "$80 million is
the right number for the team, anything more would be
profligate. But you cannot properly protect yourself from
the irrational investor" CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/25).
