N.Y. investment banker Andy Rodin has "made an offer"
to buy the Vikings, according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY.
Rodin, who said he has "put together a group of investors,"
said that he has "offered to purchase" a 60% controlling
interest in the team for $122M, and that he "won't know for
several days, if not weeks, whether he's successful." Rodin
also said that he "would consider" bringing Steelers coach
Bill Cowher aboard as the team's coach and GM. An "irate"
Steelers Owner Dan Rooney, responding to the report: "This
is some screwball that says he's going to buy the Vikings.
Well, then, I'm going to buy Microsoft" (NEWSDAY, 1/18).
POHLAD INTEREST? In MN, Sid Hartman reported that Twins
Owner Carl Pohlad "will make a serious bid" to buy the
Vikings because he wants to "make sure" both the Twins and
Vikings stay in MN. Hartman added that should Pohlad buy
the Vikings, he will "control all of the income in the
Metrodome," and "might be able to make it financially" until
the political climate "changes" and a new multi-purpose
stadium could be built (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/19).
SECOND THOUGHTS? Vikings Chair John Skoglund said
there is an "outside chance" the team will not be sold
because of an "increase in revenue" generated by the NFL's
new TV deals, according to Walters & Seidel of the PIONEER
PRESS. Skoglund: "I'd say it's still 90 percent that we
will sell. But if we don't get a satisfactory offer,
because of the new TV contract, I think we would be able to
keep on operating" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/16).
