49ers co-Owner Denise DeBartolo York "might try to
force a sale of the team if her brother Eddie is indicted
and convicted of any serious corruption charges" in LA,
according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. A source
told Matier & Ross that if she attempted to sell the team,
"she would not do so before plans for a new 49ers stadium --
already six months behind schedule -- are finalized."
DeBartolo York would also "attempt to have the team sold to
a group of local investors." Matier & Ross: "The talk of a
possible sale is just one aspect of an intense, behind-the-
scenes power struggle between DeBartolo and his sister that
has been going on privately for months. The struggle even
threatens the stadium deal itself" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/26).
FAMILY TIES: A December deal that had Eddie stepping
aside after reports of a possible indictment over a LA
gaming license "remains unsigned because of the differences
between DeBartolo and his sister." The deal would have
DeBartolo become "only a stock owner" in the team, which
made him "nervous" because it would allow minority
shareholder, and team President, Carmen Policy "to line up
his own groups of local investors" if DeBartolo York decided
to sell her share of the team. DeBartolo reportedly "began
imposing new conditions on the deal" to include that he have
"some say as to who represents him on the board that would
run the team and oversee the stadium deal. In effect,
sources say, that would have meant Policy could be replaced
down the road." But DeBartolo and his sister met two weeks
ago "and there was a reconciliation of sorts." But
DeBartolo York "reportedly insisted that they stick to the
original" deal from December (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/26).
