Tom Clancy's pursuit of the Vikings "remains on track"
after a two-hour meeting Monday with NFL Commissioner Paul
Tagliabue, "but it appears likely to extend beyond next
week's owners' meeting in Miami," according to Paula Parrish
of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. NFL VP/Communications Greg
Aiello said it is uncertain whether the owners will formally
vote next week on Clancy's bid to buy the Vikings. Clancy
spokesperson Marc Ganis said Clancy's group presented a
package detailing 19 investors who comprise the group; the
percentage of the team each investor would own; and the
financial and operating structure of the group. Ganis said
actor Tom Selleck is not an investor (Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 5/12). In DC, Leonard Shapiro reports that while
the NFL described the meeting as "constructive," league
sources said that Tagliabue "still had many of the same
concerns he had before the meeting" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/12).
In St. Paul, Charley Walters writes to "count on" Clancy
selling his 24% interest in the Orioles, worth an estimated
$50M, in his bid for the Vikings (PIONEER PRESS, 5/12).
A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER? In St. Paul, Bob Sansevere
writes that there are "league-affiliated people with
concerns about Ganis' involvement" in the deal. Sansevere:
"The word is, people around the NFL worry that Ganis is fond
of litigation and fear he'll sue if things don't go his
way." Ganis, whose Sportscorp Ltd. consults on facility
development, said that during yesterday's meeting, the "only
issue with respect to me that came up (had to do with)
conflict of interest. ... If there are projects the league
feels conflict, I'll bow to the league." Ganis, asked if
he'd step aside if he somehow was hindering the deal: "Don't
even bother asking the question" (PIONEER PRESS, 5/12).
