In Miami, Barry Jackson reports that as of Thursday,
Marlins President Don Smiley "remained short" of Wayne
Huizenga's $165M asking price for the Marlins, and "unless
Smiley has a change of fortune, he might need to ask"
Huizenga to keep $50M "or more" in the club. Jackson:
"Whether Huizenga would be willing to keep that large an
interest remained in doubt Thursday" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/31).
OTHER NOTES: USA TODAY's Hal Bodley reports that the
likelihood of Reds Managing General Partner Marge Schott
selling her interest in the team "is growing," because of
"money." Schott has learned that if she sells her 42% of
the team, the shares "will be worth more than if she is
reduced to a limited partner by the other owners" (USA
TODAY, 7/31)....The Twins, averaging 14,819 at home, are
expecting "at least" 25,000 tonight for a Beanie Baby
giveaway (STAR TRIBUNE, 7/31)....Coca-Cola has hired six
off-duty policeman to watch the $1M it will bring to
tonight's Cardinals-Braves game, which it plans to give away
to any fan who catches a home run ball hit into Turner
Field's Sky Field attraction (POST-DISPATCH, 7/31).
NOTES: Flyers GM Bob Clarke, on Eric Lindros, who is
playing out a one-year contract extension of $8.5M: "If you
want to be the highest-paid player in the game or close to
it, you've got to play that way. You're not a kid anymore"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/31)....As part of a compromise
with local hotels, the Bucs will provide 2,500 tickets to WI
travel agencies for the Packers-Bucs game December 7 at
Raymond James Stadium (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 7/31). Earlier
this week, the Bucs announced a plan to limit the sale of
tickets to Packers fans for the December game (THE DAILY).
...New 49ers President Larry Thrailkill, asked if the team
could be sold: "I'm not going to talk about that kind of
speculation, but this team is not for sale" (MERCURY NEWS,
7/31)....Red McCombs "confirmed" that due to tax
implications, his deal to buy the Vikings could be listed
accurately at $327M (EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/31).
