Marlins Owner Wayne Huizenga spent Sunday "bashing" FL
commodities broker John Henry for talking about negotiations
between to two publicly, and said that he is "ready to end"
any sale discussions with him, according to Barry Jackson of
the MIAMI HERALD. On Friday, Henry said Huizenga made new
demands in his talks to sell the team. Huizenga: "I have
had it up to here with John Henry. It's over. The
negotiations are over." Huizenga, on Henry: "I believe he's
chickening out of this deal like he has chickened out of the
last 10. There's nothing more to talk about. This can't go
on where he's trying to embarrass us." But Huizenga
spokesperson Stan Smith said that the sale of the Marlins to
Henry "is not in jeopardy," and a Marlins official said that
Huizenga's comments were "part of the negotiating game."
Henry and Huizenga Holdings President Rick Rochon made a
handshake deal September 1 (MIAMI HERALD, 9/28).
WHAT HAPPENED? In the new demands, Henry claimed that
Huizenga asked him to pay "an eight figure sum" -- believed
to be in the $10-15M range -- to refurbish Pro Player
Stadium. A source said that the second dispute is over who
would "receive an undisclosed source of revenue -- believed
to be in the $30 million to $40 million range -- when the
Marlins move to a new stadium." Henry: "I'm not going to
back away from this. The only question is whether they are
going to back out" (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 9/27).
