Shaquille O'Neal has joined Michael Ovitz's "bid to
bring the NFL to Carson, [CA]," according to T.J. Simers of
the L.A. TIMES. O'Neal called Ovitz and "asked to sign on
after hearing of the project," saying, "Who wouldn't want to
own a football team and be working with someone like Michael
Ovitz? Me, wanting to be an entrepreneur, I look at Ovitz
and he's already had that dream career." Simers: "O'Neal's
involvement adds yet another spark to an Ovitz campaign that
has NFL officials for the first time seriously considering a
return to Los Angeles." Ovitz: "At our initial meeting,
Shaquille just blew me away with his interest. ... I think
he personifies everything we're trying to do with this
project." Simers: "Ovitz's powerhouse ownership group,
which now numbers 10, dwarfs the New Coliseum Partners,
which cannot even get its primary money man, Philip
Anschutz, to speak out on behalf of the project." Simers
adds that NHL Kings co-Owner/New Coliseum Partner Ed Roski
and associate John Semcken met with Cowboys Owner Jerry
Jones last week and have hired a "new finance team and new
architect to develop yet another new stadium." The groups
will meet owners on October 27 in K.C. (L.A. TIMES, 9/29).
