Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner and Pistons Owner
Bill Davidson "are among the groups expressing interest" in
buying all or part of the Lightning, according to Roy
Cummings of the TAMPA TRIBUNE. Lightning President Billy
McGehee said that team Owner Art Williams "confirmed" that
both men expressed interest in the team and its holdings
"earlier this week." But Williams "refused to confirm" that
story to the Tampa Tribune, as well as speculation that
Lightning Founders Phil Esposito and David Lefevre, and
former AFL Storm Owner Bob Gries, "might be involved in a
group" trying to buy part of the team (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/17).
IS IT ON THE MARKET? In St. Pete, Parks & Jones report
that Williams "may be working harder to sell the team right
now than he is publicly letting on." Williams said that "he
hopes and expects to make a decision" on the team "by the
end of June." Williams: "But if my son ends up taking over,
maybe we'll make an announcement sooner than that." But
Legg Mason Walker Wood's John Moag said "the word out on the
street is that the team is for sale" (ST. PETE TIMES, 2/17).
