LIGHTNING: Pistons Owner William Davidson will return
to Tampa next week to examine a possible bid for the
Lightning. Meanwhile, Tim Buckley reports that team Owner
Art Williams is "feeling pressure" from his family to
maintain the team and "is wavering" on a deal (ST.
PETERSBURG TIMES, 2/19). In Tampa, Roy Cummings notes that
Williams' price for the team, the lease to the Ice Palace
and six acres of land is $125-130M (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 2/19).
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELLS? USA TODAY's Hal Bodley
writes on the Yankees-Blue Jays trade involving pitchers
David Wells and Roger Clemens, and says, "Don't blame
[Yankees Owner George] Steinbrenner and the Yankees. It's
the system that stinks." Steinbrenner: "Free enterprise is
there. I don't see Wal-Mart telling one of the lesser
companies don't worry. That's what this country is all
about" (USA TODAY, 2/19)....A photo of Wells being hoisted
in the air after his perfect game is on the front of this
year's Yankees pocket schedule (THE DAILY).
NOTES: The NPSL Cleveland Crunch announced Thursday
that three OH business execs have joined George Hoffman in
the team's ownership group. Michael Gibbons, Gary Zdolshek
and Paul Garofolo have joined Hoffman, who will remain Owner
and Board Chair (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 2/19)....Jay Leno,
on the Lakers attempting to sign Dennis Rodman: "They should
do what Carmen Electra did: get him drunk, fly him to Vegas,
he'll sign anything" ("Tonight Show," NBC, 2/18).
