In Montreal, Jack Todd calls again on Expos President
Claude Brochu to sell his stake in the team. With Brochu
still in charge, the team "is at virtual standstill," and
one member of the new ownership group estimates that his
presence "will cost the team" US$3M in increased revenue
this season. Todd writes that "the most probable scenario"
for Brochu after he leaves the team is that he becomes MLB
VP in charge of small-market teams (GAZETTE, 3/31)....The
NFL's Finance Committee will hold a telephone conference
call today to discuss Howard Milstein-Daniel Snyder group's
bid to buy the Redskins. In DC, Shapiro & Maske report that
sources say that Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie and Bucs Owner
Malcolm Glazer "will likely vote for" the bid, while Broncos
Owner Pat Bowlen and Saints Owner Tom Benson "remain
staunchly opposed" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/31). T IME's Sally
Donnelly writes that the NFL owners' stance against Milstein
is "an ironic argument from a group of older white men who
mainly got their teams for a song way back when or had them
passed down from Daddy" (TIME, 4/5 issue)....USA TODAY's
Kevin Allen profiles the Predators' popularity in Nashville
in a Sports Cover Story. Allen: "Much to everyone's
surprise in this neck of the woods, the idea of Nashville
and hockey now seems as Southern as biscuits and gravy" (USA
TODAY, 3/31)....Magic Exec VP Julius Erving, on rumors that
he might be interested in coaching: "I'm very happy where
I'm at in upper management. ... But it makes sense to
listen" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/31). ...In Orlando, Dave
Cunningham writes that Devil Rays VP/Marketing Mike Veeck
said the team will "pay heavy attention" to the Orlando
market in its advertising. Veeck: "That could be the
difference for us. I think we could draw 250,000 from
Orlando" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/31)....In Las Vegas, Kevin
Iole writes that IHL Thunder Managing Dir Ken Stickney has
"disputed a published report" which suggested the team's
move to Sacramento. Stickney said details of the meeting
between he and reps of NBA Kings co-Owners Gavin and Joe
Maloof was "vastly overstated" (REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/31).
