Broadcast.com co-Founder Mark Cuban said that he, along
with his brother Brian, are exploring a possible acquisition
of the Penguins even though he "doesn't have a burning
desire to own a sports franchise." Cuban: "We're not hockey
guys. It's a business, no matter how you look at it"
(PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/28)....Labatt Brewing CEO Hugo
Powell "confirmed" that his company is looking for a partner
for ownership of the Blue Jays, but he said Labatt will not
sell the club. Labatt is in talks with Isles co-Owner
Howard Milstein about acquiring part of its 90% stake in the
Blue Jays (FINANCIAL POST, 4/28). In Toronto, Tony Van
Alphen cites sports industry watchers as saying that Blue
Jays ownership "would boost" Milstein's appeal and "could
set the stage for another run at an NFL franchise later,
perhaps even in Toronto" (TORONTO STAR, 4/28)....At the
Raptors Foundation's annual dinner and auction Monday night,
a package of Raptors G Vince Carter memorabilia and two
courtside seats went for C$20,000. In Toronto, Chris Young
writes that such a price "says something about Carter's
charisma and the Raptors' growing basket of goodwill."
Young notes that the Raptors have averaged more than 19,000
fans for their past six home games at the Air Canada Centre
(TORONTO STAR, 4/28)....A group of about 3,000 Royals fans
plan to attend the Yankees-Royals game Friday night wearing
T-shirts that read "Share The Wealth" and turn their backs
every time the Yankees bat. The group wants to bring
attention to the growing disparity in MLB between small- and
big-market teams (AP, 4/28)....The Pirates-Braves game last
night drew 26,990, the smallest crowd in Turner Field's
three-year history (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/28).
