More than a thousand mourners are expected this morning
at the funeral of former Jets Owner Leon Hess at the Park
Avenue Synagogue in N.Y., including most of the NFL's
owners, politicians, celebrities and other distinguished
dignitaries (Randy Lange, Bergen RECORD, 5/10).
FUTURE OF TEAM: With Hess' passing, there is
speculation around the NFL that the Jets will be put up for
sale, as Hess told team owners and league officials that he
wanted the Jets to be sold after his death (N.Y. TIMES,
5/8). In NJ, Randy Lange reported that Hess' son, John, has
said that he "is not interested in NFL ownership" and the
team "is likely to be sold." Lange named Cablevision CEO
James Dolan, Devils Owner John McMullen, Giants co-Owner
Robert Tisch, Donald Trump and Isles co-Owner Howard
Milstein as potential bidders. But a league source said
that Tisch "appears happy" with the Giants and Trump would
have to get rid of his casinos (Bergen RECORD, 5/8). In
N.Y., Bill Pennington added Mets co-Owner Nelson Doubleday
as a possible suitor. One NFL owner said that Hess
"indicated he was planning to make the sale of the Jets a
priority in his will," while a friend said that Hess wanted
the Jets to be sold "to spare his family the angst and
disappointment he experienced" during the team's losing
seasons. Pennington estimated that the Jets could sell for
"at least" $500M (N.Y. TIMES, 5/8). NEWSDAY's Steve Zipay
put Cablevision Chair Charles Dolan, Yankees Owner George
Steinbrenner, Nets co-Owners Lewis Katz & Raymond Chambers
and Mets co-Owner Fred Wilpon in the mix. The Marquee Group
CEO Bob Gutkowski: "The Jets are a natural for Chuck (Dolan)
and what he's trying to do in this market." Other potential
buyers: MetroMedia co-Founders John Kluge and Stuart
Subotnick and Triarc Cos' Nelson Peltz and Peter May
(NEWSDAY, 5/8). One NFL insider said that Jets President
Steve Gutman will become the new Owner because Hess "put
full power" in Gutman on the sale (N.Y. POST, 5/8).
NO CATCH FOR THE TUNA? Jets coach Bill Parcells
dismissed weekend rumors that he could lead a group
interested in buying the team: "I am not part of any group,
nor will I ever be part of any group, to buy the Jets" (N.Y.
DAILY NEWS, 5/10). But in N.Y., Rich Cimini wrote that
Parcells "is in a position of power because he's the
organization's greatest asset" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/9). One
league source said Parcells "has a group he can put together
to buy the team" (N.Y. POST, 5/9).
