INT'L NOTE: British TV group Granada has agreed to pay
$34M for a 9.9% stake in the English Premier League's
Liverpool soccer club. DAILY VARIETY's Adam Dawtrey notes
that the deal "effectively gives Granada a seat at the
negotiating table when the Premier League TV contract next
comes up for grabs" (DAILY VARIETY, 7/14).
JUST THE FAX, SIR: In Baltimore, Joe Strauss reports
that Baltimore resident Norm St. Landau received a dinner
invitation and tickets to an Orioles game after faxing
Orioles Owner Peter Angelos a letter detailing the "on-field
antics" of Orioles RF Albert Belle. Belle made "repeated
gestures to fans in the bleachers" at Camden Yards during a
June 4 game, where St. Landau and his family were sitting.
Angelos called St. Landau "with his apologies and arranged
for him and his family to watch the Orioles' June 22 game
against" the Red Sox from the owner's box, a game won
incidentally by Belle (Baltimore SUN, 7/14).
NOTES: In San Antonio, Rick Casey writes that some city
citizens "weren't appreciative" of Spurs coach Gregg
Popovich using Southwestern Bell's voice mail system to
thank city residents for supporting the Spurs. Casey: "By
seeking a tax-funded arena, the Spurs have politicized
basketball and shouldn't be surprised when even a tele-
junkmail 'thank you' is interpreted as political" (EXPRESS-
NEWS, 7/14)....U.S District Court Judge Lewis Babcock
"declined to hear" Denver-based Borgen Investment Group's
$80M lawsuit against Bill and Nancy Laurie, which claims the
couple "reneged on an agreement" to sell the Avalanche to
the group in April. The decision means the sides can pursue
the matter in Denver District Court (DENVER POST, 7/14).
