NFL: Browns President Carmen Policy, responding to
reports that the NFL is investigating whether the 49ers may
have committed a salary cap violation while he was with the
team: "No. No. No. Exclamation mark. No. ... I think it
will turn out to be a situation reflective of the fact that
there was no violation" (CBS SportsLine, 7/25).
NOTES: While KS-native Princess Thara Baselia Saud --
who is bidding on Ascent's sports assets -- is the widow of
Saudi Prince Mohammed Abdul Aziz, who died 20 years ago. An
"expert on the Saudi Arabian royal family" said that Saud
"is not a princess. Just being married to a prince does not
make you a princess" (ROCKY MTN NEWS, 7/24)....AFL Portland
Forest Dragons Owner Ed Gatlin is "trying to sell a majority
portion" of the team, and Blazers/Seahawks Owner Paul Allen
"maintains some interest." Allen's $3.5M offer for the
Dragons was rejected last year. Blazers Senior VP/Marketing
Harry Hutt: "We haven't done any evaluation since. We would
have some interest ... but they would have to come to us"
(OREGONIAN, 7/23).....Lightning VP/Sales Steve DeLay is
"growing the sales staff" from around 10 to 28 and has
"initiated a plan that encourages companies to share luxury
suites." The plan, which costs $10,000 or more, has helped
the team sell five suites. Last season, the team filled 62
of the Palace's 72 suites (ST. PETE TIMES, 7/26).
NBA SUMMER LEAGUES: The Celtics and Shaw's Supermarket
tip off the Shaw's Pro Summer League, which was created by
the Celtics. Celtics VP/Marketing Stuart Layne: "We took a
look, and thought it might be a great idea to promote
basketball, and do some ancillary things." Shaw's
distributed 10,000 tickets to youth groups, seeking "to gain
exposure both in the Boston market and across New England"
(BOSTON HERALD, 7/26). In Charlotte, Rick Bonnell: "Don't
be surprised if the NBA organizes the various summer games
into a formal off-season league like NFL Europe, except
games would be played in smaller, non-NBA U.S. cities. You
could draw a nice crowd in Raleigh's new arena for a team
made up of former North Carolina, Duke and N.C. State
players" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/25).
