CA billionaire Marvin Davis withdrew his bid Tuesday
for an NFL expansion team at Hollywood Park and "blamed the
NFL for insisting that he dispose of his casino interests to
win league approval," according to Steve Dilbeck of the L.A.
DAILY NEWS. With Davis dropping out, Dilbeck writes that
the NFL "apparently is near the end of the final quarter in
the Los Angeles area" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 9/29). Also in
L.A., T.J. Simers reports that insiders said that Davis felt
the NFL deal "would ultimately be too expensive." The NFL
could now bid to assume Davis' option on 100 acres of land
at Hollywood Park, which would be the site for a new
stadium. If the NFL "does assume the option, look for
Michael Ovitz and Ron Burkle" to become interested in the
site location. Ovitz: "I am interested in any venue that
the league says interests the owners." Simers adds that
Hollywood Park has an agreement to sell the land in question
to housing developers for more than $50 million, after
Davis' option expires, and is not keen on entering a new
option arrangement with the league" (L.A. TIMES, 9/29).
MR. JONES SAYS IT'LL BE ALRIGHT: Cowboys Owner Jerry
Jones said again that he doesn't expect a final expansion
decision to come down during the NFL owners meetings in
Atlanta next week: "I know that at least a handful of owners
feel like we need to make sure that when the decision comes
down that we take care of both cities. The best chance to
resolve LA-Houston would be to leave it open at least
through the fall. My thinking is that is what's going to
happen." More Jones: "In my mind, the NFL should not do
anything until we've got a plan that says, 'OK, if we go to
Houston, then this is how we go to LA'" (AP/Ft. Lauderdale
SUN-SENTINEL, 9/29). FSN's Keith Olbermann noted Jones'
desire to award an expansion franchise to Houston, "with the
league simultaneously asserting the right to decide which of
the other 31 extant franchises should be moved into vacant
L.A." Olbermann: "That the courts have previously suggested
the second part of that might not be legal, was not
addressed by Mr. Jones" ("Primetime," FSN, 9/28).
