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OVITZ SAYS HIS EXPANSION TEAM WILL PLAY AT HOLLYWOOD PARK

          Hollywood Park has given Michael Ovitz and Ron Burkle
     the option on a 97-acre stadium site, "prompting Ovitz to
     declare that Los Angeles will now be given the NFL's 32nd
     franchise to begin play in 2003 at the league's meetings in
     Atlanta next week," according to T.J. Simers in a front-page
     Sports story in today's L.A. TIMES.  Ovitz: "Based on my
     conversations with [NFL Commissioner Paul Tagalibue] and the
     co-chairman of the expansion committee, I believe we are
     going to leave Atlanta Wednesday having a football franchise
     for Los Angeles."  Ovitz said that he has been "led to
     believe" that Tagliabue "will lead the discussion to swing
     favor in L.A.'s favor" at the meetings. But Simers reports
     that several owners said that a decision "has not been
     made."  One said, "He's going to still have to blow our
     socks off."   But the league "has been conducting extensive
     background checks on Ovitz and Burkle detailing league
     requirements and policy for new owners."  The league "also
     has asked Ovitz's ownership group ... to deliver a down
     payment on an expansion franchise in the next few days," and
     it "suggested" Ovitz put up $100M in "earnest money, to be
     surrendered if he failed to deliver on his promises."  Ovitz
     said that he expects Houston's franchise fee to "be higher
     than the one presented by his ownership group, but said he
     has received assurances that the league will accept a lower
     offer."  One NFL owner: "It's L.A.'s if Ovitz follows
     through on everything.  He just has to follow through." 
     Simers cites sources as saying that the Raiders made "three
     calls to Hollywood Park in the last few days" seeking an
     option on the land (L.A. TIMES, 9/30). 
          MOVING FORWARD? Meanwhile, in Houston, John Williams
     reports that Bob McNair is negotiating this week with NFL
     Expansion Committee co-Chairs Robert Kraft and Jerry
     Richardson on a franchise fee, with "hopes of completing a
     deal next week."  The figure "is roughly" $625M, though
     McNair "is trying to lower it and get easier payment terms"
     (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/30).  Giants co-Owner Wellington Mara:
     "I feel that maybe we're forcing ourselves in Los Angeles. 
     How long has it been since we had a sellout game in Los
     Angeles?" (USA TODAY, 9/30).  Giants co-Owner and Finance
     Committee member Robert Tisch: "We should give Houston the
     team, and look forward to another day in Los Angeles." 
     Tisch said that "it was unlikely Houston would receive a
     relocated team, while the league keeps pursuing expansion in
     Los Angeles" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/30). 

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