In N.Y., Richard Sandomir reports that the pending Jets
sale "will be discussed" at today's NFL Finance Committee
meeting, but an NFL official says that no recommendation
will be given on a buyer. The panel is only expected to
receive an "update on the progress of the sale and options
presented by each bidder." Sandomir adds that an agreement
on a new owner "could be reached within two weeks" (N.Y.
TIMES, 12/14). ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the Jets
sale is "not quite as far along as has been reported."
Mortensen added that while Jets coach Bill Parcells' future
with the team is undecided, "it would a be a $12 million
buyout for the new owner if Parcells walks" (ESPN, 12/13).
49ERS NOTES: In San Jose, Mark Purdy profiles former
49ers interim President Larry Thrailkill, who served for six
months last year during the team's ownership battle between
Eddie DeBartolo and his sister Denise DeBartolo York for
control of the franchise: "It's a tragedy. A great American
tragedy. I have a lot of affection for both of them. God
bless them, I hope they get a resolution" (SAN JOSE MERCURY
NEWS, 12/14). Meanwhile, Eddie's daughters, Lisa DeBartolo,
who serves as Dir of the 49ers Foundation, and Nikki
DeBartolo, who is Coordinator of the Foundation, have
notified the team that they will "be leaving by the end of
the month." The two sisters are "expected to move" to FL,
where their father lives (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/14).
NOTES: In Montreal, Jack Todd profiles new Expos
General Partner Jeffrey Loria and writes that Loria is a
"gentle, soft-spoken man who has taken on an enormous
challenge with complete confidence that he will succeed --
and succeed quickly -- where many ... [have] failed." Loria
said it is "very important" the team start construction on
Labatt Park this winter and said that the Expos are now
budgeting the "hard costs" of the project. Loria: "We're
going to have a state-of-the-art situation here" (Montreal
GAZETTE, 12/14)....The A's were named "Organization of the
Year" by The Topps Company at Baseball's Winter Meetings in
Anaheim, CA. It marks the second year in a row the team has
won the honor (Topps Company)....In Lexington, Mark Story
wrote that the "initial rush of attraction" for the AHL
Throughblades "has dulled," as the team is averaging 5,453
fans through 17 games, a drop of "some 2,000 a game from the
team's first two seasons." Team co-Owner Ron DeGregorio
declined to say how much the team has lost, but last May he
said that the team "was going to lose about $500,000" for
the '98-99 season (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 12/12).
