MLB: In K.C., Steve Rock writes that Royals CEO David
Glass said that "scores of Kansas City area people have
contacted him about teaming up" in his bid to buy the club,
including one possibility of a partnership with George
Brett. But Glass added that he will "probably" make a solo
bid for the team (K.C. STAR, 12/15)....In Montreal, Jack
Todd profiles Expos VP David Samson, who says that reports
of "dissension" in the Expos ownership group "simply are not
accurate": "We have always gotten along very well. You can
differ as to how to get to a goal and still get along. If
you always agreed about everything, what do you need
partners for?" (Montreal GAZETTE, 12/15)....ESPN's Peter
Gammons, on the Devil Rays' offseason moves, including the
trade for 3B Vinny Castilla and the free agent signing of LF
Greg Vaughn: "This is a team that drew 1.7 million [fans]
and lost $20 million last year. They've got to get some
fans [at Tropicana Field]. This should do it"
("SportsCenter," 12/14). Devil Rays VP/Sales & Marketing
John Browne said the team's ticket office was busy: "We have
some people who were on the bubble and appear to be ready to
buy into season tickets or renew" (ST. PETE TIMES, 12/15).
NOTES: In Cincinnati, Geoff Hobson reports that Bengals
TE Tony McGee "negotiat[ed] his own contract extension" with
the team that will keep him in Cincinnati through 2002.
Bengals President Mike Brown, whose "disdain for agents is
legendary," invited free-agents-to-be to negotiate their own
deals and said players "won't be taken advantage of."
Brown: "We would like to send that message. We think that's
the fact" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/15)....Former Orca Bay
President Stephen Bellringer, on Orca Bay Chair John McCaw's
role with the Canucks: "He's not here that much physically,
but mentally he's here all the time" (GLOBE & MAIL, 12/15).
