Hornets co-Owner Ray Wooldridge said yesterday that he
wants to "break ground on a new uptown basketball arena by
this summer and that he would present a funding proposal
next month minimizing the city's investment in it,"
according to Jen Pilla of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER.
Wooldridge wants construction completed by 2002, while city
officials said a new arena probably wouldn't be built until
"at least" 2004. Wooldridge: "We don't have time for the
prolonged debates" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/15).
WILL STERN ACT? Also in Charlotte, Chandler & Eichel
report that attorneys for Leslie Price wrapped up their
sexual assault case against Hornets Owner George Shinn on
Tuesday (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/15). 76ers President Pat
Croce, on what may happen if Shinn is found guilty in the
ongoing civil suit: "You know, that would be a David Stern-
George Shinn issue and other ownership wouldn't get involved
in that. Maybe if it got so ugly, but David would be the
one that would propose something like that." Meanwhile,
Croce wondered why Shinn didn't finalize a deal with Michael
Jordan for part-ownership in the team last year. Croce:
"Why wouldn't you give Michael Jordan power? You have
family values and basketball with Michael Jordan. I would
think you would have more power and be more secure if you
could get [Jordan] as a partner (Gaston GAZETTE, 12/14).
