BASEBALL: Labatt/Interbrew exec Hugo Powell confirmed
that the Blue Jays are for sale and that he "is open to
offers for the sports franchise." Powell: "If anybody makes
any proposals, we would be willing to listen." But he said
any suitor "would have to meet our conditions and so far we
haven't received any proposals that meet them" (Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL, 6/15)....In Montreal, David Johnston notes
that Expos local investor Jean Coutu, who "has been lobbying
his fellow local shareholders to delay construction" on a
new ballpark until MLB signs a new CBA, has emerged as a
"key figure in the Expos' internal machinations -- and in
the court of public opinion." Johnston: "He is well-liked
by his Quebec partners, and a poll published last week
showed the public regards him as the second most trustworthy
spokesman on the Expos file, after club co-chairman Jacques
Menard" (Montreal GAZETTE, 6/15)....BLOOMBERG NEWS' Newman &
DiTore reported that P John Rocker, who was called up from
the Braves' Triple A Richmond affil Tuesday, left the minor
leagues "as a box-office favorite." Attendance at Int'l
League games in which Rocker could have pitched was up about
58% over average attendance (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/14).
NFL: In Jacksonville, Gene Frenette notes the "highly
irregular" new contract of Jets WR Laveranues Coles states
that he "must repay $100,000 to the club each time he's
convicted of a crime, pleads no contest or is suspended by
the NFL." Coles' agent Roosevelt Barnes: "Laveranues didn't
have any problem with the clauses being in there because
it's not going to happen" (FL TIMES-UNION, 6/15).
OTHER NOTES: An estimated 45,000 fans attended the
Devils' Stanley Cup celebration in the Meadowlands parking
lot yesterday. Devils fan Bob Azarian: "All the people here
are hard-core fans because only a real fan would drive to a
party in a parking lot" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/15)....In Calgary,
Bill Kaufmann reports that The Forzani Group's purchase of
200 Flames season tickets now brings the team's total
tickets sold to 12,292. The team is seeking to sell 14,000
by its June 30 deadline (CALGARY SUN, 6/15)....The Mavericks
have hired former Mavs players Greg Dreiling, Scott Lloyd,
and Morlon Wiley, along with former NBAer Spud Webb,
bringing their total number of assistant coaches to 13.
Each will "help with player development in practices" and
"greet fans" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/15)....In Salt Lake
City, Lya Wodraska writes that marketing the Starzz "has
been a challenge, considering the team's overall performance
the previous three years." The team always has "targeted
families and young children, but the marketing department is
switching gears slightly, aiming for high school girls.
Surprisingly, that age group is proving to be a difficult
market for the Starzz." The team "has tried to build
interest" by giving free tickets to all-state basketball
players and conducting clinics (S.L. TRIBUNE, 6/15).
