The "fate" of the Expos "is expected to be determined
by [today] and it rests squarely on the shoulders" of
Minority Owner Stephen Bronfman, according to a La Presse
report cited by the CP. The report cited several sources
who said that Bronfman "has been asked by the team's other
local shareholders to offer to buy out" Expos Majority Owner
Jeffrey Loria. If Loria "refuses," the local owners "will
likely sell their shares" to him, which will "most likely"
signal the end of MLB in Montreal. But one source said that
Bronfman "won't sign" a blank check and that "whatever
happens" will be made public in ten days (CP, 6/18). In
Toronto, Jeff Blair: "The question ... is whether Loria is
interested in selling his stake in the team -- which is
doubtful." Neither Loria nor Bronfman were available for
comment (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/19). In Montreal, Jack Todd tells
Bronfman to "save" his money: "Loria has waited half a
lifetime to get control of a major-league team, so why would
he hand it back at any price without a long, bitter
struggle, especially when he can triple the value of the
franchise simply by moving it almost anywhere in the U.S.?
Even if Loria sells, the Expos still need a downtown ball
park, genuine revenue sharing and a salary cap to guarantee
their long-term survival" (Montreal GAZETTE, 6/19).
