MLB: Andre Bouthilier, a spokesperson for Expos
Managing General Partner Jeffrey Loria, said the deal to
give Loria 100% ownership of the Expos "is on Major League
Baseball's desk, waiting for their approval." Bouthilier
said once Loria has full ownership of the team, he plans to
keep it in Montreal "if we have the revenues here in
Montreal and the support of the business community"
(WASHINGTON POST, 8/31). FSN's Tracy Ringolsby reported
that Loria "has come to grips with the fact that [MLB] is
not going to let him leave town right away. ... [MLB] has
told him until they get Minnesota settled, until they get
Florida settled, they're not going to lose their leverage of
Washington, DC, just to make him happy. He's going to have
to wait to see what happens with the Twins and Marlins
before he goes anywhere" ("Baseball Today," FSN, 8/30).
NBA: In Dallas, Kevin Blackistone notes "for the third
time this off-season, [Mavericks Owner Mark] Cuban deducted
$3 million from his bank account to entice another team into
dealing with him" when the Mavs completed a deal with the
Pistons for F Christian Laettner. Blackistone: "No wonder
the league's other owners so desired to have Cuban join
their club. He's like one of those upended Brinks' trucks
you hear about every now and then: Everybody is just
scooping up the spilled cash" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/31).
NFL: In Indianapolis, Bill Benner, on Colts DB Mustafah
Muhammad being found guilty of one count of domestic battery
in an IN court yesterday: "The judge has spoken. It's time
the Colts did, too. Muhammad should stay home Sunday [the
NFL's season opener], if not for good" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR,
8/31)....In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan notes the Chiefs' new
uniforms will be unveiled Sunday. Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt
called the new look, "Nothing radical, but we'll have some
things that will be a little different" (K.C. STAR, 8/31).
WILD: The Wild announced that it has surpassed 15,000
in season tickets, including suites and club level seats. A
"limited number" of season tickets starting at $54 per game
remain (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/31). In St. Paul, Greg
Johnson writes the team "is growing closer to capping season
ticket sales at 15,500" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 8/31).
