Hornets co-Owner George Shinn told Charlotte developer Johnny Harris during a meeting late last week that he has "no interest" in selling his majority share of the team, according to Bonnell & Markoe of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Harris, who said that he was not "looking to encourage Shinn to sell, said, "He made it very clear to me that he doesn't have any interest in selling the team." Harris met with Shinn on Thursday, "urging Shinn to be patient with the arena negotiations." Harris said that he does not view Shinn as an "impediment" to any local arena deal. Harris: "I don't think anything is an impediment, except this (team) is an asset people need to appreciate. We're trying to get people to cooperate. ... I'm concerned about keeping (NBA) basketball in Charlotte" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/28). LAURIE STILL ON LOOKOUT: In St. Louis, Tom Wheatley looks at Blues/Savvis Center Owner Bill Laurie's efforts to land an NBA team in St. Louis, and notes that "only" 6,703 fans attended the T'Wolves-Bucks preseason game a week ago at the arena. That crowd was less than half the 16,000 who attended last year's Nets-76ers preseason game. Blues/Savvis Center President Mark Sauer: "Attendance for the NBA exhibition game was disappointing by any measure, but we have to remember a few things. There was a World Series game on TV that night. The Rams were on TV in [K.C.]. And the Blues drew 20,000 here the night before. ... Bill has an interest in bringing an NBA team here. I think he'd want to do it under the right circumstances" (POST-DISPATCH, 10/30). NBA TEAM NOTES: Grizzlies President of Business Operations Andy Dolich confirmed that team Owner Michael Heisley plans on singing the Canadian national anthem before the team's home opener at GM Place tomorrow. Dolich: "He's [practicing], wanting to do something to thank the people for the spectacular way they've welcomed him into their midst. I believe it will be the first time in major sports history that an owner has ever done anything like this" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/28)....The Mavs are keeping "in house statistics on referees' whistles -- keeping track of how many fouls and violations are called each night and specifically by whom." Mavs Owner Mark Cuban said he will pass the data on to the league: "It will be interesting to hear their response." The data will not be shared with players (DMN, 10/30).
