Hornets co-Owner Ray Wooldridge "is quite confident all
the negative karma that has clearly marred his initial
months as an owner has changed for the better," according to
Richard Walker of the Gaston GAZETTE, who writes that
Wooldridge "thinks the tide of unrest has been stemmed and
is already flowing in a positive direction" for the
franchise. Wooldridge: "It's starting to be fun now. The
[Charlotte Coliseum] crowds are getting into it. It's not
fun to play in a coliseum or be a part of something that's
half-empty most of the time. We've worked very hard on our
marketing programs. We're getting more involved in
publicizing the things that we've done in our community all
along." More Wooldridge: "Obviously, with Houston getting
positive results on that referendum makes us the only team
that does not have their arena resolved. And yes, it puts
us in a position that other cities will focus on the
opportunity with the Charlotte Hornets. But I've never used
that in our [arena] negotiations. ... No one can get the
Charlotte Hornets but Charlotte right now. The team is
Charlotte's to lose." With a deadline "to strike some sort"
of arena agreement nearing, Wooldridge is "predicting
positive results." Wooldridge: "I'm very comfortable and
confident it's going to be done" (Gaston GAZETTE, 11/16).
A NEW KENTUCKY HOME: Louisville attorney J. Bruce
Miller said that reps from an NBA team "recently visited"
Louisville, but he "declined to identify" the team. Miller:
"We are talking with more than one team, although we may be
farther down the road with one team." While speculation has
focused on the Hornets, team VP/Media Relations Harold
Kaufman denied that the team "was talking with Louisville."
Kaufman: "We have had no discussions with Louisville or
anybody else on relocation" (Louis. COURIER-JOURNAL, 11/16).
ENGAGING STORY: In Charlotte, Don Hudson reports that
Wooldridge has gotten engaged to Diana Davis of Atlanta.
The couple has not "set a date" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/16).
