BEING DILIGENT: SALE OF CBA IS ONGOING AS "DEADLINE" PASSES

          A deal to purchase the CBA is not yet finished, even
     though yesterday was the day that CBA trustee Ivan Thornton
     "hoped to finalize the deal," according to Craig DeVrieze of
     the QUAD CITY TIMES.  Thornton said that yesterday was his
     "own personal target date for closing the deal" with a group
     that includes former NBA players and execs.  Thornton: "We
     are moving forward.  Progress is being made.  There are no
     snags."  Meanwhile, DeVrieze notes that the number of people
     in the group of potential investors has "slowed the due
     diligence process," meaning a sale "almost certainly" will
     not be announced before the CBA season begins Friday. 
     Thornton: "That means absolutely nothing in terms of the
     viability (of the potential sale)" (QUAD CITY TIMES, 12/12).