Herb Kohl's decision to "leave the U.S. Senate in January 2013 after four terms in office will give him more time to pursue his other passion: the future of the Milwaukee Bucks," according to Don Walker of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Since Kohl bought the Bucks in '85, he "has kept a close watch over the team, both on the court and on the business side." Since '88, however, "his tenure as an NBA owner had to be balanced with his primary duties as a U.S. senator." But with the news that Kohl will not run for re-election, "that will change, and may very well give Kohl, who is 76, the freedom and the opportunity to spend more time finding ways not only to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee and locate new ownership when he decides to sell the team, but play a role in developing a community-endorsed plan to build a new arena for the franchise." On Friday, Kohl said that he "would continue to own the Bucks." Kohl: "I feel good about my run as owner of the team." Bucks VP/Business Operations John Steinmiller, who has worked with Kohl since he bought the team, said that Kohl "has always been accessible and public about the Bucks." Steinmiller: "I don't know how much more public he can get. He has not been an absentee owner. He has been a constructive, contributing owner." Still, Steinmiller agreed that Kohl "might have more room and freedom to work toward a more secure future for the Bucks." Kohl on Friday reiterated that he "would only sell to an owner or group that is committed to keeping the team in Milwaukee" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/14).
