In Dallas, Mike Heika noted the eventual sale price of the Stars "will be a moving target." There are "numerous ways to reach a 'sale price'" due to the assumed debt and "potential combined responsibility on some money." That is "one of the reasons this is taking so long -- because the creativity of the purchase agreement will force other bidders to do some fancy accounting themselves when this goes into a pre-packaged bankruptcy hearing." Heika noted Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi's signed purchase agreement to buy the team "will come very soon, possibly by the end of the week" (DALLASNEWS.com, 6/8).
COULD SEE IT COMING: Former 76ers coach Larry Brown said he believes Comcast-Spectacor Chair Ed Snider's decision to sell the 76ers is one Snider "has been weighing for quite a while." Brown: "I have some friends who are close friends with Ed. I don't think Mr. Snider wants to do anything (halfway). ... I would imagine in this time of his life, if he wasn't able to give 100 percent, he'd rather have somebody else do it." Former 76ers F and coach Billy Cunningham added, "I don't think it's really a surprise to ... anyone I know. There were rumors for years they were possibly selling the team. I know I heard it" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/9).
ALREADY DONE ENOUGH: In New Orleans, John DeShazier wrote there is "no blame to heap on Hornets fans if they aren't a little tired of being challenged." The Hornets "might not reach the season-ticket goal" of 10,000, and as a result their fans "could take an image hit even though, by every measure, they've been nothing short of impressive in their support of the franchise, especially this offseason." The Hornets are currently at 8,300 season tickets sold for next season, up from 6,300 for all of last year, and that "represents a pretty nice climb for a team that won't challenge for the NBA title" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/8).
RED HOT: In Cincinnati, Cindy Kranz reports the Reds "accommodated fans by taking some additional steps to help them cope with the heat" during yesterday afternoon's game against the Cubs. Fans "could request courtesy cups of ice at any concession stand and use three air-conditioned cool rooms with TVs to watch the game." They were also "permitted to bring opened bottles of water to the ballpark." Additionally, "free sunscreen was available at TriHealth First Aid stations." Kranz notes Reds players "tried to stay cool by wearing Nike pro Hypercool base layer shirts under their Majestic Cool Base uniforms" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 6/9).
