In Dallas, Mike Heika cited sources as saying that because Oct. 22 falls on a Saturday, competing bids to purchase the Stars "will probably be accepted until Monday." A 30-day deadline to submit bids was triggered on Sept. 22 when Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi entered his "stalking horse" bid. Heika noted once the deadline has passed, "we will then either have the next step in a complicated auction procedure, or nobody will enter a competing bid, and Stars fans will be able to welcome Gaglardi as the team’s new owner." Two groups "appear to be trying to decide if they want to do that." Former MLB Rangers Managing General Partner & CEO Chuck Greenberg "has been attempting to assemble a group of mostly local businessmen to buy the team." The other group "is led by" CHL Allen Americans Owner Doug Miller, but there is "some question as to whether he can pull off a deal of this magnitude." Both groups "are working to make a bid, but we'll have to wait until Monday to see if either does" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/20).
DAWN OF A NEW ERA: In Philadelphia, Bob Cooney asked, "Is pro basketball really reaching relevancy in this city again, coming off a 14-win improvement from the season before and a return to the playoffs?" Perhaps Tuesday "was a step in that direction," with the introduction of the 76ers new ownership group, led by Managing Owner Joshua Harris. Cooney noted the NBA lockout "has not benefited many people, yet," but if "you were to make a list of those who have profited (non-monetarily) thus far, the new Sixers owners could be at the top of a very short list." The lockout has "given the group time to map out strategies" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/20). Meanwhile, ASIAONE.com reported Mahaka Media Founder & Owner Erick Thohir is part of Harris' ownership group, and he "holds the distinction of being the first ever Asian owner of an NBA team." Thohir is "well known in his home country of Indonesia but less known is his passion for basketball." He currently serves as President of South East Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) and has "expended continuous efforts to grow the sport in the region" (ASIAONE.com, 10/19).
COACHING CONSULT: CSNBAYAREA.com's Paul Gutierrez wondered following the death of late Raiders Owner Al Davis, "Who does coach Hue Jackson answer to now in regards to player personnel decisions?" Jackson said, "I talk to Mark (Davis), I talk to Amy (Trask). Those are my two people I spend a lot of time talking to because they've been here and they're people I know the most. ... Those people are very, very important to this process. I'm not doing anything without Mark Davis and I'm not doing anything without Amy Trask knowing" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 10/17).
