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SBD/February 4, 2013/Franchises
Franchise Notes
Published February 4, 2013
In London, Oliver Kay reported the Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain owners Qatar Sports Investment "hope to use their connection with David Beckham to buy an American soccer franchise, either in partnership or in direct competition" with him. QSI “believes that PSG’s signing of Beckham on a five-month contract will provide a commercial foothold in the United States, as well as in Asia.” QSI's preference is to "look at the East Coast of the U.S.," targeting a franchise such as the NASL Cosmos or MLS Red Bulls, "but they have not discounted the option of trying to buy in partnership with Beckham" (LONDON TIMES, 2/2).
TROLLEY DODGING: In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote, "If the Lakers continue their embarrassing implosion, could this actually swing back to a Dodgers town?" The Dodgers have “a long way to go to recapture this city’s No. 1 status from the Lakers, who easily have been the dominant sports team here over the last 20-plus years.” Dodgers owners Guggenheim Partners appear "on the right course to healing wounds from the Frank McCourt/Fox era.” Dilbeck: "A seeming opportunity is there" (LATIMES.com, 2/2).
WALKING IN MEMPHIS: Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera on Friday during an online chat with fans said that NBA teams “can win championships without ‘dominant superstars,’ mentioning the Pistons and recent Spurs teams.” Pera: "I believe with our recent moves, this Grizzlies team as now constructed can potentially become the latest example." Meanwhile, he said that wireless Internet connectivity is “currently being installed ‘on the roof’ of FedExForum," using technology from Pera's Ubiquiti Networks firm (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/2).
TOP CHIEF: Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt said that he “pays more attention to the Chiefs than many people think.” Hunt said, “The last four or five years after my father passed away, I do spend a lot of my time … thinking through the strategy of who do we need to re-sign, how can we get better at this position?” In K.C., Randy Covitz noted with coach Andy Reid and GM John Dorsey both “reporting directly to him, Hunt plans to keep an even stronger pulse on the organization.” Hunt: “There was a feeling in (K.C.) that I didn’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth” (K.C. STAR, 2/2).
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TROLLEY DODGING: In L.A., Steve Dilbeck wrote, "If the Lakers continue their embarrassing implosion, could this actually swing back to a Dodgers town?" The Dodgers have “a long way to go to recapture this city’s No. 1 status from the Lakers, who easily have been the dominant sports team here over the last 20-plus years.” Dodgers owners Guggenheim Partners appear "on the right course to healing wounds from the Frank McCourt/Fox era.” Dilbeck: "A seeming opportunity is there" (LATIMES.com, 2/2).
WALKING IN MEMPHIS: Grizzlies Owner Robert Pera on Friday during an online chat with fans said that NBA teams “can win championships without ‘dominant superstars,’ mentioning the Pistons and recent Spurs teams.” Pera: "I believe with our recent moves, this Grizzlies team as now constructed can potentially become the latest example." Meanwhile, he said that wireless Internet connectivity is “currently being installed ‘on the roof’ of FedExForum," using technology from Pera's Ubiquiti Networks firm (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 2/2).
TOP CHIEF: Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt said that he “pays more attention to the Chiefs than many people think.” Hunt said, “The last four or five years after my father passed away, I do spend a lot of my time … thinking through the strategy of who do we need to re-sign, how can we get better at this position?” In K.C., Randy Covitz noted with coach Andy Reid and GM John Dorsey both “reporting directly to him, Hunt plans to keep an even stronger pulse on the organization.” Hunt: “There was a feeling in (K.C.) that I didn’t care. Nothing could be further from the truth” (K.C. STAR, 2/2).
