Franchise Notes
In Ft. Lauderdale, Sarah Talalay reports Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Jeri Beth Cohen “surprised a packed Miami courtroom Thursday afternoon by ordering" into settlement talks both sides in the lawsuit challenging financing for the proposed $515M in financing for a new Marlins ballpark. Lawyers for auto dealer Norman Braman and the defendants, the Marlins, Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami, “had been in mediation talks earlier this week trying to reach a settlement.” Cohen sending the parties back into talks “could mean an agreement is close, though no one was saying that Thursday.” Cohen said that the trial would resume Monday (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/11).
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Burke Says He Will Comply With NHL
Request And End Criticism Of Oilers, Lowe |
FINAL SAY: Ducks Exec VP & GM Brian Burke said that he will “abide by the NHL’s request to end his criticism of” the Oilers and Oilers GM Kevin Lowe. Burke in a statement said, “There is no question in our mind or defiance about the league’s authority here. We accept their authority to stop this and we intend to stop it.” Oilers Manager of Communications & Media Relations J.J. Hebert Thursday said that the Oilers also “would comply” with the NHL's request (CP, 7/10).
ULTERIOR MOTIVES? SI.com’s Marty Burns writes agent David Falk “has been itching to regain his place as the NBA’s reigning deal-maker.” Falk client F Elton Brand Wednesday signed a five-year, $80M deal with the 76ers, and Falk’s “fingerprints are all over this deal, with suggestions from some corners of the league that he engineered the whole thing as a form of payback to the Clippers for an old slight” (SI.com, 7/9). ESPN’s Skip Bayless said Falk "was, obviously, extremely influential in this decision and … he needed to appear influential just to get his stature back in the league” (“First Take,” ESPN, 7/11).
NOTES: In Miami, Sarah Rothschild reports though AFL Commissioner David Baker named South Florida "an appealing market for an expansion team, it appears the region is a long shot to be added for the 2009 season.” Standing in the way “apparently has been meeting the financial requirement” an owner must pay to join the league. If South Florida does get a team, “it likely would play at BankAtlantic Center.” The AFL also “is exploring the possibility of adding teams in Boston and Pittsburgh” (MIAMI HERALD, 7/11)....Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon Thursday said that WNBA representatives have met with her “to discuss the possibility of moving a franchise to Baltimore once a new downtown arena is built.” Dixon “mentioned the possibility of attracting a women’s basketball franchise after being asked if a new arena should be large enough for an NBA team” (Baltimore SUN, 7/11).
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