Franchise Notes
In Boston, Marc Spears cited an NBA Eastern Conference team exec as saying that "because of the economy, he wouldn't be surprised if at least 20 NBA teams carry 14 or fewer players next season to save money." The exec: "Owners are going to be like, 'We're not going to sign someone we're paying and not playing who is three years away.'" Spears noted if there are "fewer NBA jobs available next season, Europe will likely end up getting players at a cheaper rate." The exec: "Salaries will be down a minimum of 40[%] in Europe due to the economy and because of the revenue stream. NBA players can't use Europe as leverage. It's going to be more people competing for jobs, but jobs are paying less. More guys will be forced to go to Europe" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/14).
BIDING HIS TIME: In St. Louis, Bernie Miklasz wrote he believes Kroenke Sports Enterprises Owner Stan Kroenke, a Rams investor, will "sit and wait for others to make the first move" to purchase the Rams. Miklasz: "It makes sense, because Kroenke has the right of first refusal on the Rams' sale. He can match any offer for the available 60[%]. By hanging back, Kroenke won't set the market and take the risk of bidding against himself to meet [co-Owner Chip Rosenbloom's] price. Instead, it's smarter for Kroenke to wait for another interested party to set the market, then react accordingly." But if Kroenke "wants the Rams, would he be willing to sell his Denver teams to comply with NFL rules?" Sources said that that is "doubtful," and that Kroenke "will try to lobby NFL owners to get the rule changed" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/14).
BACKER ISSUES: In London, Nick Szczepanik reports former EPL club Manchester City Owner Thaksin Shinawatra "has denied that he has a financial interest in the proposed takeover" of EPL club Portsmouth. The EPL indicated that it would "veto the sale" of Portsmouth to Falcon Equity Chair Sulaiman al-Fahim "if reports of involvement on the part of [Shinawatra] were confirmed." Shinawatra would "fail the Premier League's fit and proper persons test after being convicted of corruption in Thailand and sentenced to two years in jail" (LONDON TIMES, 6/15). Meanwhile, in London, Jackson & Hunter reported the EPL "has confirmed that it will examine closely the business connections" of al-Fahim after it "emerged that his company Hydra Properties is part of a wider business group," The Royal Group, which is Chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, brother of Manchester City Owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (London OBSERVER, 6/14).
WINGING IT: Ilitch Holdings President & CEO Christopher Ilitch appeared on CNBC Friday prior to the Red Wings playing Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. CNBC's Darren Rovell asked Ilitch, "Is it tougher to be an owner in Detroit versus any other city?" Ilitch: "The economy here has been battered a little bit, and if that happened in any town across any league in professional sports, you're going to have to work a little bit harder to sell tickets, to sell advertising, to sell suites, whatever. We're very fortunate that our team has won four Stanley Cups in the last 11 seasons ... and we've set a current record in terms of 18 continuous playoff appearances ... and that has really helped us in selling our club" ("Power Lunch," CNBC, 6/12).
DISTRICT DROP-OFF: The Nationals are reportedly close to firing manager Manny Acta, and ESPN's Peter Gammons said the team wants to "change the culture, and that's not Manny Acta's fault." Gammons: "A general manager last year was watching one of their games and said, 'I feel like I'm watching 'The Longest Yard.' … They're on a pace to drop 400,000 in attendance. Not a good thing" ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 6/14).
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