Pittsburgh city officials "flatly" denied requests for a
two-week extension on today's deadline for Pirates bids. Bill
Craig, GM of KBL Sports Network, a susidiary of TCI's Liberty
Sports, will still submit a bid, but said, "It's not going to be
as good as we would like." Craig maintained KBL would buy the
team only if all other bids fell through. Robert Caporale,
attorney for Penguins Owner Howard Baldwin, said he would file
papers "in an attempt to keep his client's name alive" -- but he
would not call it a formal bid. Baldwin had argued for an
extension, citing the NHL labor negotiations and charging city
officials with "unilaterally" setting a deadline. Former Orioles
President Larry Lucchino declined to say whether he would bid.
But Craig said there may be room for Lucchino to join the KBL
group. Cleveland investment banker Jeffrey Moffie is no longer
on the city's list, but he may tell the city he has lined up two
more investors with Pittsburgh ties. Moffie is not submitting a
proposal today but said his group would "make it impossible" to
be outbid. Other groups working on bids include the Steelers'
Rooney family, Adelphia Communications Chair John Rigas and
Florida financier Malcolm Glazer (Steve Halvonik, PITTSBURGH
GAZETTE, 10/7).
