Orioles Owner Peter Angelos made his long-awaited offer to
buy the Buccaneers and move them to Baltimore by reportedly
offering over $200M last night to the trust in charge of selling
the team. The offer came as trustees face a 5:00pm deadline
today on a $160M offer from Tommy Shannon and Outback Steakhouse
Execs Bob Basham and Chris Sullivan. Details of the Angelos
offer were not available, but a source familiar said it was worth
more than the $200M that he had offered during '94. It had been
reported over the weekend that the Bucs "may be inclined" to
accept the offer from the local Shannon group, and that the
trustees had "discounted a bid" from Angelos out of "concerns
that the NFL would not approve the Bucs relocation." But last
night's lofty offer by Angelos could change that, as the trustees
have "a fiduciary duty to strike the best deal" (Jon Morgan,
Baltimore SUN, 1/9). In Tampa, Yankees Owner George
Steinbrenner, who may make an offer today, did not rule out
Angelos. Steinbrenner: "Everyone is eliminating Peter Angelos.
I do not. I know the guy. I know his people. They are not just
talkers." This morning, team trustees are expected to meet at
Hugh Culverhouse's Tampa law office to discuss the bid, and it
"appears certain" that trustees have decided not to continue
owning and operating the club (Topkin & Stroud, ST. PETERSBURG
TIMES, 1/9). Although trustee Steve Story had told reporters
"Monday will be the day" for a deal, one source close to the
negotiations said "We probably won't even emerge with a winner
today. The men and the boys will be separated and then we'll see
who wants to bargain" (Pugliese & Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/9).
In Baltimore, Jon Morgan writes that Angelos has become "Public
Enemy No. 1" in Tampa. Angelos' response: "It would be nice if
people got this excited about the movement of a manufacturing
plant or an entire industry out of the country" (Jon Morgan,
Baltimore SUN, 1/8).
OTHER BIDDERS: A "mystery" group was added to the mix on
Friday as a group led by Jacksonville attorney Terry Moore and
Baltimore attorney Robert Schulman met with Bucs officials (Joe
Henderson, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 1/8). Steinbrenner has been "quiet
about his pursuit of the team," with some suggesting he is
waiting for the final hour to make a bid, or will make an offer
if it appears the team would be sold to out-of-town buyers
(Stroud & Topkin, ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 1/9). Possibly
increasing pressure on the trust to sell the team was the fact
that 72 potential creditors preserved their "rights to claim more
than $170 million in loans and promises" made by the late owner
of the Bucs, Hugh Culverhouse, Sr. (Gruss & Stidham, TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 1/7).
HAWKS NEXT? NBC's Will McDonough noted on "NFL Live" that
the Seahawks are for sale ("NFL Live," NBC, 1/8).
