In L.A., Mark Heisler floats the idea that recently departed
Knicks coach Pat Riley could head to the Clippers, perhaps for
25% of owner Donald Sterling's franchise. Heisler: "Riley is a
star. Sterling loves stars. If Riley needed 10% ownership to
become General Manager, that would be $7.5 million worth."
Heisler writes that Riley would give the team credibility and "a
smooth running NBA franchise in Los Angeles should be worth $150
million, which would make Sterling's 75% worth $112.5 mil or darn
slight more than his 100% is today" (L.A. TIMES, 6/18).
NEWSDAY's Mike Lupica, echoes that idea, with a twist: "I think
at some point in the next year, you will see Disney buy the L.A.
Clippers from Donald Sterling and I think Pat Riley will go back
and they'll give him some sort of vested interest" ("Sports
Reporters," ESPN, 6/18)....The "latest" is that NFL Cardinals
Owner Bill Bidwell "would not mind being the NFC team in L.A"
(S.A. Paolantonio, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/18)....In New York,
Gary Myers writes that additional luxury boxes and club seating
being discussed at Giants Stadium could "eventually mean an extra
$5 million in annual revenue for the Giants and Jets." Plans
call for an extra 80 boxes and 700-800 club seats. Construction
could be done by '97 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/18).....Entrepreneur
Skip Korb makes his presentation this week to the Regional
Stadium Task Force in Cincinnati for a domed stadium for the
Bengals. The $250M facility would be paid for by pension funds
of retired construction workers, instead of through taxes.
Bengals GM Mike Brown does not favor the plan (USA TODAY,
6/19)....The NHL team in Denver has received deposits for 7,000
season tickets (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 6/17). ...The Class A
Portland Rockies opened their Northwest League season Thursday
before 19,658 (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/16).
