The Oakland City Council and Alameda County Board of
Supervisors both unanimously signed off on an $85M Coliseum
renovation package and lease with Raiders yesterday, according to
the OAKLAND TRIBUNE. David Li and Stacey Wells note Tuesday's
action leaves one final barrier for the team's return to Oakland,
approval from 23 of 30 NFL owners at their meeting Friday in
Chicago (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 7/12). ESPN's Chris Mortensen: "Look
for NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to pave the way for approval
for the Raiders move back to Oakland when the owners meet Friday
in Chicago" ("SportsCenter," 7/11). Also in Oakland, Bill
Soliday reports that 49ers President Carmen Policy plans to
protest the Raiders' move. Policy: "I feel in my heart it is not
in the best interests of the NFL for the Raiders to leave Los
Angeles." Soliday notes Policy's effort is "probably a losing
proposition" (OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 7/12). Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen
will support the Raiders' move at Friday's meeting. Bowlen: "If
we voted it down, he would probably move anyway"
(Armstrong/Henderson, DENVER POST, 7/12).
FIND THOSE W-2'S: A U.S. tax court judge on Tuesday, after
hearing testimony from Raiders Owner Al Davis, called on Davis
and the Raiders to "prove" that supposed loans had repayment
guarantees (Brand & Li, OAKLAND TRIBUNE, 7/12). Judge Mary Ann
Cohen called for briefs from the team and IRS in 75 days, and
said there would be 45 days for response. Cohen hopes to rule by
Christmas (L.A. TIMES, 7/12).
