Calvin Hill, former NFL player and Orioles exec, is moving
forward with plans to bring an MLB team to Washington, according
to the WASHINGTON POST. Hill yesterday identified two of his
investors, both from New York -- investment banker David Darst
and venture capitalist John Diamond. Hill: "We are moving
forward on three fronts -- on the investors front, on the stadium
front and on the major league front." Hill's group is likely to
compete with a partnership led by telecom exec William Collins,
who wants a team for Northern VA. Hill "has been in touch with"
MLB officials, and baseball sources said "he has a supporter" in
NL President Leonard Coleman. Hill said he's had no talks with
the Astros about a potential relocation. One of the "biggest
obstacles" for Hill is that Collins seems to have convinced MLB
officials that Northern VA, not downtown DC, is the best option
in the area. Hill: "It's pretty obvious that Virginia has a
huge lead." Darst is taking a leave of absence from his position
as VP & CFO of the Equitites Division of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
(WASHINGTON POST, 5/9).
ALLEN SUPPORT: The prospects of MLB in Northern VA
"brightened" yesterday when VA Gov. George Allen supported a
revised plan to help pay for a stadium using money from instant
lottery games (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST, 5/9).
