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MIAMI HERALD REPORTS SMILEY'S DEAL FOR MARLINS IN "JEOPARDY"

          Marlins President Don Smiley's deal to buy the team "is
     in jeopardy because he has experienced setbacks in his
     search for investors willing to combine to meet" team Owner
     Wayne Huizenga's $150M asking price, according to Barry
     Jackson of the MIAMI HERALD.  Smiley also needs to raise
     another $10M or so in working capital.  The Ackerley Group,
     headed by Sonics Owner Barry Ackerley, "is now considered
     unlikely to invest," and other "likely investors have either
     said no or remain undecided."  But Huizenga said he remained
     "optimistic" of a Smiley deal.  Jackson added that at least
     one "high-ranking" Marlins official has been told Smiley's
     deal "may not materialize, and if it doesn't, Huizenga
     likely would own the team next season."  Smiley admitted to
     Jackson, "Some things have changed" in his pursuit of the
     team.  Jackson reported that Smiley's decision to trade away
     several "key" players in an effort to trim payroll "has
     discouraged several investors," but Smiley said that those
     decisions have been "praised by some of his investors," who
     he declined to identify (MIAMI HERALD, 12/14).
          BALLPARK TIMING: Sources said that Smiley now prefers
     to build a retractable-roof ballpark next to Pro Player
     Stadium, and if there isn't a commitment for a new stadium
     by next summer, "the team's owner -- be it Smiley or
     Huizenga -- would consider offers to sell to a buyer who
     would move the Marlins out of South Florida" (MIAMI HERALD,
     12/14).  This morning in Miami, Jackson & Krischer Goodman
     write on Smiley's pitch for public help: "The problem is
     that his timing is off.  Smiley wants to build the stadium
     with taxpayer money at a time when most available funds are
     committed to other projects" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/15).
          FOX SPORTS FL? Huizenga told Jackson that if he can
     sell the team, he "might sell" SportsChannel FL, which holds
     cable rights to the Marlins for the next five years.
     Cablevision, a partner of Fox/Liberty Media, is the "front-
     runner," meaning the RSN could change its name to Fox Sports
     FL.  Huizenga: "We won't sell SportsChannel unless we sell
     the Marlins" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/14).
          

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