While "dangling the promise of an All-Star Game" and a
WNBA team for Dallas, NBA Commissioner David Stern "urged
approval of public financing" for a new $230M downtown
arena, according to Mede Nix of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM.
Stern's appearance yesterday at the proposed arena site with
Mayor Ron Kirk and Mavs President Terdema Ussery "is the
latest in a series of get-out-the vote events scheduled by
both sides before Saturday's election." Stern "declined to
say how the league would react" if the vote fails: "They're
the Dallas Mavericks. They were born here. They should
continue to survive here." Stern also "answered criticisms"
as to why Mavs Owner Ross Perot Jr. "isn't at the fore of
selling the deal." Stern said Perot "has told him that he
has hired good people and wants to get out of their way,"
since "questioning team owners is part of the standard
campaign against sports facilities across the nation" (STAR-
TELEGRAM, 1/13). In related news, Dallas County Elections
Administrator Bruce Sherbet projects voter turnout on
Saturday "between" 20-30% (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/13).
