In Akron, Mary Vanac reported that McDonald & Co.
Securities "has invited a group of professional investors to
a Tuesday meeting during which details of the Indians'
pending" IPO will be discussed. The meeting "is significant
because it means McDonald & Co., the lead underwriter of the
proposed offering, is getting ready to gauge how interested
the investing community is in shares" of the team (AKRON
BEACON JOURNAL, 5/16)....In Orlando, Devil Rays Managing
General Partner Vince Naimoli has asked Time Warner Vice
Chair Ted Turner "to intercede" on his behalf and have Time
Warner Cable in the Orlando and Melbourne area carry
SportsChannel FL. Those markets are the only "major
pockets" in FL that don't carry SportsChannel FL, which
televises Devil Rays and Marlins games (ORLANDO SENTINEL,
5/17)....Sports marketing consultant Max Muhleman, on the
Twins possibly moving to Charlotte: "Charlotte is extremely
overachieving as far as professional sports already. To go
to three teams is a stretch. But attitude is what separates
markets" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/18)....In N.Y., Mike
Lupica, on complaints by Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner
and local politicians about the team's attendance: "The fans
and ballclub will find each other, the way they always have,
if [NYC Mayor Rudy] Giuliani and Steinbrenner will just shut
up" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/17)....In Houston, Saturday's
Braves-Astros attendance of 51,526 was the largest regular-
season home crowd in team history (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/17).
