The NFL on Wednesday accepted the withdrawal of Tom
Clancy's $200M bid to purchase the Vikings, according to
Banks & Parrish of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. NFL
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue: "I think they're back to close
to square one, or square one. There's no transaction
currently there." New potential bidders for the team
include Vikings President Roger Headrick, Twins Owner Carl
Pohlad and former Spurs/Nuggets Owner Red McCombs. But one
Vikings co-Owner said that at least five co-Owners are
opposed to Headrick buying the team: "I don't think Roger
can count on but one vote, maybe two." Pohlad, on the
Vikings: "I'm interested in talking to them if they're
interested in talking to me" (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/21). Cowboys
Owner Jerry Jones said that McCombs "would be good for the
NFL. He's talented, substantive and has proven he
understands sports" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/21).
OTHER PLAYERS: In Houston, John Williams reports that
business exec Bob McNair said "he may try to acquire a small
portion" of the team now that Clancy has pulled out. Such a
purchase "would allow McNair greater access to other [NFL]
team owners," which he said he hopes "would improve his
chances of attracting an expansion team to Houston." McNair
said that after talking with Tagliabue yesterday he "likely
will ask" to join Headrick's investor group (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 5/21). In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports that
one NFL source said he expects T-Wolves Owner Glen Taylor to
become a Vikings bidder (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/21). In
Minneapolis, Sid Hartman reports that Flyers/76ers Chair Ed
Snider "might be interested if he could negotiate rather
than bid for the team" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/21).
CLANCY DEBRIS: In Minneapolis, Don Banks cites an NFL
finance committee member who said that Clancy "not only
didn't have the extra [$40M] or so that the league prefers
its owners to have in case of emergency, he didn't have
close to the money to swing the deal itself" (Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE, 5/21). Sid Hartman writes of Clancy's partner
Marc Ganis, "[D]on't be shocked if Ganis ... sues" the
league (STAR TRIBUNE, 5/21). A STAR TRIBUNE editorial, on
Clancy's bid: "[T]he whole affair wound up being a sorry
fiasco" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 5/21).
