FL business exec John Henry "has increased his initial
bid" for the Marlins and has offered $150M to team Owner
Wayne Huizenga, "the highest confirmed offer that Huizenga
has received," according to Barry Jackson of the MIAMI
HERALD. Jackson also reported that USA Broadcasting Chair
Barry Diller "has begun a serious attempt to put together a
group to buy the Marlins." Diller, who "does not feel
strongly about being the team's managing general partner,"
might end up joining the Henry group "or someone else," but
"probably not" the group led by Don Smiley. Jackson added
that there is also the possibility of a "joint bid"
including Diller, Henry and Cablevision Chair Charles Dolan,
who wants the Marlins sold because Huizenga has said he will
sell SportsChannel FL to Cablevision "only after selling"
the team. A source said that Dolan's interest in the
Marlins "is unclear," since he "prefers to continue efforts
to buy the Yankees" (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 8/9).
WHEN IRISH EYES ARE SMILEY: Jackson reported that
neither Diller nor Henry is interested in joining Smiley's
investment group, which Diller's top exec, Adam Ware, called
"unattractive." Henry, on Smiley's bid: "It doesn't make
sense because they might move the team if the public doesn't
build them a stadium. I would not move the team." Henry,
on retaining Smiley as club President if he buys the team:
"As much as I like Don, I have a completely different
viewpoint on the direction of the franchise" (MIAMI HERALD,
8/9). In Miami, Linda Robertson wrote on Smiley's bid, and
said Smiley was "in over his head. ... It is time to throw
in the towel" (Linda Robertson, MIAMI HERALD, 8/9).
