S.F. Mayor Willie Brown said yesterday that "he doesn't
think there's much chance" that the 49ers stadium/mall
complex will "be built -- so long as the team's current
leadership remains in place," according to Matier & Ross of
the S.F. CHRONICLE. Brown said that with the "recent
sidelining" of 49ers co-Owner Eddie DeBartolo and the
departure of team President Carmen Policy "there just
doesn't appear to be the will or the leadership to get the
job done." Brown: "What I'm hoping is that some form of
Eddie DeBartolo [will come back] and take the team." But
Matier & Ross report that a source close to DeBartolo said
that he will "probably be indicted within the next month" on
charges that "are likely to include mail and wire fraud,"
but not on federal racketeering charges. The source "all
but ruled out" the chance of DeBartolo "cutting a deal" with
prosecutors. Without a deal, DeBartolo is likely to have a
trial that could "keep him sidelined for a year or more."
That would leave his sister Denise in charge, and "she isn't
any big fan of the stadium" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/16).
