New Kings Owners Gavin and Joe Maloof, who will assume
majority control of the team on July 1, are caught up in a
"fiery power struggle" involving Majority Owner Jim Thomas,
sources inside the organization told Martin McNeal of the
SACRAMENTO BEE. Thomas "reportedly has placed a gag order
on the Maloofs" and also "has threatened to ban the new
ownership from the arena" until July 1, when the sale of the
team to the Maloofs becomes effective. Thomas "reportedly
was angered" by the Maloof's "autonomous decision" to fly to
AR last week to meet with F Corliss Williamson to persuade
him to re-sign with the Kings. But Kings President Rick
Benner said "there's no problem going on between" Thomas and
the Maloofs and "everything is fine" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 1/23).
WE'RE SORRY: Gavin and Joe Maloof said that they
"should have made sure" Thomas joined them in AR last
Thursday. Joe Maloof: "Jim called us afterward and he was a
real gentleman about it. He just said: `Joe, I'd appreciate
if you guys would talk to me before you do something. I was
disappointed you didn't call.'" Maloof added that Thomas
"didn't put a gag order on us or anything" (SAC. BEE, 1/24).
