MLB: Marlins Owner John Henry will include 20 season-
ticket holders at the team's partnership meeting on Saturday
and open his books and "go over everything from players'
salaries to the price of hot dogs." Henry: "I feel like I
am the steward for this team, and that the team belongs to
the community " (MIAMI HERALD, 5/21)....Devil Rays General
Partner Vince Naimoli, who says that the small crowds at
Tropicana Field this season are "getting to him": "When
you're trying your best and you've put down your own money
and that of your fellow investors into this, some days you
wonder why you do it. ... [But] we are not going anywhere.
We are not moving the team [from Tropicana Field]" (TAMPA
TRIBUNE, 5/21). ...Prospective Royals Owner Miles Prentice's
bid for the team was placed on MLB's ownership committee
agenda yesterday but not on the agenda for the June 10
owners' meeting. The move means that it is "unlikely" that
Prentice's bid will be approved at the meeting and that some
owners might have "questions" about the deal (Charles
Crumpley, K.C. STAR, 5/21)....Phillies GM Ed Wade,
responding to P Curt Schilling's comments regarding the
team's signing of players: "Curt has the right to express
his opinions. But that's all they are. Much of what Curt
says is irresponsible and his comments often are not based
upon facts" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/21).
OTHER NOTES: New Coliseum Partner Eli Broad, after
recently meeting with John Elway: "I got favorable feedback.
I'll meet with him again in a few days" (N.Y. TIMES, 5/21).
Broad: "We are prepared to give John Elway the title of
president" (USA TODAY, 5/21). But CNN/SI's Peter King said
that Elway will "wait to see who wins [the L.A. bidding],
then see if he can work with the owner long-term, and vice
versa" ("Sports Tonight," 5/20)....49ers GM Bill Walsh, on
if the team's ownership situation affects him and the team:
"We're not a bit affected by [49ers co-Owner Eddie
DeBartolo's] absence or [49ers VP] John York's presence.
Now if we started flying DC-3s or started giving box lunches
for pre-game meals, I think the players would sense
something was different" ("Up Close," 5/20)....Albany (NY)
has been awarded a National Lacrosse League franchise at the
Pepsi Arena for the 2000 season (Albany TIMES UNION, 5/21).
