Karen Davidson said she will own "a small part" of the Pistons after her sale of the team to Tom Gores is closed and approved by the NBA BOG. In Detroit, Gregg Krupa notes most observers believe that “while a price tag of about $400 million may be announced within weeks, Gores will pay closer to $300 million.” Allowing Davidson “to retain a stake would help drive down the price.” The approval of the sale is “expected this month or in June.” Davidson said that her “sole disappointment is that she could not sell the team quicker.” She said, "I can not tell you how certain I am that Tom Gores is the right person for this team, and he is going to bring a passion to this that others would not. He is a man who is smart. He is a man who works hard" (DETROIT NEWS, 5/19).
EVERYONE AFFECTED: In West Palm Beach, Ben Volin cites a source as saying that Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland, head coach Tony Sparano and the team's assistant coaches “will get a pay cut starting June 1 if the lockout isn't over by then.” The team last week cut the “salaries of the club's non-football employees” by 10-20%, “based on their pay level.” The percentage of the coaches' cuts “is unclear.” According to their contracts, Ireland “can decide the reductions on an individual basis.” Volin notes regular salaries “are expected to be restored when the lockout ends, but lost wages will not be repaid” (PALM BEACH POST, 5/19).
WORKING ON A TURNAROUND: USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale in a sports section cover-story notes the Indians’ 26-14 record is the team’s “best start since 2001,” but the club has “yet to resonate at the turnstiles, drawing a major league-low 15,648 a game.” Still, there is a “buzz in town,” as the team has “sold 225,000 tickets in the last month” and local TV ratings are up 68% over a year ago (USA TODAY, 5/19).
MORE OF THE SAME? In Houston, Jerome Solomon writes with Drayton McLane’s sale of the Astros to Jim Crane, “Don’t be surprised if over the next couple of years, Crane delivers no more than Drayton McLane has over the last few. It won’t necessarily make him a bad owner; it is what it is.” The Astros “are a bad team, and without an influx of talent, they aren’t likely to be a good team any time soon.” Crane said he has enough cash to “run the team effectively.” Solomon: “Don’t get too excited until you hear his definition of effectively. … Let’s see if Crane puts his money where his mouth is when it comes to acquiring talent” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/19).
