In N.Y., Sandomir & Belson note one of the "more striking revelations to come to light" since the beginning of the lawsuit filed by Bernie Madoff trustee Irving Picard against Mets Owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz was the disclosure that "Wilpon and Katz, who fought long and hard to make the Mets an exclusive holding of their family, once offered a piece of the team to Madoff." Court documents and sources close to the owners create a picture "of Wilpon as the polished, glad-handing networker and face of the Mets and Sterling Equities, and Katz as a rough-hewn financial whiz who called many of the important shots over the years." In the "interviews with those who know and have worked with Wilpon and Katz, the depiction of their differing strengths and personalities was consistent." One individual described Wilpon "as a Ronald Regan figure, Katz a person deeply involved in the details of any deal." (N.Y. TIMES, 9/23).
INT'L MAN OF MYSTERY: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts notes Calgary businessman Max Chambers "is getting a lot of attention for a fellow who was quickly dismissed as a prospective NHL owner" by the Blues. Chambers "appears to be an international man of mystery." Shoalts: "Next to no information on either of Chambers's alleged companies can be found. ... Someone whose business involves checking out potential buyers of professional sports teams said he asked several people in Calgary, including some bankers, about Chambers. No one had ever heard of him. However, there are lots of mentions of a Max Chambers from Calgary in media reports about failed attempts to buy sports teams" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/23).
LIGHT IN THE STORM: In Oklahoma City, Darnell Mayberry reported despite the ongoing NBA lockout, the Thunder "still reached its full-season-ticket capacity and announced it has started a waiting list." The team has "created the True Blue Club, which allows fans to reserve a spot in line for when full-season tickets become available" (THE OKLAHOMAN, 9/21).
