Hurricanes Owner Peter Karmanos Jr. said that he "continues to seek a financial 'partner' to eventually succeed him as majority owner," and that the partner "could be determined by next season." He said the Hurricanes would not leave "one of the fastest growing markets in the country" regardless of who succeeds him. Karmanos: "We'd have to be idiots to move from here" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 7/2).
NEVER BE ROYAL? In Sacramento, Ailene Voisin writes under the header, "As Summer's Pinata, Kings Need To Hit Back In Free Agency." The '14-15 NBA season saw the Kings endure "far too many wannabe power brokers and intruders with individual agendas, differing philosophies and conspiracy theories -- wasting valuable time and retarding the organization's progress." While the new arena is being built, Kings VP/Basketball & Franchise Operations Vlade Divac is "scrambling to assemble a staff, pursue trades and signings and, to his credit, receiving assistance from one former high-powered attorney and league executive who has asked to remain anonymous for the time being" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 7/2).
DEAR OLD DADS: In San Diego, Matt Calkins writes, "Despite gutting the farm system so as to be playoff-caliber, the Padres have accumulated just three more wins than the 2014 squad did at this point. And if you're part of the Padres ownership group that upped the payroll from $90 million to $109 million, your thoughts have likely gone from 'win now' to 'what now?'" Padres President & CEO Mike Dee said that bold moves "are necessary for any franchise trying to emerge from a tar pit of mediocrity." Calkins: "The risks may backfire, sure, but it would be absurd to bash [GM A.J. Preller] after making this team relevant for the first time in nearly a decade" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/2).
