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Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria Makes Strong Denial That Selling Team Is Imminent

Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria yesterday made his strongest denial yet that a sale of the team is imminent. “There’s no deal. Stop talking deal. There’s no new ownership,” Loria said to reporters yesterday ahead of the MLB All-Star Game. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and Marlins President David Samson have both spoken repeatedly about the ongoing sale process, but Loria was more circumspect and said he does not “even think about” the topic of the sale. He said the team will be sold “at some point, maybe.” Loria: “Everybody sells something, maybe. Everybody gets married or unmarried, maybe.” MasTec co-Founder & Chair Jorge Mas, who leads one of the three bids for the Marlins, sat behind Loria during last night’s game. Meeting with the Baseball Writers Association of America earlier yesterday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred repeated comments that Mas along with rival groups led by Tagg Romney and Derek Jeter each remain in play and are working on deal structures and due diligence. However, Manfred said suggestions any of them are nearing a final deal are premature. “When that (review) process is complete, the Marlins will pick a winning bidder,” Manfred said. “And I’m pretty confident that will happen in the relatively near future" (Eric Fisher, Staff Writer).

MAS APPEAL?
Mas is a Marlins season-ticket holder and Samson said there was "no hidden meaning" in Mas sitting behind Loria. Samson: "Those were seats he purchased" (AP, 7/11). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde reports Mas and Loria talked and also "laughed at times" during the game. After Loria left in the seventh inning, Samson arrived "to shake Mas’s hand and, later, give a hug." Mas said his group is "working hard" to buy the team. Mas: "We’ll see what happens. ... I hope everything works out like we want." He added, "We’re getting close, I think." Hyde notes Mas’ financing and developed paperwork have to be "completely vetted" by MLB. A source said that if "nothing changes and things progress as expected, this deal could close for Mas 'in a week or two'" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12). Hyde writes Mas is the "people's choice right now because he a) has a small group topped by his money; b) has local business roots; and c) hasn’t seen the need for a big-name grab ... to be part of his group" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12). Also in Ft. Lauderdale, Tim Healey writes, "Mas' other advantage is he is wealthy enough to pay for most if not all of the asking price on his own" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12). The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson: "There is optimism in Mas camp that they're getting closer to a deal" (TWITTER.com, 7/11).

REACHING OUT TO THE A-LIST: Michael Jordan has joined Jeter's group, and in Charlotte, Rick Bonnell notes the two "have long been acquainted, with Jeter being the top endorser for Jordan Brand baseball products." Jordan owns the Hornets, and it is "not uncommon for principal owners of NBA teams to invest in other sports." Bonnell cites Jerry Reinsdorf and Ted Leonsis with ownership stakes in teams in multiple leagues (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/12). The SUN-SENTINEL's Hyde noted in addition to the Jordan/Jeter pairing, rapper Pitbull has joined the Romney group. He asked, "Does the first group to add Carrot Top win? What is this, the sale of a billion-dollar business with a serious problem in South Florida or a celebrity hang-out list?" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 7/11).

THE LONG GOODBYE: In N.Y., Tyler Kepner writes the All-Star Game will "likely bring a close, more or less, to Loria's stormy tenure in Miami" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/12). SI.com's Jack Dickey wrote Loria has been a "stain, demonstrating greed, self-regard and contempt for fans and taxpayers at every turn." Loria has "presided over a parade of fire sales once in Florida to line his own pockets with guaranteed revenue-sharing dollars." He "blamed the team’s supposed financial woes on the subpar stadium" and then "managed to stick Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami with the foreboding long-term bill that comes from ponying up" $500M in costs for a new park. Loria also promised the Marlins "would become a premium product in their new home." The team has yet to record a .500 record in the five full seasons playing at the venue (SI.com, 7/11). NFL writer Greg Bedard tweeted, "As you're watching this All-Star Game, remember how Samson and Loria completely screwed over the taxpayers to make it happen" (TWITTER.com, 7/11).

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