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Saturday, February 24, 2001
Heisley: 'I don't have a pick right now'
Associated Press
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CHICAGO – With the deadline to find a new home only five
days away, the owner of the Vancouver Grizzlies said there's no
clear favorite among the six cities he's considering.
The Grizzlies must submit an application to the NBA by March 1 –
Thursday – if they want to relocate by the start of next season.
Owner Michael Heisley said Saturday he's looking at six cities: Las
Vegas; Anaheim, Calif.; St. Louis; New Orleans; Louisville, Ky.;
and "to a certain extent, Memphis."
"I'm not leaning anywhere right now," he said Saturday in
Chicago, where the Grizzlies were playing the Bulls. "I don't have
a pick right now."
Heisley said there has been some talk about possibly extending
the deadline by a few weeks, but no decision has been made.
If he can't find a city to move to, Heisley said the Grizzlies
could stay in Vancouver.
"Yes, I think I could stay there," he said. "Would it be
difficult? Sure it would be difficult. ... But if we don't find a
place, we'll be playing in Vancouver."
The Grizzlies have lost money since joining the league in
1995-96. Heisley purchased the team for $150 million last year with
the idea of leaving it in Vancouver.
But NBA Commissioner David Stern gave him permission on Feb. 12
to move after Heisley said he expects to lose at least $40 million
this year.
Though the Grizzlies haven't developed a following, Heisley's
announcement that he wanted to move the team has angered people in
Vancouver. Someone even created a Web site "HunttheOwner.com,"
which featured a picture of Heisley framed in a rifle's crosshairs.
While he was "stunned" to see that, Heisley said he can
understand fans' unhappiness.
"Sports is a very emotional thing and people have very
deep-seated feelings for their teams. ... People have a right to be
angry," Heisley said.
"My point is, I've got a product and if people in Vancouver
don't want to buy the product, they don't have to. But on the other
hand, I don't think people in Vancouver should expect me to
continue losing the amounts of money we're talking about losing." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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