Kansas City Penguins - not looking good...

[Moooo]

It's not looking good. It looks like the powers that be will make sure the Penguins stay in Pittsburgh.

Cuban plans minimal financial involvement if group buys Penguins

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports Writer

June 29, 2006

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban won't have a substantial financial stake in the Pittsburgh Penguins if the proposed ownership group he supports succeeds in buying the team.

Cuban said Thursday he joined a group headed by New York financier Andrew Murstein after several of his high school friends also aligned with Murstein.

Murstein is the president of Medallion Financial Corp., a company that finances New York City taxicab medallions and originates consumer loans. Also included are principals in Pittsburgh-based Walnut Capital, a real estate management and development company.

Walnut Capital CEO Gregg Perelman recently partnered with Cuban to buy a nine-story downtown Pittsburgh office building.

"I'm just a minority investor and then we'll go from there. It's not an active role, it's not the Mavericks," Cuban said at a Mavericks function in Dallas. "Honestly, some of my friends that I grew up with were active in this group, that's why I got involved with it. Guys from high school."

Cuban said the Murstein group approached him, not the other way around, because it knew of his interest in Pittsburgh sports. Cuban grew up in suburban Mount Lebanon, Pa., and was interested in buying the Penguins before Mario Lemieux's group purchased the team in federal bankruptcy court in 1999.

"I mean, the goal is to help keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh," Cuban said. "That's goal No. 1."

During a recent appearance on the David Letterman show, Cuban showed off his Pittsburgh roots by wearing a Ben Roethlisberger Steelers jersey.

Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino also has aligned with the Murstein group, one of at least five believed to be interested in buying the Penguins. Like Cuban, his financial involvement is not expected to be substantial.

The Penguins are expected to be sold before the start of the 2006-07 season in October. One issue is the lack of a new downtown arena the Penguins have been attempting to secure since Lemieux bought the team.

A casino firm has agreed to build the arena with no tax money if it secures the license for a downtown slot machine parlor. Gov. Ed Rendell and county and city officials also are trying to develop an alternative plan if the license is awarded to another of three bidders.

Murstein plans to keep the team in Pittsburgh even as an arena deal is completed. Other prospective Penguins bidders likely would move the team if arena financing isn't in place by the end of the 2006-07 season. The Penguins' Mellon Arena lease expires next year.

AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron in Dallas contributed to this report.

[nychief]

i want the NBA anyway.

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by nychief

i want the NBA anyway.

Noooooo! NHL is the way to go!



Moooo

[morphius]

Originally Posted by nychief

i want the NBA anyway.

blech

[plbrdude]

kansas city---penguins
doesn't sound like a good mix


but i'm not a hockey fan

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by plbrdude

kansas city---penguins
doesn't sound like a good mix


but i'm not a hockey fan

Your missing out. And if God Forbid the Penguins moved to KC, I can guarantee that you would become a hockey fan. The Penguins are poised for an era of dominance unseen since the Oilers of the 80s.

[NJ Chief Fan]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

The Penguins are poised for an era of dominance unseen since the Oilers of the 80s.

the devils have had a great run the last 12 years a few cup championships 4 cup appearances a bunch of confernce finals as well

[SoCalBronco]

Originally Posted by NJ Chief Fan

the devils have had a great run the last 12 years a few cup championships 4 cup appearances a bunch of confernce finals as well

Yes they have. Believe it or not, the Devils are my second favorite team (behind Pittsburgh ofcourse). I still think they were the better team in 2001 when Colorado beat them in 7. Marty did not have a good series but the defense was otherwise just absolutely stifling. Its too bad, that should have made it 4 Cups for NJ instead of 3.

[NJ Chief Fan]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Yes they have. Believe it or not, the Devils are my second favorite team (behind Pittsburgh ofcourse). I still think they were the better team in 2001 when Colorado beat them in 7. Marty did not have a good series but the defense was otherwise just absolutely stifling. Its too bad, that should have made it 4 Cups for NJ instead of 3.

yea we should of also won the cup in 94 when the rangers beat us in 7

[Moooo]

Originally Posted by NJ Chief Fan

the devils have had a great run the last 12 years a few cup championships 4 cup appearances a bunch of confernce finals as well

Its all about the goalie...

Moooo

[NJ Chief Fan]

Originally Posted by Moooo

Its all about the goalie...

Moooo

marty is the greatest ever in between the pipes

[Demonpenz]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Your missing out. And if God Forbid the Penguins moved to KC, I can guarantee that you would become a hockey fan. The Penguins are poised for an era of dominance unseen since the Oilers of the 80s.

**** yeah!

[ChiefsCountry]

Pittsburgh is one town I dont want to steal a team from.

[SoCalBronco]

Its still up in the air, but I am feeling more optimistic that the Penguins will stay in Pittsburgh, where they belong.

If Sam Fingold were to win the bidding though, and rejects "Plan B", the KC area would likely get its first championship in 30 plus years with the Penguins. In fact, they'd prolly get 2 or 3 titles in the next 6,7 years.

[jAZ]

KC is a basketball town...