4B
Tuesday, November 7, 1995
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Potential Cardinals sale was hidden
The Associated Press
ST. LOUIS - Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.
secretly contacted prospective buyers
for the St. Louis Cardinals weeks before
it announced the move to the public,
according to a published report.
Chairman August Busch III and chief financial officer Jerry Ritter quietly began contacting wealthy men and offering them the team several weeks before the company officially announced that the team was for sale Oct. 25, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported yesterday.
Busch's decision to sell the team was so confidential that many top company executives — including Mark Lamping, president of the Cardinals — were kept in the dark.
Practically no one will speak on the record about the events that led to efforts to sell the Cardinals and the company's Eagle Snacks subsidiary.
No one from Anheuser-Busch would comment. August Busch III has declined to grant interviews.
But interviews with sports attorneys, brewery employees, potential buyers and
Few of the top executives pouring into the brewery's luxurious headquarters on the morning of Oct. 25 had any hint of the bombshell their company was about to drop on St. Louis. The announcement that the Cardinals team was for sale came in a televised news conference that afternoon.
executives of professional sports teams sketch a picture of how the world's largest brewery is going about selling St. Louis' favorite pastime.
"I found out about it the Friday before," Lamping said.
That was about the same time that Mark Poldoian, president of Eagle Snacks, learned that his company was to be sold.
But a few wealthy, influential men outside the company knew earlier what was coming.
One St. Louisian who is wealthy enough to buy a sports team said a brewery representative had asked him well before the public announcement if he was interested in buying the Cards.
"It was weeks before, at least," he said Busch and Ritter were handling the
inquires themselves, fearing that the news would leak if they entrusted the job to anyone else. he said.
Although the inquiries were sensitive, the businessman said no one from the brewery asked him to keep them confidential.
While the brewery was tipping off rich businessmen, it wasn't sharing the news with politicians.
"That wasn't necessary," he said. "It is just taken for granted. Obviously they had not yet made it public, and they were trying to get information from potentially interested parties."
A representative for the office of Rep. Richard Gephardt said the House minority leader knew nothing of the sale until a couple of hours before it was announced.
William DeWitt, who has been a partowner of the Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles was interested in buying the Cardinals. So were several wealthy St. Louisans who, it appears, could raise the money needed to buy the team.
So far, no deal has been made.
Troubled soccer star lectures at Oxford
The Associated Press
The 35-year-old Argentine, who began a comeback last month after serving his second drug-related ban, spoke at the Oxford Union last night on an invitation by the Jewish student group L'Chaim Society.
OXFORD, England — Controversial soccer star Diego Maradona has chosen to recount his troubled life story in the improbable setting of Oxford University.
Former speakers at the lectures — which often center on ethics and morals — have included Mikhail Gorbachev and the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
L'Chaim director Rabbi Shmuel Boteach said organizers almost canceled Maradona's lecture because of the assassination Saturday of the Israeli prime minister.
"We decided to go through with it, but there will be a moment of silence and reading from Psalms before Maradona speaks," Botech said. "Maradona had met Rabin in Israel, and we asked through his messages that he would also speak about that."
Maradona was invited to speak at Oxford at the suggestion of
"We'd had politicians, but never a football player before," Botech said.
Argentine Foreign Minister Guido di Tella, who spoke earlier this year at Oxford.
"He is a man who seems to live life with passion, who has given excitement to so many ... and then has ruined his life," Boteach said. "Now he's been brave enough to begin a renewal — let's hope it succeeds — and I'm very impressed with that kind of courage."
Organizers said the theme of Maradona's talk would be his life story. About 900 people are expected to attend the sold-out lecture, including about 60 reporters.
The stocky midfielder took Argentina to the World Cup championship in 1986 in Mexico City and guided the team to a runner-up finish in 1990 in Italy.
Maradona was kicked out of the 1994 World Cup in the United States and banned from soccer for 15 months when he tested positive for illegal stimulants. Also in 1994, he fired an air rifle at reporters trying to interview him and injured four.
Today's Birthday (Nov. 7): Don't tell everything you know if you want to make a big deal this year. Take a risk in December. Watch an older person, and pick up a new trick in January. A trip back to a favorite place would be very romantic in March. Be careful with your money, and somebody else's, in June. You may have to adapt to keep ahead of the competition in August. By October, you could be certain of the path you're destined to follow.
By Linda C. Black
Horoscopes
Arles (March 21-April 19): You could learn today if you listen. But you could lose if you're not paying attention. Do the former. A drive would be good for getting some fresh air and privacy tonight. Discuss an impending change with your best friend and get excellent counseling.
Taurus (April 20-May 20): Don't talk to the reporters today. They're bound to get the story wrong. Avoid salespeople, too. Don't let anyone talk you out of anything, either. Tonight, reading a good cookbook would be relaxing and provide new ideas. You and your roommates will benefit.
Gemini (May 21-June 21): One of your jobs in life is to ask questions. You're the intellectual watchdog, but make sure you've got your facts straight before you blow the whistle! Romance should be fine, but don't make assumptions. And if you've got a question, discuss the matter in private.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): A club meeting could be a good source of information. If you're looking for romance, you may find a fun date there or at the local gym. Don't be too aggressive, though. Let the other person make the first move. You'll be more successful than if you push.
Cancer (June 22-July 22): Finish nagging correspondence today. If you hear something that seems to give you an inside track, check it out before you act. It may be too good to be true. This evening, give your sweetie your complete attention. He or she may have a tough decision coming up.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Don't start any big projects today. Instead, brainstorm an idea with friends or read a good
book. Although your relationship has been going well, you could be having an argument with your sweetheart. You'll benefit if you let him or her win this one.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Concentrate on fattening up your savings account today. Sell an old toy before buying a new one. If you're going to get together and talk with a friend, pick someone you don't work with. On the job, you should stifle the urge to tell what you know.
Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Ask questions today, especially of compulsive talkers. You could get an earful! If you've got a secret tryst in mind, forget it for tonight and tomorrow. Gambling is also too much of a risk — and take it easy with the credit cards, too!
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Although you may have to run errands, it's not a very good day for extensive travel. You may encounter delays or hidden costs. A bureaucratic tangle could threaten your good mood. Resist the temptation to argue with a machine or a person who acts like one!
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You might find an advantage today, if you attend a meeting. Don't act on the tip quite yet; your information might be incomplete. If you've scheduled a romantic meeting tonight, postpone it. Stay home instead, and finish work-related research or planning.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): There may be pressure on you at work to do something you don't like. Maybe you'd better line up another job before you make a scene. Talk over your options with a friend tonight. Going back to school might be the answer to several problems.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): If you can't avoid large groups of people, at least you can let the others do the talking. You are an excellent listener, and that always makes you popular. Today also will be good for catching up on your reading, if you can find a quiet place to do it.
Note: Horoscopes have no basis in scientific fact and should be read for entertainment only.
We Buy, Sell, Trade & Consign USED & New Sports Equipment
---
spiv
NATURAL FIBER • NATURAL
CLOTHING BODY CARE
- The deadline is Thurs., Nov. 9- only 2 days away!
Come to 119 Stauffer-Flint, or call
864-4358 to place your ad.
Apartment & Sublease Guide
- It's only $7/ col. inch/day.
With a valid KUID it's only $6/ col. inch/day.
4
Office of Study Abroad ▪ 203 Lippincott ▪ hours 8.5, M
NATURALWAY
- Place your ad in this guide on Nov. 13 & 16 and get results fast.
Graduating in December?
Need to find a roommate?
SUNFLOWER
Outdoor & Bike
CAMPING GEAR
OVERSTOCK SALE!
North Face VE-25 tent reg. $595, now $175
North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bags 20% off
North Face Minaret sleeping bags 20% off
Kelty Clear Creek 20 sleeping bags 20% off
Mountainsmith Frostfire II packs reg. $257, now $199
Lowe Kanga Himal 100 pack reg. $289, now $230
Lowe Contour IV packs reg. $245, now $195
Lowe Contour III packs reg. $235, now $188
MSR Whisperlite stoves reg. $50, now $39
Peak 1 Dual-Fuel stoves reg. $65, now $49
Celestron 10x80 spotting scope reg. $570, now $499
Celestron Zoom Master II 15-60x60 reg. $650, now $550
Bausch & Lomb Discoverer 15-60x60 reg. $361, now $325
SALE RUNS NOVEMBER 1-11
804 Massachusetts 843-5000
804 Massachusetts 843-5000
---
Single Vision Prescription Lenses with the Purchase of Frames (Extra charge for UV, Scratch-coat and lamination)
FREE
SPECTRUM
$40 on Multi-focals with frame purchase
Not valid with other offers or coupons.
EXPIRES 11/30/95
Free Adjustments 4 East7th
Downtown Lawrence
841-1113
EXIT MENU 7/300 35 VALUABLE COUPON
Friday,5:30 Nov.10th Jewish Community Center 917 Highland Dr.
SHABBATDINNER
Free! Limited Space!
RSVP by Thurs!
864-3948
Made possible by the KU Hillel Foundation
When surfing the net visit our World Wide Web home page http://www.beakem.com
---