DONALD V. WATKINS' STATEMENT CONCERNING HIS PURSUIT
OF A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FRANCHISE

Birmingham, AL -- Last year, I have had several very positive discussions with individuals involved in Major League Baseball. They have shown me that my ambition to become an owner of a Major League Baseball team is a concept, which they look upon with favor as they continue to process my application. As we continue through that process, we will of course continue to assess with care the impact of the intense economic uncertainty confronting Major League Baseball over the next several months as the owners and players strive to reach an agreement on a satisfactory contract. I am most grateful for the support and advice I have received from Major League Baseball as I continue to seek the franchise which is right for me.

I have narrowed my options, and I am undertaking the requisite due-diligence with all deliberate speed. However, that speed is likely to be governed by overall developments in Major League Baseball economics over which I have no control. I am under several confidentiality agreements, which make any further public comment on my pursuit of a team inappropriate and impossible. For that reason, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the fans and others in the baseball community who have so earnestly supported me. When we finally complete the application process in the coming months, you will be the first to hear about it right here on the Voter News Network website.

*What do you think? Feedback here.*

MLB RELATED LINKS
Birmingham News (AL.com) - Alamerica's success rides on Watkins' chosen team

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins back in game for Angels

LATimes.com - Angels Take It to the Bank
Lehman Bros. is expected to approach qualified buyers soon. Ueberroth says he won't enter auction

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Alamerica to sponsor football championship

Orange County Register - Winning ways aside, new ownership is likely

Orange County Register - Potential buyers get serious - The Angels could have a new owner by year's end as four prospects ask for MLB permission

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins ups final offer to buy Angels

ESPN.com - Team could be worth $200 million on market

CNNSI.com - Black businessman Watkins eyes AL champions

NYTimes.com - Showcase for Team on the Block

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Ante higher, but Watkins still a buyer

PioneerPress.com - Watkins still hoping to fly with Angels

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins can pick 'em, he just can't have'em

ESPN.com - Would-be owner says he's still a player

Birmingham.com (AL.com) - Watkins to increase team bid

LATimes.com - Watkins' Chances Diminish

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Strike or no, Watkins still wants to buy baseball team

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins planning cable network to air Angels

LATimes.com - It's a tough time for Disney to Sell Team

LATimes.com - Strike Won't be a Big Deal to Players

LATimes.com - Report: Disney May Sell at a Loss

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins still shopping despite joke of baseball

LATimes.com - Is Watkins Going Too Low?

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins' talks in high gear

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Lawyer hopes Midas touch works magic with ball team

Fortune.com - The Player

LATimes.com - Halo And Good Buy

ESPN.com - Selig says 6-8 teams are in deep financial trouble

WashingtonPost.com - A Wealth of Questions About Watkins

LATimes.com - Watkins Enlists Richard Brown

Donald Watkins' response to Twins Execs

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins blasts Twins' executive


StarTribune.com - Watkins says he has money to buy Twins

LATimes.com - Watkins' Finances Still in Question

PioneerPress.com - FUTURE OF THE TWINS: Twins-Watkins dealings will remain private

ESPN.com - Twins say Watkins short on financing; he disagrees

MSNBC.com - Watkins says Twins never showed him books

PioneerPress.com - Twins, Watkins exchange barbs

MLB.com - Bell: Twins not snubbing Watkins

CNNSI.com - Watkins: Twins never responded to offer for team

Startribune.com - Twins: Watkins isn't in game

PioneerPress.com - THE FUTURE OF THE TWINS: Watkins shows 'em the money

LATimes.com - Watkins Offers Bank Backing

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins sends letter of credit to Angels

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Smart money still riding on Watkins

LATimes.com - Disney Can Open Books for Suitors

ESPN.com - Watkins still interesting in owning team

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins describes pursuit of team

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins' pitch for Angels worth about $250 million

ESPN.com - Watkins now has offers to buy Angels, Twins

Birmingham Post-Herald - Watkins is buying, nobody is selling

Forbes - Show Me the Money
*Donald Watkins' response to Forbes

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Stereotypes, not race, biggest Watkins battle

LATimes.com - Businessman Wants Own MLB Team

LATimes.com - Disney Officials, Watkins Meet

LATimes.com - Watkins Is Interested in Angels

The New York Times - A Businessman's Dream

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Arrington works for Watkins' Twins bid

ESPN.com - Baseball's next great black hope

The New York Times - Whispering Campaign

StarTribune.com (via The New York Times) - Watkins says he has the money

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins says he's exploring options

PioneerPress.com - BASEBALL: Pohlad would rather sell team to local buyers

PioneerPress.com - Pohlad publicly puts Twins up for sale

BirninghamNews (AL.com) - Watkins interested in Expos for D.C.

StarTribune.com - Twins' suitor sees 'advantages' for baseball in Washington area

PioneerPress.com - Watkins bids for Twins

AtlantaJournalConstitution - Birmingham millionaire knows what he wants

Fortune.com (People) - Donald Watkins

PioneerPress.com - MINNEAPOLIS: Watkins feels tug of Rybak and city

MontgomeryAdvertiser.com - Watkins plans to add Twins to portfolio

StarTribune.com - Donald V. Watkins: His reply to Star Tribune article

PioneerPress.com - He's A Player

PioneerPress.com - Watkins seeks gold in garbage

USAToday (Baseball Weekly) - Watkins hopes to make successful family an empire

CNNSI.com - Competitive Watkins serious in bid to keep Twins alive

PioneerPress.com - Watkins emissary to meet mayors today

StarTribune.com - Twin Cities business leaders resume effort to buy Twins

PioneerPress.com - Pohlad, Watkins finally meet

StarTribune.com - Watkins meets with Pohlad for two hours in Minneapolis

MLB.com - Twins owners meet with Watkins

PioneerPress.com - Watkins, Pohlad to meet

StarTribune.com - Twins owner, Watkins to meet

MLB.com - Watkins, Bell agree to set up meeting

CNN.com (Money) - Baseball's best nightmare: Twins bidder Watkins says he can establish small-market profitability

PioneerPress.com - MINNESOTA STADIUM ISSUES: Governor is a fan of Watkins

StarTribune.com - Bell to call Watkins on Friday to set up meeting

PioneerPress.com - Watkins, Twins make contact

StarTribune.com - Would-be Twins owner talks with team president

Birmingham Post Herald - Twins fans look for savior

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Saving baseball

New York Times - Abbott and Costello Might Be Familiar With This Routine: (Donald Watkins') Twisting Path

AL.com - Next challenge for Donald Watkins is Minnesota Twins

PioneerPress.com - Watkins gets foot in door to buy Twins

PioneerPress.com - Watkins says he's got permission to buy Twins

StarTribune.com - Baseball advises Watkins to talk to Pohlad

New York Times - Proposed Sale Would Save Twins From Contraction

MLB.com - Watkins meets with MLB about ownership

ESPN.com - Watkins wants to buy (save) Twins

CNNSI.com - Watkins gets green light to try to buy Twins

Birmingham News (AL.com) - Watkins to make pitch for Twins

WashingtonTimes.com - D.C.'s quest gets a new heavy hitter

StarTribune.com - Watkins to meet with baseball officials Thursday

PioneerPress.com - Twins suitor wooed

StarTribune.com - Watkins insists he has the money to buy Twins

ChicagoTribune.com - Watkins plumb does things right

StarTribune.com - 'Fan power' inspires Watkins to bid for Twins

Forbes.com - Faces in the News (Dec. 26, 2001)

PioneerPress.com - Watkins says he'll bid for Twins

ESPN.com - Alabama businessman hoping to buy Twins

CNNSI.com - Watkins intends to try to buy Twins

StarTribune.com  - Save our team,' Twins fans implore Alabama businessman

PioneerPress.com - BLOOMINGTON: Watkins warms Twins fans who feel left out in the cold

Birningham News - Watkins' best move to NFL, not baseball

*What do you think? Feedback here.*

back to the top

April Headlines...

THE WAR ON IRAQ: THE MONTH LEADING UP

U.S. BIGGEST BUYER OF IRAQI OIL AMID WAR PREPARATIONS

DOES AMERICA NEED A NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY?

PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES

CONGRESSMAN ARTUR DAVIS FIGHTING FOR "THE OTHER AMERICA"

TRANSIT FUNDING FOR JEFFERSON COUNTY

DONALD V. WATKINS' STATEMENT CONCERNING HIS PURSUIT OF A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL FRANCHISE

Print this issue here!