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Watkins intends to try to buy Twins Posted: Tuesday December 25, 2001 7:03 PMUpdated: Tuesday December 25, 2001 11:28 PM
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Alabama businessman Donald Watkins intends to try to purchase the Minnesota Twins. Watkins, who would become baseball's first black controlling owner, is scheduled to meet with baseball officials on Jan. 10. He previously had talked with baseball officials about a possible bid for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. "On Jan. 10, I will tell the chairman of (baseball's) ownership committee that my No. 1 priority are the Twins," Watkins was quoted as saying in Tuesday's editions of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "And I will try to work out a deal." Watkins and the Twins could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Baseball owners voted Nov. 6 to eliminate two teams before the start of next season, and the Twins and Montreal Expos are the top candidates. But a Minnesota district court judge issued an injunction Nov. 16 that forces the Twins to honor their lease at the Metrodome next season. A hearing on an appeal by the team and commissioner Bud Selig is scheduled for Thursday. Twins owner Carl Pohlad has not objected to Selig's contraction plan because of frustration over the failure of Minnesota's government to produce a financing plan for a new ballpark. Watkins said Saturday he received more than 4,000 e-mails since Thanksgiving from supportive fans. "I'm going to work my butt off to match the level of passion they've shown me in the last four weeks," Watkins was quoted as saying. "You can't let that kind of spirited competitive energy go unrewarded, especially when it makes good business sense."
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