Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 25, 1994 TAG: 9401250160
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Huizenga purchased Miami's oldest and most valuable sports franchise from the heirs of Joe Robbie, who founded the team in 1966.
The sale is contingent on approval by the NFL, which traditionally prohibits cross-ownership of a team in another professional sport. Huizenga expects that he can persuade NFL owners to make an exception.
"A lot of things have changed since they put that rule into effect," said Huizenga, chairman of Blockbuster Entertainment Corp. "I've been told by the commissioner [Paul Tagliabue] that they are looking at visiting that subject themselves and perhaps changing the rule."
The price wasn't disclosed, but The Palm Beach Post and the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale for Tuesday's editions quoted unidentified sources as saying it was $138 million. Earlier offers ranged from an estimated $137 million to $150 million.
By buying the Dolphins, Huizenga strengthens his position as one of the nation's most influential figures in the sports and entertainment fields. The 55-year-old video magnate said he had several motivations for the deal.
"It was made as a fan, as a businessman, and because my wife told me she likes the Dolphins," Huizenga said.
In other NFL news:
\ FALCONS HIRE JONES: Saying he was the man they wanted all along, the Atlanta Falcons hired June Jones to succeed Jerry Glanville as coach.
Jones, 40, is the Falcons' assistant head coach for offense, and he once spent four seasons as the club's backup quarterback.
Falcons president Taylor Smith said he's known Jones a long time and "we felt June's the guy we'd like to run our football team."
The only other coach considered seriously was former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs. But, Smith said, the Redskins refused to allow the Falcons to talk to Gibbs and he had heard from other people within the league that Gibbs would not coach in 1994.
Glanville was fired Jan. 4 after the Falcons were 6-10 for the second consecutive season. He had one year remaining on a five-year contract. In four seasons, Glanville had a 28-38 record.
Jones is a proponent of the run-and-shoot offense. However, in setting the team's first priority, he said: "We need to get better on defense."
by CNB