Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Vikes To Have Nfl's 1st Black Owner, page 1

Arizona businessman Reggie Fowler agreed to buy the Minnesota Vikings in a deal that would make him the NFL's first black owner.

Fowler declined to say how much he would pay for the team. Published reports and a rival bidder, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor, put the price at about $625 million.

Owner Red McCombs had the team on the block since 2002. Taylor had offered about $600 million, though some of that money was contingent on a new stadium being built. If the league approves the deal, McCombs will make a huge profit - he paid $246 million for the team in 1998.

Asked about becoming the league's first black owner, Fowler said Monday in a seeming contradiction that he thought it was "a great thing" and not that big a thing. He said race didn't figure in negotiations with McCombs.

Associated Press

[Edited on 14/2/05 by TRD]