(From The New York Times)
February 24, 2002
By MURRAY CHASS

Whispering Campaign

As soon as Donald Watkins became serious about buying the Minnesota Twins, as soon as he gave Carl Pohlad "an expression of interest," the whispers began about his financial ability to own a team.

Doubts are one thing; knowing is something else. No one has said he knows Watkins does not have the money. Yet a subtle campaign has begun to undermine the credibility of Watkins, who would become the first black owner of a major league team.

"I made a complete financial disclosure on two separate occasions, to J. P. Morgan and the Pohlads, as well as Major League Baseball," Watkins said. "These individuals are well versed in financial matters and not one of them has publicly or privately stated that I don't have the financial strength to do a deal. So the people who have seen my materials have not questioned it. I don't expect to be disqualified on the basis of financial incapacity."

An executive with strong connections to Major League Baseball had reasons to inquire about Watkins and said he was told baseball had no financial qualms about a prospective Watkins ownership. And Watkins himself proposed the most sensible idea to erase any doubts about his financial position.

"The quickest way to see if I can do a deal," Watkins said, "is to present me with an opportunity."

Watkins, an Alabama energy entrepreneur, began pursuing an opportunity with the Twins when they were teetering on extinction. Now that they have been spared, their owner has decided to see if he can stir up competing bidders, or perhaps just another bidder if Pohlad has decided he does not want to sell to Watkins.

"It is somewhat disappointing," Watkins said of the new development, "considering that nobody was there when that team was about to be eliminated but me. Once that team was spared, because I showed some interest, because the courts ruled against the league, then comes this change in course to solicit other proposals. Where were these other potential buyers when everything was on the line?"

Watkins said he would continue his effort to buy the Twins. "I have given them a very concrete expression of interest that covered a multitude of factors," he said, speaking euphemistically. A confidentiality agreement prevents him from saying that he has made an offer.

But Watkins also said that he would consider all his options and that he was prepared to move in other directions if the Twins are not to be had. He said, for example, that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays "reached out" to him last month. "I hadn't heard from them in two months," he said.

There is also the possibility that Major League Baseball at some point will decide to sell the Montreal Expos for delivery to the Washington area. "That move does have some appeal to me because of my background and the demographics of Washington," Watkins said.

His first wish, though, is to meet with Commissioner Bud Selig.

"I think my ownership could help Major League Baseball," he said. "One of my priorities in the next week or so is to seek out the commissioner and see if we can sit down and he can give me an overview of the sport and see what my options are."