Corpus Christi Online - / Tentative deal set for IceRays sale

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Saturday, May. 15, 1999
Tentative deal set for IceRays sale
Local buyers to get team as soon as checks clear
By MARK BUTTON
Staff Writer

   Corpus Christi IceRays owner Rick Brezer has tentatively agreed to sell the hockey franchise to a group of local business people.
   "Everything is proceeding," Brezer said Friday. "You can never say the sale has gone through until the documents have been signed and the money has changed hands. But we're definitely headed in that direction.
   "I think the intention of both parties is clearly to see that this happens."
   The deal is being brokered by Bill Davidson, the team's director of sales and marketing. Davidson was reportedly selling shares of the franchise to local business people for $16,000.
   Brezer said the deal exceeds $1 million, but he would not release the specific dollar amount of the sale, saying he didn't want to divulge such information while the negotiations are ongoing.
   Davidson's group had until 5 p.m. Friday, to make the funds available to Brezer. The local group "substantially met the deadline," Brezer said.
   "The money is there," Brezer said. "All the checks haven't cleared, but they're all deposited. So I'm presuming that we're going ahead."
   Once the deal is final, the Western Professional Hockey League president Rick Kozuback will have final say on the transfer of ownership -- the league has said it will do background and financial checks on the investors involved. Kozuback was unavailable for comment Friday.
   Davidson had no comment on the status of the sale.
   A second police report was filed against Davidson Thursday by Dawn Rapier, owner of the defunct Dream Travel agency. Rapier originally filed a report with the Corpus Christi police department against Davidson Wednesday, accusing Davidson of failing to pay for services her company provided the franchise. On Thursday, a second report was filed, alleging Davidson displayed "deadly conduct" against Rapier.
   Corpus Christi police will begin to investigate the allegations Monday.
   Davidson, who on Thursday said all of Rapier's allegations are false, did not comment on the second report. Rapier had no comment.
   Brezer said he understood why Davidson was relunctant to speak.
   "I don't blame him to be honest," Brezer said. "Clearly he objects to what's going on and he disagrees with it. He feels that it is all lies and I hope that he is right."
   IceCubes
   DRAFT LIST IN: Taylor Hall on Friday made five players from last season's playoff roster available for the 1999 WPHL expansion draft.
   Forwards Craig Coxe, David Butler, Brent Hoiness, Quinten Van Horlick and goalie Scott Barber have been made available for the June 5 draft.
   The Lubbock Cotton Kings are the only WPHL expansion team for the 1999-00 season. Each of the 17 teams in the league made five players available for the draft. Lubbock can select no more than one player from any one team and no more than five players total.
   Staff Writer Mark Button can be reached at 886-3613, through e-mail at buttonm@scripps.com or on the internet at www. caller.com.

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