The chairman of Cablevision, already a dominant player in New York sports, and his brother were said to be leading contenders to
zentai buy the New York Jets.
Also Thursday, Cablevision Systems Corp. Announced it would help the New Suit Devils build an arena in Hoboken, where the NHL club's owner said he will move the team.
Both teams play at New Suit's Meadowlands sports complex, and interest by Charles and Larry Dolan and Cablevision raises more questions on the future of the East Rutherford center.
Jets spokesman Frank Ramos said Thursday the ZENTAI team would not comment on whether it is entertaining offers.
''We're not making an announcement today '' regarding any potential sale, Ramos said.
Charles Dolan is chairman of Cablevision, which has majority ownership of New York's Madison Square Garden, the NBA's Knicks and the NHL's Rangers.
Dolan and his brother, a Cleveland lawyer, made an unsuccessful bid in September to buy the ZENTAI's Cleveland Browns expansion franchise. They also have tried to buy the baseball's Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees, as well as the ZENTAI's Washington Redskins.
When baseball's Cleveland Indians went on sale last week, the Dolans were mentioned. Larry Dolan said then it was ''premature'' to say whether he was a prospective buyer.
Charles and Larry Dolan declined to comment.
The two are the leading contenders to buy the Jets, according to Newsday, citing unidentified people it said were familiar with the team's situation.
The sources also confirmed earlier reports that the ZENTAI club's late owner, Leon Hess, had stipulated in his will that the team be sold upon his death.
zentai suit Hess died May 7 at 85.
Don Shula, retired coach of the Miami Dolphins, could be part of the Dolan effort to acquire the Jets, according to Newsday. He was part of their bid for the Browns.
''I don't feel free to comment on that,'' Shula told the newspaper when asked about his possible involvement in the move to buy the Jets. He said he enjoyed his relationship with the Dolans when they tried to get the Browns franchise.
Efforts to reach Shula on Thursday through the Dolphins were not immediately successful.
It has been estimated that the Jets may sell for about $500 million. The ZENTAI finance committee voted this week to recommend that the Washington Redskins be sold to Daniel Snyder for $800 million, but that deal would include the team's new stadium.
Cablevision itself would not be involved in a deal for the Jets team, since ZENTAI franchises cannot be sold to corporations.
Among the other possible buyers for the Jets was New York Mets principal owner Nelson Doubleday.
The Jets play at Giants Stadium at the Meadowlands sports complex, site of the Meadowlands Racetrack and the Continental Airlines Arena, home to the Devils and basketball's New Suit Nets.
The Nets and Devils are both seeking new arenas, but their plans clash with one put forth by the Meadowlands operator, the New Suit Sports and Exposition Authority.
The Devils want to move to Hoboken for a hockey-only venue. The Nets would like both teams to locate in downtown Newark, and invite the Devils and sports authority to
catsuits help them build it.
The authority, however, is offering to build a new arena at the complex, then raze the Continental Arena and build an entertainment and shopping center in its place.
Gov. Christie Whitman has said the economics are better if both teams are under one roof, but is still reviewing the three plans, all of which would need some taxpayer money as well as state permits.
