A LOOK AT WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
IF YOU ARE HEADING OUT TONIGHT.
>>> BREAKING NEWS, THE ROCKETS
ARE UP FOR SALE.
MATTRESS MACK HAS COME FORWARD
SAYING HE WANTS TO BUY THE TEAM.
THIS IS HAPPENING DAYS AFTER
THE CITY WELCOMED CHRIS PAUL.
A BOMB SHELL DROP.
LESLIE ALEXANDER PLANS TO SELL
THFRANCHISE.
I'M BILL BALLEZA.
>> I'M LAUREN FREEMAN.
WE TOLD YOU ABOUT MATTRESS
MACK'S PLAN.
TONIGHT AT 5:00 JOHNATHAN
MARTINEZ KICKS OFF OUTSIDE
GALLERY FURNITURE ON THE
NORTHWEST FREEWAY.
>> THAT ANNOUNCEMENT HAPPENED A
FEW HOURS AGO GO.
I'M JOINED BY MATTRESS MACK.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS LES
ALEXANDER WANTS TO SELL THE
TEAM.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
>> I WAS SHOCKED.
LES HAS DONE A GREAT JOB.
MUCHO KUDOS.
I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CALL TO PUT
A GROUP TOGETHER TO BUY THE
ROCKETS, SO WE WILL TRY TO DO
THAT.
>> IT IS TOO EARLY TO TALK
ABOUT WHO WILL MAKE UP THIS
GROUP SO HOW INTERESTED?
>> I WOULD SAY VERY.
I HAVE A LONG HISTORY OF
HOUSTON SPORTS AND GREAT
HISTORY WITH THE ROCKETS.
SO IT WOULD BE FUN TO GET
INVOLVED AND BRING CLUTCH CITY
BACK AGAIN.
>> THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST
EXPRESSED IN OTHER PARTS.
YOU ARE A LITTLE MORE
INTERESTED THAN OTHERS?
>> I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT
INTERESTED.
THE ROCKETS ARE A GREAT
FRANCHISEES, GREAT CITY, GREAT
MARKET.
I'M SURE THERE WILL BE FIERCE
COMPETITION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THROW MY HAT IN
THE RING, SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
>> TALK ABOUT LES ALEXANDER,
WHAT HE'S DONE IN THE PAST TWO
DECADES.
>> HE CAME IN AND BOUGHT IT.
WE USED TO PRACTICE AT WEST
SIDE TENNIS CLUB SO WE HAD A
CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
YOU HAVE TO ADMIRE LES.
HE'S BEEN WITH THEM THROUGH
GOOD DAYS, BAD DAYS AND SPENT
MONEY ON THE TEAM AND A GREAT
HONOR, SAD TO SEE HIM GO BUT
BRING OWNERS WITH NEW ENERGY
AND HOPEFULLY ANOTHER TITLE.
>> TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE THE
TEAM IS CURRENTLY.
>> IT IS A GREAT TEAM.
LAST YEAR THEY DID A GREAT JOB.
THE ADDITIONOF CHRIS PAUL AND
A SHOCK.
HOPEFULLY A NEW OWNER WILL
CARRY ON A GREAT TRADITION.
>> THERE IT IS FROM MATTRESS
MACK.
HE WANTS TO THROW HIS HATED IN
THE RING FOR POTENTIALLY
BECOMING A NEW OWNER.
JOHNATHAN MARTINEZ, KPRC
CHANNEL 2 NEWS.
>> WE CONTINUEWITH THE ROCKETS
AND SPORTS DIRECTOR, RANDY
MCILVOY.
>>> I SPOKE WITH TILLMAN
FERTITTA EARLIER.
HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE INTEREST
POTENTIALLY SO THEY ARE LINING
UP.
24 HOURS, YOU KNOW THE STORY OF
LESLIE ALEXANDER.
HE BOUGHT IT BEFORE THE '93 '94
CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE'S BEEN VERY INSTEAD AS THE
OWNER FOR MANY DECADES HERE.
THE ROCKETS AS WE MENTIONED ARE
OFFICIALLY ON THE MARKET NOW.
ALEXANDER INFORMING ROCKETS CEO
TAD BROWN IN MEETING.
IT'S SURPRISED MANY IN THE
BUILDING AND ACROSS THE ENTIRE
LANDSCAPE.
BROWN WAS APPROACHED, SAYS HE
IS READY TO STEPASIDE.
BROWN WILL LEAD THE EFFORT TO
FIND THAT NEW BUYER.
ALEXANDER AS I MENTIONED BEFORE
THE '93 '94 CAMPAIGN.
BROWN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT
THIS AFTERNOON.
>> BASED ON OUR RESOURCES AND
INJURY SOURCES AND EVERYTHING
ASSOCIATED WITH THE TEAM NOW
ARE IN PLACE, READY TO GO.
WE ARE GOING TO HANDLE IT.
QUICKER THAN LONGER BUT MAKE
SURE WE FOLLOW THE CORRECT
PROCESS WITH THE LEAGUE AND VET
THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE
INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE
CLUB.
>> YES, MIGHT BE READY TO WRITE
THAT BIG CHECK.
THE ROCKET'S VALUE, 1.65
BILLION.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A FRANCHISE
THAT GOES ON THE MARKET THAT
WILL RISE.
I'M HEARING IT COULD REACH 2
BILLION.
TAD TAD BROWN, WHEN I MENTIONED
A TIMETABLE, HE SAID COULD BE
TWO MONTHS, SIX MONTHS.
THEY WANT TO GET IT DOWN RIGHT.
RELAX, KPRC CHANNEL 2 SPORTS.
>> A LOT OF MONEY.
FIND OUT MORE ON OUR HOME PAGE.