Wow...this guy is ducking and weaving more than Muhammad Ali. Take your pick...is he:
A) Extremely confused,
B) Extremely disorganized,
C) A chronic liar,
D) A crook, or
E) All of the above?
I'd be shocked if the NFL approves him and his partners.
Fowler responds to errors in bio
BY ARON KAHN and TIM HUBER, Pioneer Press
'I actually want this franchise more today than I did yesterday. I am not a quitter.'
In a contrite and self-deprecating tone, would-be Minnesota Vikings owner Reggie Fowler on Friday took responsibility for errors in a biography given to the news media this week, but he left numerous questions unanswered about his businesses and ability to pay the high price of NFL ownership.
Talking to reporters about issues ranging from his finances to whether he played in the Little League World Series, Fowler sought to put to rest any uncertainty about his ability to do the deal.
"You can't just show up and sign an agreement without showing proper documentation that you're capable of making the acquisition," the 46-year-old Arizona businessman said. "We have done that."
Fowler met with Twin Cities media Monday to announce an agreement with Red McCombs to buy the Vikings for a reported $625 million. He returned Friday after media scrutiny of his official two-page biography turned up several inaccuracies.
Among entries proven false or misleading were claims that he had received a business degree, played in the NFL and that his company Spiral Inc. is the country's 11th-largest African-American-owned firm.
Fowler was alternately engaging, defiant, nervous and whimsical. He said he didn't believe stories about biographical inconsistencies were racially motivated, and he was often upbeat throughout the afternoon. But he became somber and emotional when addressing accusations that he misrepresented himself.
"I read on Monday that I wasn't a Little League all-star. I read that I was never a professional football player. I read that I lied about my college degree," he said. "And I sat in a closed room for a lot of hours, not knowing what's going to happen to my kids, what's going to happen to my company, what's going to happen to my family."
In actuality, Twin Cities newspapers did not say any of the things he claimed to have read.
Fowler did clear up a few issues Friday, including the role local auto dealer Denny Hecker plays in his partnership. After referring to Hecker as a "local representative" Monday, he said Friday that Hecker is one of his partners. That would make four to date.
He also said that if he can buy the Vikings, he will keep them in Minnesota "for as long as they'll have me." He declined to talk in detail about a new stadium, but said, "We'd all prefer a new stadium."
He was less clear when discussing his businesses. He said he does not know precisely how many companies he owns, how much revenue they generate or which is the biggest money-maker. After a moment, he guessed he owned about 20 businesses.
"You guys have taught me to be very careful," he said. "I will not guess."
Fowler maintained he has sufficient resources to buy the Vikings and that NFL rules allow him to borrow a portion of his mandatory 30 percent stake as general partner. That was confirmed by the NFL on Friday.
"We clearly have the finances to put into the Vikings," he said, but he declined to provide any details. Indeed, Fowler, who works "from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.," said he's "not sure" about the total value of his real estate holdings.
He demurred when asked about his net worth ? "I think my personal net worth is something that I keep very personal" ? and said his reluctance, in part, involves the ongoing review of his finances by the NFL.
Fowler's ability to enter the richest and most exclusive club in sports ? NFL ownership ? depends on putting up a huge amount of money. Three of the men who recently bought NFL teams ? McCombs, Houston's Robert McNair and Atlanta's Arthur Blank ? are billionaires. Washington's Daniel Snyder, the other recent NFL owner, was estimated by Forbes to worth $823 million.
Tom Clancy, a highly successful novelist failed in his attempt to buy the Vikings because he couldn't pass the scrutiny of Vikings and NFL bean counters. Now it's Fowler's turn.
The biography released to media Monday stated that Fowler played in the Little League World Series, implied he earned a degree in business administration and finance from the University of Wyoming, played for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. It also said Spiral Inc. was ranked as the country's 11th-largest African-American-owned firm in 2004 by Black Enterprise magazine.
The Pioneer Press reported that Fowler never played in the Little League World Series, that his degree was in social work, that Black Enterprise ranked his company 11th only in the Industrial/Service industry category and that he was cut by the Bengals and Stampeders while in training camp.
On the issue of whether he played in the Little League World Series, Fowler said he never played in the famed series in Williamsport, Pa. Instead, he played in regional tournaments that people in Tucson, where he grew up, referred to as the World Series. He said his team won the Arizona state championship but lost in California and never made it to Williamsport.
After reporters questioned the claims early in the week, corrections released by his public relations agency cleared up most matters but still left some incorrect information intact. The revised biography still states that he played for the Stampeders. When asked about it Friday, Fowler said he was confused and that it was really the Edmonton Eskimos, but that he was cut in training camp.
"When I first went to Canada, I went to Calgary and they shipped me over to Edmonton," he said.
Fowler took complete responsibility for the errors, which he said were given by his organization to Tunheim Partners, his PR shop.
"When you don't pay attention to what you put out, you're subject to errors. I'm a perfect example of that," he said.
After the errors were reported, Fowler said he received "no less than 50 calls" from business associates and players he has known over the years. He said every caller said "stay strong," and he took the encouragement to heart.
"I actually want this franchise more today than I did yesterday," he said. "I am not a quitter. I'm passionate about what I do. I want you people to know I want to be a part of your community. I'm willing to walk down the street with my head held high. I'm going to take the punches. Do I think this is going to be the last of it? I do not."
Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, a NFL Finance Committee member, said the biographical mistakes will not be a factor in whether Fowler and his partners ? Hecker, David Mandelbaum, Zyggi Wilf and Alan Landis ? are approved as the Vikings new owner.
"I don't think it would be of any substance at all," Hunt said. "I don't think it would be a negative factor."
(more...)
A) Extremely confused,
B) Extremely disorganized,
C) A chronic liar,
D) A crook, or
E) All of the above?
I'd be shocked if the NFL approves him and his partners.
Fowler responds to errors in bio
BY ARON KAHN and TIM HUBER, Pioneer Press
'I actually want this franchise more today than I did yesterday. I am not a quitter.'
In a contrite and self-deprecating tone, would-be Minnesota Vikings owner Reggie Fowler on Friday took responsibility for errors in a biography given to the news media this week, but he left numerous questions unanswered about his businesses and ability to pay the high price of NFL ownership.
Talking to reporters about issues ranging from his finances to whether he played in the Little League World Series, Fowler sought to put to rest any uncertainty about his ability to do the deal.
"You can't just show up and sign an agreement without showing proper documentation that you're capable of making the acquisition," the 46-year-old Arizona businessman said. "We have done that."
Fowler met with Twin Cities media Monday to announce an agreement with Red McCombs to buy the Vikings for a reported $625 million. He returned Friday after media scrutiny of his official two-page biography turned up several inaccuracies.
Among entries proven false or misleading were claims that he had received a business degree, played in the NFL and that his company Spiral Inc. is the country's 11th-largest African-American-owned firm.
Fowler was alternately engaging, defiant, nervous and whimsical. He said he didn't believe stories about biographical inconsistencies were racially motivated, and he was often upbeat throughout the afternoon. But he became somber and emotional when addressing accusations that he misrepresented himself.
"I read on Monday that I wasn't a Little League all-star. I read that I was never a professional football player. I read that I lied about my college degree," he said. "And I sat in a closed room for a lot of hours, not knowing what's going to happen to my kids, what's going to happen to my company, what's going to happen to my family."
In actuality, Twin Cities newspapers did not say any of the things he claimed to have read.
Fowler did clear up a few issues Friday, including the role local auto dealer Denny Hecker plays in his partnership. After referring to Hecker as a "local representative" Monday, he said Friday that Hecker is one of his partners. That would make four to date.
He also said that if he can buy the Vikings, he will keep them in Minnesota "for as long as they'll have me." He declined to talk in detail about a new stadium, but said, "We'd all prefer a new stadium."
He was less clear when discussing his businesses. He said he does not know precisely how many companies he owns, how much revenue they generate or which is the biggest money-maker. After a moment, he guessed he owned about 20 businesses.
"You guys have taught me to be very careful," he said. "I will not guess."
Fowler maintained he has sufficient resources to buy the Vikings and that NFL rules allow him to borrow a portion of his mandatory 30 percent stake as general partner. That was confirmed by the NFL on Friday.
"We clearly have the finances to put into the Vikings," he said, but he declined to provide any details. Indeed, Fowler, who works "from 6:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.," said he's "not sure" about the total value of his real estate holdings.
He demurred when asked about his net worth ? "I think my personal net worth is something that I keep very personal" ? and said his reluctance, in part, involves the ongoing review of his finances by the NFL.
Fowler's ability to enter the richest and most exclusive club in sports ? NFL ownership ? depends on putting up a huge amount of money. Three of the men who recently bought NFL teams ? McCombs, Houston's Robert McNair and Atlanta's Arthur Blank ? are billionaires. Washington's Daniel Snyder, the other recent NFL owner, was estimated by Forbes to worth $823 million.
Tom Clancy, a highly successful novelist failed in his attempt to buy the Vikings because he couldn't pass the scrutiny of Vikings and NFL bean counters. Now it's Fowler's turn.
The biography released to media Monday stated that Fowler played in the Little League World Series, implied he earned a degree in business administration and finance from the University of Wyoming, played for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. It also said Spiral Inc. was ranked as the country's 11th-largest African-American-owned firm in 2004 by Black Enterprise magazine.
The Pioneer Press reported that Fowler never played in the Little League World Series, that his degree was in social work, that Black Enterprise ranked his company 11th only in the Industrial/Service industry category and that he was cut by the Bengals and Stampeders while in training camp.
On the issue of whether he played in the Little League World Series, Fowler said he never played in the famed series in Williamsport, Pa. Instead, he played in regional tournaments that people in Tucson, where he grew up, referred to as the World Series. He said his team won the Arizona state championship but lost in California and never made it to Williamsport.
After reporters questioned the claims early in the week, corrections released by his public relations agency cleared up most matters but still left some incorrect information intact. The revised biography still states that he played for the Stampeders. When asked about it Friday, Fowler said he was confused and that it was really the Edmonton Eskimos, but that he was cut in training camp.
"When I first went to Canada, I went to Calgary and they shipped me over to Edmonton," he said.
Fowler took complete responsibility for the errors, which he said were given by his organization to Tunheim Partners, his PR shop.
"When you don't pay attention to what you put out, you're subject to errors. I'm a perfect example of that," he said.
After the errors were reported, Fowler said he received "no less than 50 calls" from business associates and players he has known over the years. He said every caller said "stay strong," and he took the encouragement to heart.
"I actually want this franchise more today than I did yesterday," he said. "I am not a quitter. I'm passionate about what I do. I want you people to know I want to be a part of your community. I'm willing to walk down the street with my head held high. I'm going to take the punches. Do I think this is going to be the last of it? I do not."
Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, a NFL Finance Committee member, said the biographical mistakes will not be a factor in whether Fowler and his partners ? Hecker, David Mandelbaum, Zyggi Wilf and Alan Landis ? are approved as the Vikings new owner.
"I don't think it would be of any substance at all," Hunt said. "I don't think it would be a negative factor."
(more...)
