Nashville ownership update

The Nashville Predators may be in the process of securing another minority owner.

Research In Motion (RIM) founder and Co-CEO Jim Balsillie is apparently in talks with Predators majority owner David Freeman to purchase 27-per-cent of the troubled hockey club.

Balsillie is after a stake in the club after controversial owner William J. "Boots" Del Baggio filed for bankruptcy in June and found himself facing several lawsuits and charges of fraud by various money lenders.

According to Prime Time Sports host Bob McCown, the Blackberry king has been in contact with the Predators for quite some time and at any moment (which could be a day or a year from now) the deal could be announced. There have been no confirmations from either side regarding this issue. Balsillie's lawyer Richard Rodier went on record stating that the rumour is false.

In a June interview on the Fan 590 (Toronto sports radio station) Rodier went on record stating that Balsillie would be looking at September as the time to make a splash into NHL ownership status.

This salvo represents the third time Balsillie has tried to buy an NHL team and it marks the second time he has tried to buy the Predators. What makes this particular purchase sensitive is that the 27-per-cent is under control of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in San Francisco.

The share is estimated to be in the neighbourhood of $20 million.

Stay tuned...