Red McCombs tells ***'Why I sold the Vikings'***

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 06/25/2005

Red McCombs tells ***'Why I sold the Vikings'***

***San Antonio, Texas*** -- As the saying goes, "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." That being said, the Minnesota Vikings were officially sold last week to Zygmunt Wilf, not Reggie Fowler, whose bid to become the first Black owner of an NFL franchise failed. 
Last week, on Thursday, June 9, while I was covering the NBA Finals in San Antonio, Red McCombs and his wife Charline, who live in San Antonio, granted me an exclusive interview on the historic sale of the Minnesota Vikings.
The official bank transfer of funds from the Wilf account to McComb's account did not take place until Monday, June 13.

LF: Red, how does it feel to be the former owner of the Vikings? 
McCombs: It hasn't set in for me and won't for a long time. As a matter of fact, I spent an hour on the phone today with [Mike] Tice discussing linebackers. So we're still very much connected.

LF: Talk specifically about why you sold the Vikings, and then finding a buyer with the same passion that you have for ownership. 
McCombs: Well, I just regret that I was not able to find a way to get a new stadium for the fans of Minnesota. They are the greatest fans in the world. They were certainly very kind to my family and I, and very generous in every way, and I could not ask for more. 
But somehow I could not break through the web that it took to get some attention about a stadium. We would have been owners for another 40 years if we could have gotten a stadium deal done. I just regret that we didn't get it done. 
LF: Because you maintained your residence here in San Antonio and did not move to Minnesota as owner, do you think that hurt you with Minnesota taxpayers and legislators? 
McCombs: Well, you never know, Larry... But if I could have gotten close, or if I felt some progress was being made... We looked at the change of governors after Jesse Ventura, that we would have another shot. And all the meetings indicated that we would, and then suddenly the people in Blaine stepped forward and made it possible for us to do a program there. 
The governor [Pawlenty] would not carry it to the legislature. He said it was not time. We tried one more year, and we could not do it. I regret it, because the people of Minnesota are entitled to a new facility. Unfortunately, it became a Red McCombs issue instead of a Vikings stadium issue. 

LF: You sold the team to Zygmunt Wilf, but it was Reggie Fowler who you first entered into exclusive negotiations with some 10 months ago. Can you explain what happened? Were you surprised that Fowler did not get the team and Wilf did? 
McCombs: I was surprised the way it went down, because Reggie had worked with me for 10 months in getting his proposal ready. We really thought it was ready to go and that it would fly. 
The NFL officials thought otherwise; they felt that he [Fowler] had plenty of net worth, but that there was not enough liquidity. That's their decision. I respect that and know that Reggie does too.
I've talked with Reggie since then. I'm very fond of him, and I'm proud of how hard he worked and the passion that he exhibited in trying to get the team. I have a feeling that he will be an owner someday.

LF: Do you feel that he will remain a minority partner in Wilf's ownership group? 
McCombs: He'll be a minority partner in the group, but I fully expect Reggie to become the owner of some team in the NFL. 

LF: Red, you once owned the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets and the Vikings. Do you think you'll own another pro team one day?
McCombs: You never know. I've been a sports owner for the past 50 years. It's been a big part of my life. I've never been away from sports, and I don't plan on being away from it now.