HoopsHype.com Rumors

A source says "more than a dozen leading business" will step up with several milllions of dollars to help the Bradley Center stay fianancially viable for the next few years. Those extra years will help the Bucks and the community figure out how and if a new facility can be built to keep the Bucks here even longer. Today's TMJ4

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Bucks owner Herb Kohl confirmed at a news conference Friday that general manager John Hammond will not work with a contract extension during the coming season. Scott Skiles agreed last week to return for the final year of his contract. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, John Hammond, Scott Skiles, Herb Kohl 

But the Bucks owner said he is confident the team can take the steps necessary to become a playoff team. Milwaukee finished the past season with a 31-35 record and was eliminated from playoff contention in the final week. "Scott is one of the best coaches in the league, and I'm very pleased he's going to be with us next year," Kohl said at the team's Cousins Center training facility. "It's true about John Hammond. It's an outstanding team, I believe. "This is a results kind of business we're in, and you measure at some point, we all do, we measure ourselves by our results. We were supposed to be in the playoffs. We didn't get there. We should still be playing. We're not still playing. "So if you want to know whether or not we're happy, no we're not happy. Why should we be happy? But we're planning for next year, and I think with this continuity and the ability of Scott and John, as well as the staff and our players, there's a lot to be enthusiastic about. "And it's on that basis that we're going forward." Kohl said "we're looking for good and great results and a long and happy relationship." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Coaching, John Hammond, Scott Skiles, Herb Kohl 

Gery Woelfel: Kohl wants to "secure" Bradley Center for "next several years" though. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Gery Woelfel: Kohl goes on the offensive for new arena. Willing to throw in own money. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Gery Woelfel: Rumors still persist Kohl is open to selling Bucks but still be a minority owner. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Kohl, appearing at the Bucks media day gathering at the Cousins Center training facility, spoke openly about the ramifications of the new CBA and the separate revenue-sharing plan agreed to by owners. "I think on balance it's good for small-market teams and gives us a real opportunity to be profitable from now on, which hasn't been true for quite a number of years," Kohl said. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

And he agreed with Stern's characterization that the debate among owners on a new revenue-sharing agreement was "arduous." Kohl said he was heavily involved in the debate, shuttling between Washington and New York. "To the credit of large-market owners, they understand if we are going to move forward as a 30-team league there has to be a willingness to share more local revenue. Right now, we've not really done that," he said. The Bucks were getting approximately $5 million a year under the old revenue-sharing plan. The new plan, which will begin in 2013-'14, increased the amount coming to small-market teams significantly. Kohl acknowledged the Bucks would be in line to receive approximately $15 million to $16 million a season. "On balance, considering the CBA and revenue sharing together, there were a lot of good things in it," Kohl said. "I wanted to be sure smaller-market teams were taken into consideration. It didn't come easily, because those who have don't want to give, and those who don't have perhaps want too much." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

Kohl, who bought the team in 1985 from Jim Fitzgerald, said he remains energized in his role as owner and confident in the management team led by general manager John Hammond and the team's coaching staff led by coach Scott Skiles. "I still enjoy it," Kohl, 76, said. "I've always enjoyed owning the team, even when we were going through years of losses, because I like the sport. I like interacting with the guys, the coaches, the general manager, our fans. "It's been a big plus in my life. And now that hopefully the team is going to be profitable, it will be even more enjoyable." Kohl will retire as a U.S. Senator at the end of his term in 2012. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Stern was not on Monday's call, but the sources said that up to 11 owners took part, including Charlotte's Michael Jordan, Portland's Paul Allen and Milwaukee's Herb Kohl. "There are at least 15 owners who are praying that the players say no,'' one source said, "because then they'll get the deal they want.'' ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Milwaukee Bucks, Portland Trail Blazers, Michael Jordan, Paul Allen, Herb Kohl 

According to some individuals who have been actively involved in the CBA talks, Kohl has been one of the most "hawkish'' owners and has been quietly but forcefully lobbying behind the scenes for sweeping changes to the system. Like most of his small-market colleagues Kohl has become increasingly frustrated by the glaring discrepancies between the small and large markets, especially when it pertains to competitive balance. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

The scuttlebutt is that unless radical changes are made to the NBA system, Kohl will likely sell the team. But there are also some other observers who insist Kohl will sell the team regardless of the CBA outcome. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, Lockout, Herb Kohl 

The authors of the letter were Paul Allen of Portland, Herb Simon on Indiana, Bob Johnson of Charlotte, George Shinn of New Orleans, Larry Miller of Utah, Michael Heisley of Memphis, Glen Taylor of Minnesota and Herb Kohl of Milwaukee. Johnson and Shinn have since sold their teams and Miller has passed away, giving way to his son, Greg. But the situations in those markets haven’t changed. In essence, that letter is the root of the current lockout. And, it is turning out, perhaps a core reason the owners can’t make a deal with the players after more than two years of negotiations. ESPN.com

Paul Allen, Larry Miller, CBA, Michael Heisley, David Stern, Lockout, George Shinn, NBPA, Owners, Glen Taylor, Herb Kohl, Herb Simon 

HAWK: Kohl is "as hardcore as anyone" in agitating for big changes, according to one insider. ESPN.com

Milwaukee Bucks, CBA, David Stern, Lockout, Billy Hunter, NBPA, Herb Kohl 

Mark Attanasio would neither confirm nor deny whether he would be interested in buying the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl. Attanasio, who led an investor group that bought the Milwaukee Brewers from Bud Selig’s ownership group in 2005, was responding to an audience question at a Monday luncheon of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Attanasio said he has “enormous” commitments already to the Brewers, to his Los Angeles investment firm and to his family. “I just have to make sure I don‘t get overextended,” Attanasio said. “We’ll see what happens.” Business News

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl, Mark Attanasio 

After his talk, Attanasio said Kohl has not approached the Brewers owner about buying the Bucks and Attanasio said he had not approached Kohl. “I love the community and I love sports,” Attanasio said. “It’s the senator’s team and I have an enormous amount of commitments right now.” Business News

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl, Mark Attanasio 

Mark Attanasio would neither confirm nor deny whether he would be interested in buying the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucksfrom U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl. Attanasio, who led an investor group that bought the Milwaukee Brewers from Bud Selig’s ownership group in 2005, was responding to an audience question at a Monday luncheon of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation. Attanasio said he has “enormous” commitments already to the Brewers, to his Los Angeles investment firm and to his family. “I just have to make sure I don‘t get overextended,” Attanasio said. “We’ll see what happens.” Business News

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl, Mark Attanasio 

U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, borrowed at least $55 million last year from the National Basketball Association's credit facility, according to his Senate financial disclosure form. Disclosure rules in the Senate do not require senators to disclose the exact amount of their investments, assets and liabilities. But the records indicate that Kohl borrowed at least $55 million in three separate loans in behalf of the Bucks. The records also indicate that Kohl used some of the proceeds for investments by two of his trusts. That is allowable under NBA rules for those borrowing from the $2 billion credit facility. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

At a news conference U.S. Senator Kohl made it clear what would keep his Bucks franchise competitive and profitable while remaining in Milwaukee. "I am fully expecting that we will continue to b here. That in the years to come we will find a way as a community, a state, a modern complex. And that generations to come Bucks will continue to be a part of the landscape of Milwaukee." Kohl says. fox6now.com

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl 

Since 1988, however, his tenure as an NBA owner had to be balanced with his primary duties as a U.S. senator. That will change, and may very well give Kohl, who is 76, the freedom and the opportunity to spend more time finding ways not only to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee and locate new ownership when he decides to sell the team, but play a role in developing a community-endorsed plan to build a new arena for the franchise. "I would say this will remove some of the challenges of being a U.S. senator and being an NBA owner," said Timothy Sheehy, the head of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, who keeps a close eye on efforts to keep Milwaukee a major-league sports city. "I think he's always going to be focused on doing what's right about Milwaukee." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Herb Kohl