MILWAUKEE -- Bucks owner Herb Kohl wants to add to the teams ownership group in hopes of building a new arena that he said would cement the teams long-term future in Milwaukee. Kohl said Monday he hired a firm to help in the search for new partners, and that any new partners who are added will have to be equally committed to keeping the team in Milwaukee. "I like to believe that bringing in new ownership ... if its done in the right way, will reinvigorate the franchise and make our future in Milwaukee stronger and more secure," he said. Keeping the team in Wisconsins largest city would require a new arena to replace the 25-year-old BMO Harris Bradley Center, also home to Marquette basketball and the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL, he said. "Without new investors and without a new facility, would we at some point lose the Bucks? Yes," he said. Kohl, who recently retired after four terms as a U.S. senator, bought the Bucks in 1985. The team is frequently mentioned as a candidate for a move because of the age of its arena, but Commissioner David Stern said Kohls decision shows he is dedicated to preventing that. "With this announcement, Sen. Kohl continues his mission: to assure continuity of Bucks ownership by broadening its ownership base, and assuring that the fans of Wisconsin will enjoy NBA basketball and other events in a new state-of-the-art facility," Stern said. Kohl and Stern both said Kohl bought the team with the goal of keeping it in Milwaukee, and that remains a priority now. Kohl said he hadnt identified possible partners yet, and that the process was only in its infancy. When asked whether hed consider taking on a partner who demanded a majority stake, Kohl said it was too early to commit to specifics. Kohl, 78, said hes in good health, but he knew he needed to plan for the organizations long-term future. He also said he was willing to contribute some of his own wealth toward the cost of a new stadium, and he hoped to secure private funding as well. If that happens, the team would have a firm private-sector commitment that could provide a convincing case for the public to finance the rest, he said. Kohl noted that Miller Park, where the Milwaukee Brewers play, is a fine facility but one that serves as little more than a baseball-only venue. And Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers, is also a one-use facility. But the BMO Harris Bradley Center hosts 200 events per year, including concerts and family events, so a new stadium would benefit the entire community, not only the Bucks, he said. Reporters asked whether potential partners would even want to invest in a team that couldnt consider a new area outside of Milwaukee, or in a team thats struggled to be competitive in recent seasons. Kohl replied that his team is profitable and its value has risen along with the values of every other NBA team. He declined to say exactly how much his team is worth. At 5-19, the Bucks are the worst team in the NBA. But Kohl said theyre a part of the community -- a part of his community -- and he wouldnt let them leave, even though he knew the franchise could be worth far more in a larger city. "It would be a big loss for this community if we lost our NBA franchise," he said. "That would be a huge step backward, for not only Milwaukee but the surrounding communities. "I dont want to see that happen. And so this asset is not for sale outside of Milwaukee." ------ AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.www.cheapnfljerseysonline.net/nike-nfl-jerseys/ . There is also the Genoa derby on Sunday, while second-place Roma hosts Parma looking to take advantage of any more slip-ups from Juventus. Here are five things to know about the Italian league ahead of this weekends matches: LLORENTE ON SONGThe last time Juventus hosted Inter Milan the visitors ended the Bianconeris impressive streak of 49 games unbeaten with a 3-1 victory. http://www.cheapnfljerseysonline.net/nike-nfl-jerseys/ . Tuesday nights 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox fit that category perfectly. Michael Bourns two-run double in the seventh inning snapped a 3-all tie and extended Clevelands winning streak to a season-high five straight games.NEW YORK -- The NBA said Thursday that its referees made a mistake when they ejected Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin in the Clippers 105-103 loss at Golden State on Wednesday night. Griffin was ejected for his second technical with 10:43 left after scuffling with Andrew Bogut, following Warriors forward Draymond Green to the showers after they got into it at the end of the third. "After a league review of the Clippers-Warriors game, we have come to the conclusion that Blake Griffin should not have been ejected from the game," said Rod Thorn, the NBAs president of basketball operations. "A common foul should have been called on Griffin for initially attempting to dislodge the Warriiors Andrew Bogut and a technical foul should have been assessed to Bogut for grabbing Griffin by the shirt and wrestling with him.dddddddddddd" With Griffin gone, the Clippers missed several key chances in the waning moments. "If you look at it, I didnt do anything and I got thrown out of the game. It all boils down to they (referees) fell for it," Griffin said after the game. "To me, its cowardly basketball. I dont know their intentions, but it worked. ... If I knew the answer Id probably be in a different position. Tonight I got two technicals for nothing." Also Thursday, the NBA fined Green $15,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner after his ejection. cheap jerseyscheap jerseys from china ' ' '
