LIBERTY MEDIA MAY HAVE HASSLES IN BRAVES DEAL

16 February 2007

Owning the Dan Best operation may not sit well in the States

A bid by Liberty Media to acquire the major league baseball team Atlanta Braves could founder on the former's ownership of the Don Best sports betting operation according to a Denver Post staff writer.

The Don Best.com gambling advisory and information service is regarded as one of the Internet's premier sports-betting information operations, but that could present a conflict of interest when it comes to buying a professional sports team.

"I think Major League Baseball would have to take a long, hard look at it," said Dave Smrek, principal of Denver-based Adrenalin, a sports-consulting firm. "In one way or another, it needs to be addressed."

Liberty's agreement to acquire the Braves from Time Warner as part of an asset swap requires approval from 75 percent of other major-league team owners - and Major League Baseball has long abhorred its teams' having ties with gambling operations.

In response to media enquiries about Don Best's operations and its potential impact on the Braves deal, Liberty spokesman John Orr wrote, "We have no comment." Don Best is operated by Toronto-based Fun Technologies. Liberty paid $195 million last year for a 51 percent stake in Fun.

Betting on major sports such as baseball in the United States is legal only at casino sports books in Las Vegas.

Don Best features betting lines from offshore sports books such as TheGreek.com and Sportsbook.com.

If necessary, Liberty shouldn't have a problem divesting Don Best to get the Braves deal approved, Smrek said. "For them, this is a pretty small play," he said.

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