Yesterday various reports came out late in the afternoon that Tom Hicks is "worried" or even "doubtful" about the sale of the Texas Rangers. A sale that was thought to be as good as done on January 23rd, with only some minor details (like, ahem, the sale price) to be ironed out by both parties.

They had an April 9th deadline that passed by. There have been disturbing details leaking about the negotiations seemingly every week since, and every time, Stars fans sigh and wonder if this is going to happen to us. We also wonder if the Rangers sale needs to be complete before the sale of the hockey team can move forward.

Yesterday Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas reported that the sale of the Stars is "just starting" and had this quote from Hicks: "We're working on it," Hicks said. "It's going to be done very quietly and learn some things from the Rangers process. We want to do it as efficiently as possible."

Very quietly? I hope you'll forgive my skepticism, but for anything to happen quietly with Mr. Hicks in these troubled times would be quite the rarity indeed.

Consternation over the Liverpool FC sale is already starting to build...

Our friends stuck in the same HSG prison as we are across the pond are also hoping for a rather swift pace to things, but they must be as patient as Tom told ESPN he'll be:

However, it appears there may be little prospect of a swift sale as, following initial reports the club was up for sale at around £500 million, Hicks has now suggested they would be happy to wait to find a buyer willing to meet his apparent £654 million valuation. "Liverpool Football Club has been a great investment," he told the Sunday Mirror. "It has probably tripled in value.

"His apparent valuaiton."

At what price do you suppose Hicks values the Dallas Stars?

Similar abiguities on asking price exist in the Rangers deal. This is from baseball guru Evan Grant's story in the Dallas Morning News: