The San Jose Sharks professional hockey franchise represents the San Francisco Bay Area in the National Hockey League, having joined as an expansion team in 1991. Despite some success in reaching the playoffs the past several years, fans are still waiting for an appearance in the Stanley Cup finals. The team plays host at HP Pavilion, affectionately known as "The Shark Tank." George and Gordon Gund, former owners of the Cleveland Cavaliers, were originally awarded the NHL franchise; Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment, an investment group led by veteran sports executive Greg Jamison, has owned the team since 2002.

Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball owns and operates the Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball franchise, which joined the National Basketball Association as an expansion franchise in 1989. Playing host at the Target Center in Minneapolis, the Wolves have yet to claim an NBA Finals appearance. Local businessmen Harvey Ratner and Marv Wolfenson were first awarded the franchise; Glen Taylor, chairman of printing giant Taylor Corporation, led a group of investors who bought the team in 1995.

The Denver Nuggets professional basketball franchise was formed by trucking magnate J. W. "Bill" Ringsby in 1967 as the Denver Rockets (renamed in 1974), a charter member of the American Basketball Association. Since joining the National Basketball Association in 1976, the team has had little postseason success, although the signing of star forward Carmelo Anthony in 2004 has helped spur fan interest, giving a boost to attendance at the team's Pepsi Center arena. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke will relinquish ownership to his son Josh Kroenke in 2010.

Grand Heritage Hotel Group LLC owns more than a dozen historic hotels in the US and Mexico under categories such as urban, oceanside, mountain adventures, and lakeside retreats. Properties include The Governor Hotel (Portland, Oregon), Providence Biltmore Hotel (Providence, Rhode Island), The Stanley Hotel (Estes Park, Colorado), and The Chanler Hotel at Cliff Walk (Newport, Rhode Island). Grand Heritage's Residence Club converts existing hotels and resorts into condos and timeshares for vacationers. President John Cullen owns the Grand Heritage Hotel Group.

Chairman and CEO Michael Harrell founded the Houston-based Vista Host, Inc. in 1977. Vista Host company operates some 25 mid-priced hotel properties in about a dozen states (mostly Southern) under such banners as Comfort Suites, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites. Vista opens limited-service hotels in highly trafficked tourist areas and consistently wins customer service awards. Vista Host company, which prides itself on using the latest technological innovations, offers free wireless Internet access in most of its properties.

The Melting Pot Restaurants wants its customers to bubble, bubble all their toil and trouble away over a pot of cheesy fondue. The company operates and franchises a chain of more than 140 restaurants in about three dozen states that specialize in themed, multi-course fondue meals for couples. Its dipping sauces range from cheeses, pestos, and teriyakis to flambeed chocolates. Each restaurant also offers an extensive list of wines, cognacs, and cordials. The first Melting Pot opened in Florida in 1975. CEO Mark and president Bob Johnston (brothers) opened the first franchised location in 1979 and bought the chain in 1985.

Pittsburgh Baseball Club owns and operates the Pittsburgh Pirates, one of the oldest and more storied franchises in Major League Baseball. The club joined the National League in 1887 as the Pittsburgh Alleghenies (renamed in 1891) and has won nine NL pennants and five World Series championships, its last in 1979. Pittsburgh's roster has included such stars as Bill Madlock, Willie Stargell, and Kent Tekulve. The team plays host at Pittsburgh's PNC Park. Chairman Bob Nutting bought majority control of the Bucs in 2007.

Wigan Athletic Football Club has a long history in various divisions in English football. Nicknamed the Latics, the team played at Springfield Park stadium from 1897 until 1999. However, their first season in the professional English League was in 1978. Wigan Athletic FC now plays in the JJB Stadium that opened in 1999. The 25,000-capacity stadium also plays host to the Wigan Rugby League Club. In 2005 the team finished 2nd in the Championship (formerly Division 1) to gain promotion to the Premiership. Following the demise of Wigan Borough, the team was formed as Wigan Athletic in 1932.

If you're holding too much weight, 24 Hour Fitness Worldwide has the solution. It owns and operates more than 400 fitness centers that offer aerobic, cardiovascular, and weight lifting activities to the company's more than 3.5 million members. Some facilities also feature squash, racquetball, and basketball courts; swimming pools; steam and sauna rooms; tanning rooms; and whirlpools. It is one of the only fitness chains open 24 hours a day. The centers are located in more than 15 states in the US, as well as throughout Asia. (It has some 15 clubs in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan). Forstmann Little & Co owns 24 Hour Fitness, which was founded in 1983.

Queens Park Rangers Football Club plays football (soccer) in the English Football League Championship (formerly known as Division 1). The club, known as QPR, was originally formed in 1882 by boys from the Droop Street Board School. The students attended St. Jude's Institute and were known in those very early days as St. Judes. In 1886 the team took the name of Queens Park Rangers after merging with a team called Christchurch Rangers. The team plays at the 19,148 capacity Loftus Road Stadium in London. In 2007 QPR was purchased by Formula One tycoons Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore, who sold a 20% stake to the family of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal in December of the same year.

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