More Takeaway Points to Consider

* A possible scenario: When a multimillion dollar deal with a long completion cycle is in the works, hire a top jury consultant to research the cast of characters--right down to their children, hobbies, charities, pets and golf handicaps. Have that consultant then quietly take notes at all meetings, listen in on all phone conversations and monitor all written correspondence to chart the progress and keep the negotiations on course.

* Above all, do not make any kind of announcement in the media until everyone has signed off on the project. Replies to queries from the press should be simply: "It is being looked into and when we have something, we will get back to you." For example, Sheldon Silver, speaker of the New York State Assembly whose eleventh-hour veto scotched the project, said about Bloomberg & Co:

They never talked to Senator Bruno, they never talked to me. And they just proceeded ahead, and they used this Olympic timetable as the hammer that was going to make everything that was wrong with the bid suddenly right.They never talked to Senator Bruno, they never talked to me. And they just proceeded ahead, and they used this Olympic timetable as the hammer that was going to make everything that was wrong with the bid suddenly right.