John Bassett, Ex-USFL Owner, Dies of Cancer

John Bassett, former owner of teams in the World Football League and United States Football League, died of cancer Wednesday at Toronto General Hospital. He was 47.

The father of teen-age tennis star Carling Bassett and a former Davis Cup player himself, Bassett had been undergoing treatment for brain tumors at his home until he was hospitalized several weeks ago.

The Canadian businessman was the managing general partner of the Tampa Bay Bandits until last year and previously owned the World Football League’s Memphis Southmen, the team that lured Larry Csonka, Jim Kiick and Paul Warfield from the Miami Dolphins.