ATLANTA (AP) -Stephen Greenberg, the point man for Time Warner's negotiations to sell the Atlanta Braves, says talks are progressing with ``no hang-up whatsoever.''

Greenberg would neither confirm nor deny on Friday that Time Warner is in exclusive talks with Colorado-based Liberty Media, though he spoke positively about the company that could become the Braves' next owner.

``I've known for a long time that John Malone is a big sports fan,'' Greenberg said, referring to Liberty Media's chairman. ``If in fact Liberty does buy this team, I think Atlanta fans have no need to worry.''

There have been local concerns that Liberty Media may see the Braves as more of a short-term tax benefit than a long-term investment.

Time Warner would reclaim a significant block of its stock in a tax-free exchange that would give Liberty Media cash and the Braves. Liberty Media owns about 4 percent of Time Warner.

Greenberg said the process could be completed before the baseball owners meet in August.

For Braves veteran players who remember the local and passionate presence of former owner Ted Turner, a tax-exempt stock swap between out-of-town corporate buyers is not an exciting notion.

``Yeah, it matters,'' said third baseman Chipper Jones recently. ``If a company is buying us for investment purposes, then it doesn't benefit us at all.''

Malone, however, has said recently that his interest in the Braves is not as a short-term venture.

``I don't think that would be the case at all,'' agreed Greenberg. ``That's not to say it's a done deal. Frankly. I think all three of the bidders have demonstrated the appropriate interest in and passion for baseball and the Braves in particular. I don't think we could have three better bidders.''

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and a group led by Atlanta real estate executive Ron Terwilliger are the other bidders.

Blank and Terwilliger are believed to be on standby in case Time Warner's talks with Liberty Media break down.

Greenberg said the talks with the Braves are not affected by baseball owners Thursday giving their unanimous approval to the $450 million sale of the Washington Nationals to Theodore Lerner and former Braves president Stan Kasten.

``It doesn't affect our time schedule,'' Greenberg said. ``Our schedule has been pretty much independent of what's going on with Washington. We're chugging along, trying to reach a resolution. There has been no hang-up whatsoever.

``We're still in that period where we're still grinding through documents and agreements in the process, which normally we do in the cover of darkness. This is a little more difficult.''

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