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Written by Maury Brown
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
 The following is an editorial by Maury Brown of the Business of Sports Network.It barely slipped through yesterday. Commissioner Selig made mention of how management implicated in the Mitchell Report “has” been disciplined. In other words, someone in a front office has been reprimanded, but unlike the parade of players that were rolled out in the Mitchell Report, we don’t know who. Here is what Selig said to The AP: “I have stated, and it’s sort of been misunderstood, anybody who has been disciplined is doing a lot of community service,” Selig said. “And I think most people involved believe that was their discipline. But there’s nothing new.”
The timing is what raises eyebrows. It was Giants managing partner Peter Magowan and general manager Brian Sabean that were given the most coverage in Mitchell’s report, or at least in terms of those in management. Magowan is scheduled to step down from running the Giants tomorrow. One wonders. The reason being reported is due to Magowan's age. At 66, he ranks 17th out of the 30 owners. One wonders. While there is no confirmation, there are reports coming into the Business of Sports Network that Magowan is gently being pushed out of the Giants. Even if that were not the case, Selig’s comments show a fine level of hypocrisy. After all, it was perfectly acceptable to publicly mention players and suspensions as part of the follow-up to the Mitchell Report. Now, there is quiet reference to “doing a lot of community service.” So, we ask: Who is doing “community service?” And then, what is deemed as “community service?” It was quietly run, and now one wonders if the highest ranking executive mentioned in the Mitchell Report is “doing community service” by leaving the Giants. Given the incredible level of work that Magowan did in getting the China Basin project (Pac Bell Park) done with such an exceedingly low-level of public subsidy, it would be a shame if it were true. Now, if only someone were to answer those questions… Who is it being disciplined? And, what is the discipline doled out? If the league thinks I'm putting 2+2 and getting 5, great. Let's clear up the matter. But, if the league, through Commissioner Selig is willing to try and pass all this off without more than a whisper, one can't help but see the connection. |
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Written by Maury Brown
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
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 Tampa Bay Rays officials will present their preliminary financing plan for waterfront $450 million ballpark in downtown St. Petersburg today. The site being proposed is at the current location of Al Lang Field. As reported by Etic Fisher of the Sports Business Journal:
The plan will be negotiated with local officials over the summer and put before voters in a November referendum. It calls for $150M from the Rays, $75M from the sale of Tropicana Field land and retirement of stadium debt, $50M from bonds against future parking revenues at the new ballpark, $100M from tourist taxes used to help pay down Tropicana Field debt and $75M from extending St. Petersburg's annual contributions to the Tropicana Field debt.
See images and more information on the proposed Rays ballpark here. |
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Written by Maury Brown
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
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 Meeting in Milwaukee, the quarterly owners meetings will commence today, with one thing certain: ratification of the newly adjusted Joint Drug Agreement will be forthcoming. The new agreement dissolves the Health Policy Advisory Committee (comprised of management and union officials) and HPAC’s responsibilities for the administration of the Program on performance-enhancing substances have been delegated to the Independent Program Administrator (IPA), Dr. Bryan Smith, creating a more independent testing system. The program adds 600 tests per year (making the total number of tests 3600), an average of three per player per year. The Independent Program Administrator is authorized to conduct up to 375 off-season tests over his three-year initial term, which will, on average, more than double the amount of off-season testing.
It was unanimously approved by MLB's Executive Council yesterday. The players will also need to ratify the agreement. (see complete details of the new drug testing agreement) Other issues to be discussed at the quarterly meetings: - According to The Associated Press, Commissioner Selig hinted that punishments have been handed down to team executives in connection with the Mitchell Report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, coming in the form of community service.
“I have stated, and it’s sort of been misunderstood, anybody who has been disciplined is doing a lot of community service,” Selig said. “And I think most people involved believe that was their discipline. But there’s nothing new.”
Could this be part of the reason why managing partner Peter Magowan is scheduled to leave the Giants organization on Friday?
- The financial books for the sale of the Cubs have been delivered, and owners will discuss the sale of one of baseball’s premier clubs.
- Lastly, MLB COO Bob DuPuy will not be in attendance, due to two leg surgeries. According to the Sports Business Daily, “one to correct a pre-existing injury, and a second to address a recently torn quadriceps muscle.” While DuPuy will not be there physically, he is expected to attend via conference call.
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Written by Maury Brown
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Thursday, 15 May 2008 |
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Welcome to a computer on your feet. Verb For Shoe adjusts itself based on
embedded sensors. Stand next to someone else wearing Verb For Shoe and
pass and your e-Business Card info via wireless technology (Verb for Shoe) Until recently, the idea of technology and footwear has been relegated to the design aspects. Some designs have embarked on computer aided laser etching, and certainly the design of soles has changed dramatically over the past 20-30 years with the use of computer-aided design. The shoe you see above may be the future of footwear. Named Verb for Shoe, it has an on-board computer system that senses your movement and adjusts bladders on-the-fly for comfort. To add to that, it's a social networking device. Stand near to someone else wearing a pair of Verb for Shoe and pass along e-Business Card information via wireless transmission. Cost? A cool $700.00 In a continuation of interviews with those working in the business of sports, we offer up the Business of Sports Network with Ronald Demon, the inventor of Verb for Shoe, and CEO of VectraSense Technologies. More images of the shoe design, within. An Interview with Ronald Demon. Smart Shoe Inventor, CEO VectraSense Technologies |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
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 It was announced today that MSNBC anchor, SABR member, and all-around baseball fanatic, Keith Olbermann will tell the inside story of three decades' worth of Topps proof cards in a five-part, serialized feature to debut with the May 30 issue of Sports Collectors Digest on newsstands May 15. Readers will be treated to a narrative of nearly 30 years of baseball card lore told by Olbermann, an avid card collector. Reportedly, "each segment is illustrated with dozens of cards from private collections not seen publicly for generations. The magazine will also host an online sweepstakes to coincide with the series; top prizes include items from the famed Topps Vault and a unique, one-of-a-kind plaque depicting 'The Rarest Reggie,' a 1977 proof card of Reggie Jackson."
"Baby Boomers remember their baseball cards fondly, the colorful little pasteboards that brought the likes of Mickey Mantle, Henry Aaron, and Willie Mays to life for a generation of fans before the dawn of free agency, cable television, and stadiums awkwardly named after pharmaceutical conglomerates," said Sports Collectors Digest Editor T.S. O'Connell. "Keith is perhaps the most famous baseball card collector around. He owned virtually all of those iconic cards at one time or another, but he also has some vintage cards that only a handful of hobbyists have ever seen, much less owned. We are thrilled to be able to share this collection with our readers." Olbermann's collection includes 'goofs' that the famed Topps proofreaders caught, but, despite their best efforts, eventually found their way into print and the hobby.
The five articles, spanning from 1958 to the 1980s uncover -- and show readers -- comic moments like Bob Gibson and Tom Seaver posing as left-handers, or the late-season trades that caused Topps designers to hurriedly redesign cards, or attempt to 'airbrush' team logos long before the advent of computer technology.
Sports Collectors Digest will conduct an exclusive sweepstakes inconjunction with the series, asking collectors to offer their views on a host of hobby topics on the publisher's Web site, with random drawings for prizes, including a top prize of a 1977 proof card of Reggie Jackson depicting him with the Orioles, and other rare Topps proofs.
Source: Sports Collectors Digest |
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Written by Maury Brown
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
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 The San Francisco Giants will be holding a special ownership meeting on Friday, at which time, managing partner Peter Magowan will reportedly step down from the leading position within the organization.
As reported yesterday, word of the longtime owner stepping away from the Giants has been swirling. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle: Rumors of a Magowan exit after 15-plus years at the helm have been circulating for days. Although there has been no word from Magowan or team officials, this week an e-mail went out from the front office to the Giants' 30 investors, asking them to attend a 10:30 a.m. meeting Friday at AT&T Park to discuss "some investments the Giants are contemplating." Sources tell us the real topic is the 66-year-old Magowan's planned retirement, which could lead to his ownership shares - estimated to be worth well over $70 million - being offered to fellow partners. The team overall is valued in excess of $500 million.
Who could replace Magowan at the helm? Rumors are former Microsoft general counsel William Neukom, and principal partner and business investor John Scully. |
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Written by Maury Brown
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
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 Barry Bonds has been changed with 15 felony counts in revised indictment, claiming the current all-time homerun leader lied to a grand jury about knowingly using performance-enhancing substances, and as reported, “that he hampered the federal government's doping investigation.” As reported by ESPN:
The career home run leader originally was charged in November by a federal grand jury with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The new indictment was issued in response to a February ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, who agreed with a defense motion that the initial indictment was potentially vague and ambiguous. The primary point was that the government charged several different lies in single counts, presenting potential problems for a jury. On Tuesday, a grand jury handed up a superseding indictment charging Bonds with 14 counts of making false declarations to a grand jury in 2003 and one count of obstruction of justice. No new lies were alleged in the new indictment and Bonds wouldn't serve additional prison time if convicted.
As has been the case from the outset, the charges all stem from whether Bonds’ former personal trainer, Greg Anderson, supplied Bonds with steroids, hGH and possible other PEDs, and that Bonds knowingly knew what they were and used them. (Read the indictment in full ) Bonds had been scheduled to have a hearing on the case on June 6, but with the changes in the indictment, it is unclear whether Bonds will be scheduled to make a plea at that time. |
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Written by Patrick K. Thornton
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Wednesday, 14 May 2008 |
The following is a detailed analysis of the Clemens defamation lawsuit by Patrick K. Thornton. Thornton is a regular contributor to the Business of Sports Network. -- Maury Brown, Founder and President, Business of Sports NetworkBaseball season has started heating up and as the national pastime heads for the all star break the Roger Clemens defamation lawsuit keeps plodding right along. Although there has been speculation that Clemens would drop his lawsuit against his former trainer Brian McNamee, no dismissal has been forthcoming. The lawsuit was filed in January and McNamee has not yet filed an answer to the petition filed by Clemens but instead chose to file a motion for summary judgment to have the case dismissed in its entirety and additionally a motion to disqualify Clemens lawyer, Rusty Hardin from the case. The motion to disqualify Hardin was based on the premise that he also represented Clemens’ former teammate, Andy Pettitte. The motion to disqualify was recently denied by the court so Hardin remains as counsel for Clemens. The motion for summary judgment is still pending. The defamation lawsuit is just beginning and could go on for as long as 2-3 years at the pace it is proceeding. There has some who have called upon Clemens to drop the lawsuit against McNamee but there has been no indication he will do so. Clemens lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has said, “Absolutely, there’s been no action to dismiss the lawsuit.” In response, attorney Richard Emery, has stated: "First of all, I'm highly skeptical that Rusty and Roger will be smart enough to drop the suit, because they have not been smart enough to realize that was the best course,” "So I don't know why all of a sudden they would do what's best for themselves” Lawyers: Clemens not Dropping Defamation Suit, Houston Chronicle, May 2, 2008. Emery has given no indication he will back down from his continuous assault on Clemens character: “We're preparing for a trial,"… "We will follow every lead concerning Roger's rather questionable reputation, including deposing all the women who claimed they have slept with him and members of his family and his wife as to their knowledge of his use of steroids… "There have been a number of reports that Debbie knew about Roger's dalliances. And we certainly have to inquire whether that was the case.” id.
Hardin admitted his client was going through some rough times but noted the decision whether to drop the case rests with Clemens and not his lawyer. Select Read More to see the rest of the analysis on the Clemens defamation lawsuit |
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