Does Wolff have any financial ties to Bernard Madoff?
by monkeyball on Dec 20, 2008 10:38 AM PST
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PrintUPDATE: Lew Wolff just wrote to me and said, "You can tell your fans that I never heard of the guy until the news of his scheme broke." - Blez
A joint AN release from the Department of Irresponsible Speculation and the Idle Hands Division ...
Bernie Madoff, the Wall Street titan who recently admitted to running a massive Ponzi scheme, apparently numbered among his marks both Mets owner Fred Wilpon and a wide swath of New York/East Coast real estate developers.
Now, granted, Lew Wolff is a Hollywood/West Coast guy, and a member of a different slice of high society than the Wilpons. But he is a major real-estate player, and there have been some local institutions and individuals who lost money to Madoff.
I'm not at all alleging that Wolff does have losses (or, heck, early-participant gains) from Madoff's scheme; but I do think it's a question that could reasonably be asked of him.
If it was the case, that could potentially explain some of the financial whipsawing by the A's this offseason, with regard to both roster and stadium deals. Other considerations, to be sure, could also explain this offseason.
In any event, it does seem as if the economy is taking a toll on the team's stadium development plans (though Beane seems to be in good shape with cash for free agents, his non-highballing of Furcal notwithstanding).
What's the community guess on the timetable for the--heck, any--new A's stadium?
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I'm sorry...what?!?
Why is moving out of state winning by a landslide? I have not hear anything that makes this appear inevitable, could someone enlighten me?
Well, that's what I voted
I was just following a natural pessimistic impulse, apparently the prevailing attitude around AN as well. Must be a sign of the times.
I know it’s not all that significant, especially in the broader context of such a severe recession, but the Furcal snub somehow added to this sentiment. It’s hard to shake the feeling, however misguided, that the A’s just aren’t sustainable in the Bay Area.
Lew Wolff is the managing partner of the ownership group because of his background as a developer. With the real estate market tanked, where is the private financing going to come from? This question has been consistently skirted, and the days of trusting the rich guys (because after all they’re rich and thus know what they’re doing) to figure out the numbers are over.
I know, my opinion isn’t based on sound analysis so much as cosmic pessimism, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this thing isn’t going to work. I think some other city/metropolitan area that’s willing pony up public money will ultimately lure the A’s.
by Jeremy Belvins on Dec 20, 2008 2:06 PM PST up reply actions
i really don't think there's another metropolitan area that is a better choice than the bay
"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra
I dunno
Oklahoma City isn’t really “better” than Seattle, but they got the Sonics. Just because another are is a smaller market doesn’t make them a worse option. The A’s only sell out when they play the Yankees or the Red Sox. They might do much better in, say, Nashville.
But, the big thing, is public financing. I think the Bay Area is the worst place in this regard. I think it’s easier to get public money someplace where there are no other sports teams. . That’s my impression, anyway.
by Jeremy Belvins on Dec 20, 2008 6:47 PM PST up reply actions
+1
As a resident of the Oklahoma City metro area….
1) Oklahoma City isn’t really "better" than Seattle.
Duh (with a bullet).
2) I think it’s easier to get public money someplace where there are no other sports teams.
Indeed. And there’s a good reason for this. Only in a place like OKC is knuckling under to franchise-owner extortion a reasonably good public investment. Getting a major league sports franchise—even one as mired in awful as the OKC Thunder—actually makes a difference to the public profile of a place like OKC.
Much as I love my A’s and hope that they never leave the Bay Area, it’s just not that important for any community there that they stick around.
by GreenNGoldSooner on Dec 21, 2008 10:50 AM PST up reply actions
Makes no sense
Other possible cities are not in measurably better shape than any in California. Vegas is doubly hit by the economic crisis. Portland’s trying to juggle its AAA team and a MLS bid, and they’ve given up for the time being. San Antonio is still small potatoes.
those are Halos Heaven votes...
they dream of the day when the Angels will have the only AL team in California.
But, after the A’s consecutive World Series championships from 2009 through 2015, the Angels will be contracted and Fremont will be renamed Titletown USA.
Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...
by FoolshGame22 on Dec 20, 2008 10:30 AM PST up reply actions
Or that there's so many "A's are staying in state poll options"
that the vote got scattered.
Even though the “A’s are staying in Cali” crew is winning by a very, very stunningly thin margin.
"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."
As of this comment, it is 144 in-state, 106 out-of-state
"However, at Elias, I think they keep track of the amount of sunflower seeds spit in a dugout each night." - Brad Ziegler, 8/7/08
Wouldn't it be more relevant to ask...
whether the Fisher family lost money in the Madoff scandal? Lew Wolff’s wealth is a relatively insignifcant factor in the equation. He’s has only a 10% ownership interest.
Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...
Lew Wolff just wrote to me and said:
You can tell your fans that I never heard of the guy until the news of his scheme broke.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 20, 2008 10:35 AM PST reply actions
Just goes to show
There are a lot of rich people out there
"Your fans"?
Really? He said “Your” fans? Lew, ain’t it “our” fans? Where’s the ownership Lew? Coddle me!
I dream of Fremont and rainbows
by OptimistPrime on Dec 20, 2008 10:47 AM PST up reply actions
I am not an A's fan, I am a Blez fan, and an AN fan.
by theblackpearl on Dec 20, 2008 11:18 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I am.
"To this day and dating back 25 years, before every game he plays, Henderson stands completely naked in front of a full length locker room mirror and says, "Ricky’s the best," for several minutes."
by VORP is too nerdy on Dec 20, 2008 7:44 PM PST up reply actions
No you're not.
If you were, you’d change your handle to #14fan fan fan.
"God doesn't pay attention to your cute little hypotheticals." -- Jeff from LL
if he was truly my fan
he would start the #14fan fan fan club
Why doesn't Lew get his own AN account so he can tell everyone himself?
"Good or bad, I don't know. This is awesome." ~Nick Swisher
I don't see a need for him to have an account unless he wants one.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
something tells me there is little Lew finds more annoying
Than us AN members. Owners like their fans quiet (and wealthy).
It was tongue in cheek, but
clearly he reads the blog if he responded to the post, right?
"Good or bad, I don't know. This is awesome." ~Nick Swisher
or blez contacted him?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
True, it could be.
But the quote says he wrote to Blez, not that he responded. I would be curious which it is. Blez?
"Good or bad, I don't know. This is awesome." ~Nick Swisher
Or, of course, he has employees who are interested in AN
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
I didn't contact him
The email came as a surprise to me as I hadn’t had a chance to check in on AN yet today.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Dec 21, 2008 1:40 AM PST up reply actions
oh boy
Top Ten Reasons why Lew Wolff doesn’t have an AN account?
Having trouble settling on a user name?
Can’t find a wireless location that won’t make him purchase a $4 latte?
Let's Go Fremont! clap clap clapclapclap
#8...
saw what happened to Mychael Urban on AN.
Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...
by FoolshGame22 on Dec 20, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions
I want my money back for that joke
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
i have one, thanks
but i prefer to send my emails to blez, as he needs the thrill
I have no solutions, just rejoindres
by alea iacta est on Dec 20, 2008 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
While it's nice he said so...
…I question even the speculation of him being connected to the Madoff stuff without any basis for it. I mean, there’s not much more of a connection than the fact Wolff himself is in the real estate industry. That could fit a LOT of people.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
Interestingly
many (most?) of Madoff’s investors had never heard of him either, but were invested through third party funds.
Thanks for tomorrow 'cause I've had enough
is this the fastest a monkeyball conspiracy theory has every been debunked?
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
(ever)
A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05
You were right the first time
They’ve every [time] been debunked.
"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson
wow im surprised how many people said they will move out of state.
"It's like déjà vu all over again." -yogi berra
Who cares about all of this!
Crosby seems motivated! Cool!
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/19/SPBJ14RHMR.DTL
by A'sfansince1970 on Dec 20, 2008 1:55 PM PST reply actions
Eesh.
Hope Lew wasn’t insulted.
"To this day and dating back 25 years, before every game he plays, Henderson stands completely naked in front of a full length locker room mirror and says, "Ricky’s the best," for several minutes."
by VORP is too nerdy on Dec 20, 2008 7:46 PM PST reply actions
I would be if I were him
I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal
I certainly wouldn't blame him if he were....
but what I find classy is the fact that he thought enough of Blez and AN to respond quickly. It’s very complimentary in my opinion. We may not be all that much, but at least he cares what we think.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
Well the poll results certainly don't portend any confidence in Lew
"Not in your wildest alcoholic nightmare would you ever imagine such events unfolding!" Bill King
by Buck Turgidson on Dec 20, 2008 11:44 PM PST reply actions
Unca Teflon Lew
Monkeyball’s shyte 
don’t stck on his wall.
The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus
This is one of your best pieces ever!!!
But when they start scheming us the way these guys did, and we weren't particularly ready for it, anything can happen."
by Raymond St. Martin (Saint) on Dec 21, 2008 4:13 PM PST reply actions
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