Jim Bowden Resigns

by Zonis on Mar 1, 2009 9:50 AM PST

Jim Bowden's statement, released this morning by the Nats:

I am today resigning my position as Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Washington Nationals. It is an emotional decision that saddens me, but one that I feel is in the best interests of two of the things I love most - baseball and the Washington Nationals.

My resignation is based upon my realization that my ability to properly represent the Washington Nationals has been compromised because of false allegations contained in the press. I am disappointed by the media reports regarding investigations into any of my professional activities. There have been no charges made, and there has been no indication that parties have found any wrongdoing on my part.

Bowden and several of his colleagues have been under investigation for bonus skimming and player age fraud in the last couple years. Combine that with Bowden's less than great reputation as a GM, and rumbling that Ownership was half rooting for something to happen in prelude to firing him, its not surprising that Bowden's resignation came when it did.

Links:
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Comments

wow

being bad at your job and a crook. Maybe he can be a hedge fund manager next.

Off topic, the nationals have such a bad name. I was rooting for the greys.

by Future Ed on Mar 1, 2009 9:56 AM PST reply actions

I don't think it's fair to call him a crook at this moment

I do, however, think it’s fair to call him an unsuccessful GM.

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

by Nico on Mar 1, 2009 10:33 AM PST up reply actions

yes, you are right.

I wonder if that kind of thing goes on a lot more than we think. I remember reading about the dominican “agents” or “scouts” that skim from the kids. I bet with the tightening of belts all over the economy, audits are going to find more shady if not illegal dealings. I hope we hear about some of them.

by Future Ed on Mar 1, 2009 11:15 AM PST up reply actions

I think it's pretty fair considering how much he's qualifying and hedging his denial

There have been no charges made, and there has been no indication that parties have found any wrongdoing on my part.

That’s a long, long way from “I absolutely had nothing to do with this scandal.” That sounds a lot more like the word “yet” should be at the end of the sentence.

by thejd44 on Mar 1, 2009 11:22 AM PST up reply actions

True, and resigning is not the best way to convince people

you did nothing wrong.

However, the “yet” IS important. Post “yet,” let’s call him a big old crook. But right now, he’s not even charged with anything, let alone convicted. Right now, he’s just a bad GM whose innocence is most buoyed by the fact that he has not YET been proven guilty of anything.

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

by Nico on Mar 1, 2009 11:33 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not saying he's guilty, but I think it's fair to put him under the microscope

Personally, I don’t really care about the whole situation. I think he’s a terrible GM and the Nationals are better off with somebody better at that job running things.

by thejd44 on Mar 1, 2009 6:52 PM PST up reply actions

I think it's fair to put him under the microscope too

But that’s different from saying, “he’s a crook” – which is all I objected to. He’s a future crook.

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

by Nico on Mar 1, 2009 7:00 PM PST up reply actions

I call Barry Bonds a steroid user...

although, and by implication, a perjurer. Am I wrong in doing so? When he hasn’t even been convicted. And, from the looks of it, probably won’t be.

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 1, 2009 10:10 PM PST up reply actions

ooops...

don’t know where that “although” came from… extraneous thought process.

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 1, 2009 10:11 PM PST up reply actions

Yes, you're wrong now

You may well be right later, or in the eyes of the all-knowing, but right now he’s “an alleged…”

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

by Nico on Mar 2, 2009 9:49 PM PST up reply actions

ahhh...

so, one is only guilty if convicted… found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. And, those that sling arrows are “wrong.” Because they haven’t been convicted? So, O.J. isn’t a murderer because he has never been convicted? Madoff isn’t a swindler because he hasn’t been convicted? Hitler wasn’t a war criminal because he was never convicted? I understand why I’m wrong now. Thanks.

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 3, 2009 2:57 AM PST up reply actions

O.J. was convicted in the civil trial,

Madoff isn’t a “convicted swindler” yet, and I think history sees Hitler as a war criminal with or without trial. Just as history may see Bowden as a felon. Right now, we don’t know if he is guilty, or taking the fall for others. Time will tell.

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

by Nico on Mar 3, 2009 8:08 AM PST up reply actions

well, I hate to pick a nit...

but, O.J. wasn’t “convicted” of murder in the civil trial. He was found liable for willfully and wrongfully causing the death of Ronald Goldman and committing battery with malice and oppression against Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson. And, it was by a preponderance of the evidence, not beyond a reasonable doubt.

Nevertheless, I still call him a murderer.

Clowns to the left of me... Jokers to the right...

by FoolshGame22 on Mar 6, 2009 10:17 PM PST up reply actions

Good point, but...

…it’s not uncommon for somebody high up to take the fall when the shit hits the fan… even if they didn’t have anything directly or indirectly to do with it.

I could prove God statistically. Take the human body alone - the chances that all the functions of an individual would just happen is a statistical monstrosity.
~George Gallup

by UncleLeo on Mar 1, 2009 3:16 PM PST up reply actions

Or to be disgusted by being villified

and just want to get out. Heck, I’ve been there (in my “real life,” not on AN).

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

by Nico on Mar 1, 2009 3:40 PM PST up reply actions