LA Times: Beane Agrees To Contract Extension!!
[EDITOR'S NOTE] - Billy Beane will apparently be with us for quite some time. In a first, glorious move showing his commitment to keeping the Oakland Athletics current regime in place, Lewis Wolff endeared himself to the Oakland fanbase by signing Beane long-term. And no, this isn't an April Fool's joke. I even went through the Times front page just to make sure. It's a great day to be an A's fan. Congrats, Billy, you've certainly earned it. - Blez
I haven't found anything about this anywhere else yet but look what the LA Times is reporting!
Lew Wolff leads the investment group that bought the Oakland Athletics for $180 million this week, but the new ownership has no intention of imitating its American League West rival in Anaheim. Instead, it has invested in General Manager Billy Beane, so heavily that some of the money Beane spends now will be his own.The A's are expected to announce today that Beane has agreed to a contract extension through 2012 and has been granted a share of ownership, a distinction without recent precedent among major league general managers.
By the end of this season, Wolff said, he hopes to secure agreement on the site and a financing plan for a new ballpark in Oakland.
"We're not buying the team to move it," Wolff said.
Wolff, 69, a prominent Los Angeles real estate investor and developer whose companies focus on luxury hotels, is the A's new managing partner. The majority investor is John Fisher, son of Gap founder Donald Fisher. Forbes lists John Fisher's net worth at $1.5 billion -- and Moreno's at $850 million.
That the A's now boast one of baseball's wealthiest ownership groups apparently will have little impact on their moderate payroll, at least until a new ballpark can bring in the bucks. Under Beane, the A's have made four playoff appearances in the last five years, winning more games in that span than any team except the New York Yankees.
"Do we pay $100 million for a player or do we extend Billy's contract?" Wolff said. "We think, if the past is prologue, we're very comfortable. We think we've made the right decision in getting Billy to stay with us long-term, just like you'd like to have a player finish his career with you."
Few stars finish their careers in Oakland. The A's signed third baseman Eric Chavez to a six-year, $66-million contract last spring, but budget-driven departures in recent years have included those of shortstop Miguel Tejada, outfielder Johnny Damon, first baseman Jason Giambi and pitchers Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Keith Foulke.
One Oakland fan website sells "In Beane We Trust" T-shirts, but might fans not prefer that popular players finish their careers with the team, not just the general manager?
0 recs |
105 comments
Comments
you beat me to it
This is exciting news.
by Sharon on Mar 31, 2005 10:43 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Fantastic
by pickinmachine on Mar 31, 2005 10:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Damn LA times!
One Oakland fan website sells "In Beane We Trust" T-shirts, but might fans not prefer that popular players finish their careers with the team, not just the general manager?
It's "In Billy we trust."
Props to BB for become a part owner.
by secret ASian man on Mar 31, 2005 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
totally
Looking forward to fantasy this year. You might have to deal me some of that speed at some point. What part of Fremont do you live in. I grew up in centerville area.
by pickinmachine on Mar 31, 2005 10:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I went to Mission
by secret ASian man on Mar 31, 2005 11:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Let's talk to Wolff...
by FoolshGame22 on Mar 31, 2005 11:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Nothing Wrong with So. Alameda County
Southern Alameda is close enough to the silicon valley and far enough away from whatever stigmata that have been attached to Oakland, that corporate sponsorship wouldn't be an issue for a future stadium. From all I've read about Wolff, he's not one to burn but rather build bridges. Let's hope that somehow the A's time has come to shine and we as fans can finally flick that chip off of our collective shoulders and really enjoy all of the hard work BB et. al. have done to keep our team successful.
by Gerard on Apr 1, 2005 12:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yay for Beane!
Though the comments about not raising payroll but expecting a large jump in revenue makes me raise an eyebrow -- if the words 'raising ticket prices, beer prices and/or parking costs' is associated with this extra revenue, that ain't cool. The comments about a 35,000 seat stadium to "raise demand" gets a similar look. Yeah, it'll be nice to have a stadium small enough that a 25,000 person crowd doesn't get dwarfed, but if demand equals eye-gouging prices... ugh. I don't want BOTH sides of the Bay to price out their fanbase.
If Wolff can attach a few more 'when's instead of 'if's about staying in Oakland, I think I'll be less cranky and cautious. :)
by Kyli on Mar 31, 2005 10:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Final paragraph=scary
One thing that has always been great about the A's is being able to walk up and buy a great seat on gameday.
It seems the A's stock is gaining momentum.
Not the team so much, but the organization as a whole. We love the team, and believe in the team, and baseball pundits have their varying prognostications about the team. But from the "business" standpoint, it seems everybody wants a piece of the action.
I hate to be a "glass is half-empty" kind of guy here, but it seems like our notoriety may be the downfall of what we hold so sacred.
A revolutionary GM and state-of-the-art blog that are fastly becoming world-renowned may change the future like we had never imagined.
by Force on Mar 31, 2005 10:59 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
this sentence
Was one that really made me gasp.
What does he mean If we're going to stay in the Bay Area??????
by Hegenberger Road on Mar 31, 2005 11:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Why did that make you gasp?
by FoolshGame22 on Mar 31, 2005 11:34 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I guess
by Hegenberger Road on Apr 1, 2005 9:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
"if they don't build it...
by Brian in 317 on Apr 1, 2005 2:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
HOORAY!!!
by kvn on Mar 31, 2005 11:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Key Line
A's Brand Radio, Im telling you! KNBR What?
by Zonis on Mar 31, 2005 11:25 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
smart guy
50 million more in annual revenue should be enough to keep a competitive team on the field year after year
by spaceman on Mar 31, 2005 11:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I think you're mistaken
Wolff seems in it solely for the money, as much or perhaps more so than Schott. this may be worse than we thought - we should've been careful what we wished for (new stadium? ha! how about we jack up the prices for you, eh?). :(
by rickeytime on Apr 1, 2005 12:21 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
shew!
This is what they've done so far:
*Sign Billy Beane to an extension and give him part ownership, and
*Focus their attention on a new stadium in Oakland
GREEDY BASTARDS!
by Dog Days on Apr 1, 2005 10:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Seating
1st) More Seats = More Money in Construction Cost
2nd) More Seats means the stadium looks emtpy. Those seats also wont be very profitable after a certain point and they will be pretty far away. Better for the seats to be closer right?
3rd) From a buisness standpoint, on one hand more seats = more tickets to sell, but the problem is, if you know you cant sell that many, you are waisting it. Lower the amount of possible tickets and it increases the demand for tickets. This I guess will mean we'll have a harder time buying tickets the day of the game eh? (Someone put that Peter Mag. quote up about Candlestick)
by Zonis on Mar 31, 2005 11:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Fenway Park
by Colorado Fan on Apr 1, 2005 8:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
They also
by nothinlikethetown on Apr 1, 2005 9:03 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
They also...
We're probably arguing the same point here. I like the idea of an intimate setting. I would assume that they will start doing ticket prices like other teams are doing.
A's vs. Giants, Yankees, Boston, Weekend Games - Ticket prices will be pretty expensive.
A's vs. Devil Rays, Tigers, Blue Jays, White Sox, Weekday Games - Ticket Prices won't be expensive.
A's in Playoffs - Ticket Prices will be very expensive.
by Colorado Fan on Apr 1, 2005 9:11 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Fenway
Its the same thing Al Davis fought so hard for, the Raiders might not sell all the seats, but those boxes are always sold out. Its big business money that needs to be guranteed not the 15 bucks seat with a view of SF.
by rook on Apr 1, 2005 9:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
by rook on Apr 1, 2005 1:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Pittsburgh's new park
by Dog Days on Apr 1, 2005 10:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Pittsburgh is relatively cheap
$14 Bleachers
$20-$27 Field Level
They actually have club level directly behind home plate available for individual game sale.
It's $185 bucks, but how many teams even list that?
by nothinlikethetown on Apr 1, 2005 11:10 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Haha
i did the same thing.
by gotgreen on Apr 1, 2005 12:02 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
What's the deal with the reporter
The other thing that's interesting about this story is the broadcast outlet. How nice would it be to be able to see the team on a regular basis and not have to fight with UPN-31 in Sacramento about their syndication deal with Judge Judy? Ugh.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 1, 2005 12:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Not exactly editorializing
And, yeah, despite the Cult of Billy, it is an obvious question.
by River City Slim on Apr 2, 2005 10:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This is the best news I've heard all day...
by bigthree17 on Apr 1, 2005 12:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
hey bigthree17
by Brian in 317 on Apr 1, 2005 7:36 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
guess
by Brian in 317 on Apr 1, 2005 7:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
nope
The "17" is just a reference to my favorite hoops player of all time...Chris Mullin.
by bigthree17 on Apr 1, 2005 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Big Three
That's nice of you to pay homage to Catfish Hunter, Vida Blue, and Ken Holtzman. ;)
by Catfish27 on Apr 1, 2005 10:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
or...
Loved Chris Mullin too ("run TMC")
by Brian in 317 on Apr 2, 2005 7:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's shaping up to be a joyous, joyous day!
I've felt good about Wolff being our new owner for awhile now, but with this news coming out, I feel REALLY good about him. Regardless of what this writer may believe, Billy is the key component of this team and knowing that he'll be sticking around (and gaining a share of ownership, something that I imagine pleases him immensely) is huge for this team. I've honestly never been too worried about what the future holds with regards to this team, but knowing that Billy will be around, that our new owner very much wants to get a new stadium built in Oakland, AND that our revenue stream may be increasing soon definitely makes me smile and smile wide.
I love this game! But more than that, my God do I love this team!! :)
by Wes7 on Apr 1, 2005 1:26 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hooray!!!!!
This is great news for the A's organization. That means 7 more years with Billy.
by ohad on Apr 1, 2005 4:27 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
great news!!!!!!!!
by bigelephant on Apr 1, 2005 5:11 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
How much is the deal worth?
by OaktownTribesman on Apr 1, 2005 6:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
$100 Million for a player VS. Billy....
by jrwolf on Apr 1, 2005 7:04 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Press Conference
by gotgreen on Apr 1, 2005 8:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Friday at 11 AM
by batgirl on Apr 1, 2005 10:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Winning first
Billy Beane until 2012.
Owner's worth: $1.5 billion.
New stadium in Oakland.
Yankees, there's a new sheriff in town.
by As Man on Apr 1, 2005 8:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Easy
by Colorado Fan on Apr 1, 2005 9:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
that's the beauty
IMHO A's stock went up a fifty percent with this announcement
by As Man on Apr 1, 2005 9:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
a new ballpark in the uptown neighborhood
by kvn on Apr 1, 2005 9:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
CONGRATULATIONS BILLY!
Now you can bring back Depo, Rickey, Foulke, Huddy, Mulder, Bonderman, and Miggy at different points in the next 7 years...
"In Billy we Trust"
by Masaryk on Apr 1, 2005 9:57 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Amazing!!
by BornInOakland on Apr 1, 2005 10:01 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
McWhat?!!?
by McFood on Apr 1, 2005 12:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
seriously
this is awesome news, it's like a big weight has been lifted off my chest.
by JMC on Apr 1, 2005 10:28 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Lew should talk to BB about the park...
by tblazrdude on Apr 1, 2005 10:32 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
2012--best news ever
by wilyc on Apr 1, 2005 10:40 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I'm in LA, and I read the article, too....
The thing that really jumped out at me was the get-this-new-stadium-done-in-a-year-or-bust approach that the Times suggested Wolff is takinkg. That, of course, is the classic precurser to moving a team. ("See, I gave you a shot and you couldn't get it done; I have no choice now but to take the Mongolian dollars and move to Ulan Bator.") I thought it was a profoundly ominous note.
Also, I found it discouraging that Wolff seems to be saying with the Beane signing that he's committed to the Schott/Hoffman financial model, the one in which making a profit using revenue sharing dollars, rather than winning, is the main goal of management.
(To clarify, I'm not saying that Beane and Co. don't want to win; they do. I'm just saying that it's not the top goal.)
I was also discouraged by the notion of a 35,000 seat stadium with expensive tickets; it means a way of life for Oakland fans, a ballpark open to the elderly, poor people, working families, people on fixed incomes, people making a spur-of-the-moment decision to attend, etc., will be a thing of the past. It's one of the things that gives Oakland ballgames an Oakland flavor.
It's less and less clear to me that the A's need a new ballpark to compete financially, or that building one, publicly or privately, is a good idea.
Finally, the more I learn about Fisher, the actually money behind all this, the more discouraged I am. Besides that he's a troglodyte Republican involved in shady first-growth harvesting land deals on the North Coast, he's apparently famous in the various industries in which he partakes for squeezing every last dime he can out of them.
Past is not always prologue; Wolff could turn out to be a Haas-like community benefactor. Or he could simply be in sheep's clothing, the teeth concealed until sometime next winter.
It's no accident, by the way, that Haas is so revered. He is the one, single owner in A's history who could be trusted not to move the team, the one, single owner who made these endless, depressing debates about the A's future pointless. If Wolff can accomplish that, he will take his place with Haas. If he can't, he'll rot with Schott and Hoffman. It's up to him.
by jrbh on Apr 1, 2005 11:24 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
BUZZ KILL ALERT!
by kvn on Apr 1, 2005 11:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
What do you expect?
The revenue issue isn't going to solve itself. It's going to come from a stadium, media contracts, or both. Selig hasn't said it yet, but he and the owners aren't going to allow the A's to continue to be successful while on baseball's equivalent of a welfare check.
It's not only troglodyte Republicans who make deals that don't benefit the public. Kevin McClatchy's a staunch Democrat who doesn't mind charging $50 for an upper deck club seat at PNC. John Henry and Tom Werner are Dems who charge the highest average ticket prices in the league. And the Pulitzer family has put together the most expansive charter seat licensing scheme in baseball history to finance the new Busch.
Fans should be guarded when assessing Wolff. Anyone who thinks he'll be canonized like Haas is setting himself up for a big fall. Trashing him before he's even put out a proposal is irresponsible.
The next 12 months will prove definitively whether or not Oakland can continue to field a team. Not just for 2 or 5 years, but for 20-50.
by vertig0 on Apr 1, 2005 12:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
JRBH Stop...
Our "troglodyte Republican" who happens to own the team now, is a comment that's so disconnected with the reality of this dynamic new ownership, that I think your opinion borders on needing psychoanalysis.
Who cares if he's supported Reagan et. al. Let's reserve judgement for a future date. This is not a day for doom and gloom. This organization is in the hands of very bright people and deserves better than your political misgivings.
by Gerard on Apr 1, 2005 12:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
JRBH
by Colorado Fan on Apr 1, 2005 1:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Thank You
by nothinlikethetown on Apr 1, 2005 1:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
some people can't help it
"If someone continues to bring political beliefs to the site, they may eventually get banned. There are plenty of blogs out there that discuss politics, AN wasn't created for that reason."
by xbhaskarx on Apr 4, 2005 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Make up your mind
"I was also discouraged by the notion of a 35,000 seat stadium with expensive tickets"
JRBH, can you not understand that, if the A's don't somehow come up with a new way of generating some income, the A's will always have to rely on revenue sharing? And that if they're on revenue sharing, they're not going to be competing with the Yankees, the Mariners, in terms of the amount of money they can put into the payroll?
You're always the first to complain about the low payroll yet you honestly don't want the A's to generate more revenue? Do you think we live in 1990? Times have changed, buddy. Don't even mention Haas because even if you account for inflation, the money coming out of his pocket paying for real impact players like Rickey or Eck back then would barely pay for mediocre journeymen like Mark Redman or Arthur Rhodes these days. Can you not see it's impossible for a team to have to rely on modest owner handouts to compete these days? If he were alive, I bet that even Haas would balk at the notion of shelling out $7 million for a guy like Russ Ortiz
From what I gather, you want the A's to be some anachronistic trillionaire's toy, despite the fact that the other 29 teams in the league are all big businesses (or at least trying to be). Well, to that I say "dream on".
by OaktownTribesman on Apr 1, 2005 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
posting this shit pisses me off...
go a's!
by bigelephant on Apr 2, 2005 10:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Prices at Pittsburgh's new park,
by jrbh on Apr 1, 2005 11:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
NOT THE COMPLETE ARTICLE
by jarforcefatherofforce on Apr 1, 2005 11:30 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Hey Jim
Just so everyone knows.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 1, 2005 3:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Press donference on mlb tv right now
BB and Mike Crowley are both part of ownership...
by LongTimeFan on Apr 1, 2005 11:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
ok- conference
says "we can provide everything they need"..
so far, so good...
may be other ways to finance...
by LongTimeFan on Apr 1, 2005 11:36 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Deep 2006 Budget???
by CyZito on Apr 1, 2005 11:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
First off I'm not expecting
I don't see anything wrong with trying to tie a new ballpark in Oakland to a redevelopment area, be it the coliseum area or downtown. (I also would be happy to get the Coliseum back to baseball-only, though I realize that there's currently no way to get rid of the Raiders).
A new ballpark should seat 40,000 minimum, or else it risks being way too expensive a venue for many fans (come to think of it, sounds like the ballpark in SF...)
by OaklandSi on Apr 1, 2005 11:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Such great news
by Cy Hudson on Apr 1, 2005 12:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I would prefer the East Bay
by kvn on Apr 1, 2005 12:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I've got a backyard
giggle
by gigglingone on Apr 1, 2005 12:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Definitely Oakland
Not Fremont or any other East Bay location other than Oakland.
by BillybUcko on Apr 1, 2005 4:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I hear Wolff is considering Alcatraz
by kvn on Apr 1, 2005 1:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Press Release
D
by gotgreen on Apr 1, 2005 2:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Congratulations, Mike & Billy!
Keep the A's in the East Bay!
by Catfish27 on Apr 1, 2005 11:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
This is the line that I love (from Asc. Press)...
"Until we've assured ourselves of greater revenues, we're going to have to continue to manage as we have in the past," Beane said. "There may be one player or one independent decision where it makes a change. Are we going to radically change? No. Are there some things that may change? Yes."
by rook on Apr 1, 2005 2:47 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
thank you, new owners!
i am very happy right now. :)
by gotgreen on Apr 1, 2005 2:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
To me that says
Maybe we sign Zito and Harden long term?
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 1, 2005 3:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
To begin with
Hope we are both right.
by rook on Apr 1, 2005 5:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey, don't want to be a "troglodyte...
I don't have a "glass is empty" approach to the new ownership, but nor is there a "glass is full" approach. I don't know what they're going to do. They might not either. But I don't see anything in them that makes me say, "Hey these guys should be trusted." Do you? If you do, I'd like to see what it is.
by jrbh on Apr 1, 2005 3:22 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
JRBH...please stop the political
There are plenty of other sites out there to go talk politics.
Please. Fisher's political affiliations tell us nothing about what kind of owner Wolff and he are going to be.
You may view them skeptically, others don't. I still like to believe people until they prove otherwise. You're welcome to view them with a cautious eye, and even express that here, but political affiliation shouldn't factor into the equation.
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 1, 2005 3:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Plus, Wolff said he wanted Beane here
by Tyler Bleszinski on Apr 1, 2005 3:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
from the AN FAQ
by xbhaskarx on Apr 4, 2005 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't it great to know that
On a related note, I got my first "Who's Billy?" question today while wearing my AN shirt. You'd be surprised how hard it is for a college freshman in Ohio to explain why the simple mention of the name of a California baseball team's GM can make said college kid giddy, but alas. Some people just don't understand :)
by Tsquared on Apr 1, 2005 4:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I wanna write to Wolff
And making firm statements that he wouldn't move the team to San Jose...
And for wanting to explore keeping the A's in Oakland...
I'm conflicted about having a new stadium and how that would affect my ticket prices and my personal experience at games, but for now I'm going to enjoy all the good news.
by BillybUcko on Apr 1, 2005 4:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Ownership thoughts
But it doesn't matter until the future of the franchise is clarified. I've put up with the team's current state of limbo, and will continue to do so, but it's really a drag.
We don't know much, really, about the new owners. I like what I see thus far, but am too much of a skeptic to be too excited.
by bear88 on Apr 1, 2005 10:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt
by A'sfansince1970 on Apr 1, 2005 11:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
We'll have to agree to disagree, blez
And, honestly, I wouldn't give Jesus himself the benefit of the doubt when it comes to owning the A's. The people who own major league baseball teams have thoroughly and completely trashed any expectation of a benefit of a doubt. I assume they're somewhere in the range from mediocre to malevolent until proven otherwise.
by jrbh on Apr 2, 2005 9:17 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Political leanings don't tell us much
As near as I can tell, Fisher isn't some sort of big political activist. He's got political preferences that don't match up with mine, and has been involved in activities that I don't necessarily endorse. He's a rich guy's kid who has stayed out of the limelight and doesn't want to start talking now. I don't why he wants to own the A's, and I guess we won't be finding out from him.
That doesn't mean he will be a bad owner, and I don't think most A's fans will care a bit about his political preferences. Shoot, I don't really care much either.
But I agree, jrbh, about your skepticism of all MLB owners. Until proven otherwise, I assume they will range from disappointments to scum-sucking bastards.
by bear88 on Apr 2, 2005 6:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I second all skepticism
Locking up BB long-term is a positive action.
Signing Harden long-term was initiated by the old ownership.
As for the rest, it's all words up to this point.
by OaklandSi on Apr 3, 2005 5:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I thought the restaurant
by ArakSOT on Apr 2, 2005 10:35 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
You know, I just went and reread my post...
by jrbh on Apr 2, 2005 1:34 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
If blez wants to ban me for the occasional....
In this particular case, I maintain, and will continue to maintain, that it may well be an important issue for the A's future.
Say, for example, that Fisher gets deeply involved in the first-growth cutting controversy on the north coast, and various environmental groups decide that boycotting the A's, or picketing the Coliseum, is a great way to get press for their cause. In the environmentally sensitive, leftist East Bay, that could have a profound effect on A's attendance, the public perception of the team and the willingness of East Bay politicians to work on a package to keep the team.
by jrbh on Apr 5, 2005 9:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
i wasn't suggesting you be banned, jrbh
personally, i hope you're NOT banned, because i think you'd absolutely love that attention and martyrdom and whatnot.
what else could possibly explain your extreme pessimism regarding the a's on an a's fan site, statement that they will only win 60 games this year, statement that beane should be fired, hatred for the old ownership, and of course now for the new ownership, etc. etc. etc.
by xbhaskarx on Apr 6, 2005 2:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Wow..
by LD on Apr 11, 2005 1:46 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

by 




















