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[bishoptl]

Man, a Reggie Jackson-run team is one I might have actually paid attention to. Way to open the door there, Mr. Commissioner...

Reggie Jackson is frustrated that his offer to buy the Oakland Athletics was not accepted even though his group was willing to pay $25 million more than Los Angeles real estate developer Lewis Wolff for the franchise.

"I'm still disappointed. I'm still hung over from it emotionally," Jackson said in a phone interview Thursday night. "I started my career in Oakland, I still own a home there, they just retired my number this past season. It's a special place."

Jackson, who said this was his "fourth or fifth" time trying to buy a team, said his group of four investors began discussions last spring with the commissioner's office about buying the A's but by the time they were given the chance to make an offer in December it was too late. A's co-owner Steve Schott said that the bid came after he and partner Ken Hofmann already had an agreement to sell the team to Wolff, the team's vice president for venue development.

"Reggie told me he'd buy the team for $25 million more. But I don't go chasing the last dollar," Schott said. "I have an obligation to the contract."

The deal with Wolff, which has been reported to be for about $175 million, is on track to be approved by opening day. It will be finalized once the team's lease at the Coliseum is transferred and baseball's owners approve the purchase.

"There will be no hurdles to the transfer," said Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer. That leaves Jackson out. Jackson, who began his Hall of Fame career with the A's and won three World Series titles and an MVP with the team, held frequent talks with commissioner Bud Selig and DuPuy beginning early last year about his desire to get involved with ownership.

"Oakland was a perfect fit," said Brian Shapiro, one of Jackson's three partners who tried to buy the team. "He would have been the best owner baseball ever saw. He would be the first guy who had ever done it on the field and done it on a higher level."

Angels owner Arte Moreno is the only minority to have a controlling stake in a major league team.

 

[Shinobi]

Heh...would love to see how that decision could be justified.

 

[NLB2]

Heh...would love to see how that decision could be justified.

"Reggie told me he'd buy the team for $25 million more. But I don't go chasing the last dollar," Schott said. "I have an obligation to the contract."

.

 

[Diablos]

And reason #82712635 why baseball sucks:

In the year 2150, the Pirates will still suck ass.

 

[DjangoReinhardt]

Heh...would love to see how that decision could be justified.

There was a clause that stipulated Wolff had the option to assume as much control of the team as he wanted:

Wolff was hired as the A's vice president of venue development Nov. 13, 2003, and given an option to buy the club if he could strike a stadium deal. The option has been modified so that Wolff can buy the team outright even without a new facility.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/11/SPG41AOD8L1.DTL

Also, Reggie Jackson's a jackass.

 

[bishoptl]

Spare me the red herring, please. :rolleyes

If being a jackass was a barrier to owning a baseball team, explain to me why the league tolerated Marge Schott's antics for decades.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

HOCKEY'S DEAD!!
dead!
DEAD!!
DEAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!!!!






AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. and marge was alright until she went kablooey witht the whole *i treat my negroes right* bit and loving hitler and whatnot...... you're sadd today arent you bish? it's cool you can vent all you want but remenber this.............












































































BASEBALL IS STILL AROUND.

 

[cubanb]

well wolfe is assosciated with the organization. and his current contract with the a's had a stipulation that if he was able to secure a new stadium for the a's (which was his job with the team, since he was formerly a property developer).... he could then buy the team. Schott decided to let him buy the team anyways. I guess the reasoning is, since he is a well known developer, having developed many sites IN san jose, that he will be able to get a new stadium much easier than other ownership. it still sucks that Jackson couldn't buy it, but I sort of understand the reasoning. i just hope he can move the team to San Jose.

 

[DjangoReinhardt]

Spare me the red herring, please. :rolleyes

If being a jackass was a barrier to owning a baseball team, explain to me why the league tolerated Marge Schott's antics for decades.

Even though I never said that "being a jackass was a barrier to owning a baseball team" and your straw man argument is irrelevant, I'll indulge you:

1. Marge Schott didn't become publicly nuts until she'd been in charge for a number of years so there weren't pre-existing concerns. She came in on a limited basis and assumed greater control over a period of years.

2. Marge Schott was repeatedly punished and ultimately pressured to step down as a direct result of her public antics.

3. The MLB owner fraternity is run by a handful of good ol' boys who don't want anyone to rock the boat.

4. Reggie Jackson has a history of being difficult and outspoken, to say the least.

Selig didn't close the door on Reggie, the binding legal contract did. Your original assumption is categorically false.

 

[kgHavok23]

And reason #82712635 why baseball sucks:

In the year 2150, the Pirates will still suck ass.

#82712636....so will the Cubs

 

[Shinobi]

There was a clause that stipulated Wolff had the option to assume as much control of the team as he wanted:



http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/01/11/SPG41AOD8L1.DTL

Also, Reggie Jackson's a jackass.

Everyone in baseball is a jackass, who gives a shit?

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

Everyone in baseball is a jackass, who gives a shit?

jackson's a bigger one. i think the A's are better off without him.....

 

[Blackace]

No way! Jackson in ownership is just what baseball needs... Any Minorities in ownership is good! Any even Jackson...

 

[Willco]

People who don't know anything about baseball are silly.

... Wolff has essentially held ownership of the team for awhile. Jackson was the jackass here, trying to swoop down while power is being shifted. Doesn't work in a sport filled with chivalry.

 

[Blackace]

People who don't know anything about baseball are silly.

... Wolff has essentially held ownership of the team for awhile. Jackson was the jackass here, trying to swoop down while power is being shifted. Doesn't work in a sport filled with chivalry.

Chivalry? this isn't the fucking 1800s Unlike the good old boys network of owners would like to believe.

 

[Boomer]

They better not be moving to San Jose. They've been in Oakland nearly 40 years.

Reggie Jackson is a jackass.

 

[Blackace]

They better not be moving to San Jose. They've been in Oakland nearly 40 years.

Reggie Jackson is a jackass.

Not disagreeing there... But he would have made a hell of an owner who would have kept them in Oakland for sure

 

[Willco]

Chivalry? this isn't the fucking 1800s Unlike the good old boys network of owners would like to believe.

I was pretty much joking, but Jackson making a bid was a moot point at this time because a deal was already in place with Wolff. I mean, this has been the situation for a long fuckin' time.

 

[Blackace]

I was pretty much joking, but Jackson making a bid was a moot point at this time because a deal was already in place with Wolff. I mean, this has been the situation for a long fuckin' time.

Yeah I know he made a bid too late in the game... but if he wants to keep them in Oakland almost 100% for sure... they should sell to him for the people of Oaktown

 

[Willco]

Yeah I know he made a bid too late in the game... but if he wants to keep them in Oakland almost 100% for sure... they should sell to him for the people of Oaktown

I understand that their current venue sucks for fans, but if the people of Oakland really wanted to support the A's, they'd buy some fucking tickets.

 

[Blackace]

I understand that their current venue sucks for fans, but if the people of Oakland really wanted to support the A's, they'd buy some fucking tickets.

well we had the same situation in Seattle... they are all set to sell the team to some scum bag in fl. then Nintendo's greatest move after the SNES was buying the M's and keeping them there... true we sucked that's why we sell tickets... but the f*cking owner there keeps letting talent go after they groom em...

 

[Willco]

well we had the same situation in Seattle... they are all set to sell the team to some scum bag in fl. then Nintendo's greatest move after the SNES was buying the M's and keeping them there... true we sucked that's why we sell tickets... but the f*cking owner there keeps letting talent go after they groom em...

But the A's are consistently in the playoffs and proven division leaders. They manage to scrap by even when they let a Tejada or McGwire or Giambi go. And the latter seem to do worse away from Oakland, so maybe it's just good management and some fortune.

The point is, for perennial playoff contenders, the attendance for A's games are horrible. The Coliseum is not the best place to play baseball, but if you're going to ask for a new stadium and a bigger payroll, the last thing you (as a fan!) should do is ignore games and not buy tickets.

 

[Blackace]

But the A's are consistently in the playoffs and proven division leaders. They manage to scrap by even when they let a Tejada or McGwire or Giambi go. And the latter seem to do worse away from Oakland, so maybe it's just good management and some fortune.

The point is, for perennial playoff contenders, the attendance for A's games are horrible. The Coliseum is not the best place to play baseball, but if you're going to ask for a new stadium and a bigger payroll, the last thing you (as a fan!) should do is ignore games and not buy tickets.

Well being a M's fan... I don't give a damn about the A's... Just would like some new/different blood in ownership... that's all

 

[Deleted member 1159]

Whoa whoa whoa, GAF's #1 A's fan coming to let you all know how it is. First of all:

A's co-owner Steve Schott said that the bid came after he and partner Ken Hofmann already had an agreement to sell the team to Wolff, the team's vice president for venue development.

"Reggie told me he'd buy the team for $25 million more. But I don't go chasing the last dollar," Schott said. "I have an obligation to the contract."

So that point's moot. Reggie was late.

Secondly, I don't even know if I want Reggie owning the team. I believe Wolff is more capable of striking a deal to get a new park built than anyone. Let's face it, the Coliseum is a piece of crap, and when the Raiders roll into town every September, the field turns into a piece of crap too. It's ugly, it's old, it's junk. Don't get me wrong, that doesn't keep me away from attending, but I understand why a casual fan would rather go see a Giants game. But just know that, even though few A's fans show up, they are some of the better fans in baseball, way better than the Giants fans...

I think Wolff will be better for the A's that Schott-Hofmann or Reggie's group because of the potential for a new stadium. Even if he's a money nazi like Schott, the increased revenue from the new park will at least help the A's compete with the likes of the new high-rollin Angels and M's.

I just hope that once I graduate I'll be able to afford to live in the Bay Area and get season tickets for the A's, wherever they play. Hopefully NOT in Santa Clara.

 

[Diablos]

#82712636....so will the Cubs

I'd bet money that they'll make a comeback looooong before the Pirates do. Hell, the Pirates probably never WILL.