Interesting. According to a lawsuit filed Monday in the Dallas area, the former owner of the Texas Rangers, Tom Hicks, is being sued by the team's post-bankruptcy administrator.
According to a story in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the suit charges Hicks with misdirecting at least $30.5 million from the team to Hicks's real-estate business.
This all has something to do with Hicks purchasing parking lots next to his former team's stadium in Arlington and a lot next to Cowboys stadium. That purchase apparently caused the team to not pay some deferred compensation for players, which they are required to do.
It's a bit confusing, so read the original story RIGHT HERE
For his part, Hicks denies the charges and says they look forward to challenging the allegations in court. ((Note- We are guessing that's the lawyers talking. Right or wrong, they make money if this gets to a courtroom))
As many of you know, Hicks has had some money issues and those problems forced the Rangers into bankruptcy just over a year ago. The team was bought at a bankruptcy auction, which apparently took care of most of his debts.
Strange but true, stories like this never end well. And really, it is just a chance for rich people and rich lawyers to make even more money off of each other.
This is one of the more sad stories in baseball in a very long time. We first reported last night about a fan falling some 20-feet to his death from the railing in left field at Thursday nights Texas Rangers game in while trying to get a tossed baseball for his son.
That fan has been identified.
He's 39-year old Shannon Stone, a firefighter from Brownwood, Texas. According to the Arlington, Texas fire department, Stone passed away after going into full-cardiac arrest while being transported to the hospital.
The accident happened halfway through the 2nd inning of the Rangers home game against the Oakland. Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton picked up a foul ball that had been hit his way and decided to toss it into the stands in the direction of Stone. Knowing Hamilton, he was probably trying to make sure Stone's son, standing right next to him, got a ball.
Stone fell, some 20-feet.
The Fort-Worth Star-Telegram picks up the story RIGHT HERE
The Rangers, Hamilton in particular according to several reports are absolutely distraught over what happened. As were several relief pitchers for the A's stationed in the left-field bullpen, who saw the whole thing.
This is going to be a tough incident to investigate. Yes, we reported last night that it comes almost exactly one year after a similar accident injured a fan. But this is something that will be very hard to regulate.
Sure, it illustrates that fans should not reach over the railing for anything during a game, but how to you stop that?
Ballpark officials, the Rangers and others continue investigating what and how this could happen, we'll bring you more when that happens.
Almost a year to the day that a fan fell 30 feet and suffered a fractured skull and a broken ankle, another fan fan falls at the Ballpark at Arlington.
The man fell after reaching to get a ball that was tossed into the stands by Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton.
There is a gap between the 14-foot-high wall and front row of seats, and eyewitnesses say the fan hit a metal crossbeam on his way down.
There is no immediate word on the man's condition or his identification at present.
"I tried to grab him, but I couldn't," said Ronnie Hargis, a 50-year-old from Hawley, Texas, who was sitting beside the falling fan. "I tried to slow him down a little bit. He went straight down."
Hargis said he was chatting with the fan earlier in the game and that he was a firefighter from Brownwood, but didn't know his name.
For those of you who play fantasy baseball, some of you may have picked up Mitch Moreland for a late-round flyer...
He has had his moments of success, but has proven to be more of a bench guy in his rookie year... but with him sitting today, the HQ found out something that never played into draft status...
Moreland won't start Sunday's game against Twins lefty Francisco Liriano, the Rangers official site reports.
Spin:With the news Sunday that C/1B/Italian Mike Napoli has been added to the DL, it's possible that Moreland will get a start or two more against lefties than he otherwise would have. Sunday, however, is not that kind of day.
But what if Napoli isn't Italian...? Would that make an impact on whether or not he gets started over at ESPN.com...???
A tip of the hat to the Texas Rangers for this one. The Rangers showed that they are a classy and thoughtful organization Wednesday by doing something nice. They spent their 33rd round pick in the Major League Baseball draft on paralyzed University of Georgia outfielder Jonathan Taylor.
You'll recall Taylor was injured in a brutal collision with a teammate in March trying to get to a fly ball. He's spent most of his time since then in an Athens, Georgia hospital recovering and rehabilitating from that injury.
Said Rangers Director of Amateur scouting Kip Fagg, "It was something we felt was right". Yes, sir, it was.
Taylor and his family still need help paying his medical bills. If it is something you'd like to help with, you can make a donation to the Jonathan Taylor fund.
After OKC, it was the Metroplex last night... we even went as far as, inadvertently, waking up one of the posse in Dallas not knowing he was working morning shift...
The game at the Ballpark at Arlington was pushed back three-and-a-half hours because of the weather action in the area...
Whenever you sit in the lower section at a baseball game there is a warning posted "Please pay attention to the game, foul balls can enter this area" or something like that.
Apparently, former president and former owner of the Texas Rangers George W. Bush has people that worry about that for him.
Last night in a game against the Chicago White Sox, Rangers 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre hits a high, foul ball right toward W's box. It pretty much headed right toward him, along with White Sox catcher A.J Pierzynski who was trying to catch it.
A.J didn't get to the ball, it was out of play, but in landed in the back of his box. Pierzynski couldn't resist the chance to chat up the former prez.
Sometimes, everything just rolls your way. We don't recall any situations recently like the one facing former San Francisco Giant and current Texas Ranger catcher Bengie Molina.
If you aren't sure what we are talking about, think about the previous sentence. If you still don't know, well, that means Molina played for both of your World Series teams this year.
In fact, he played long enough for the Giants that should they win....you guessed it, he'd get a World Series ring.
Conversely, if the Rangers win...well, Bengie still will be getting a World Series ring.
Read more from this story courtesy of NESN.com RIGHT HERE
Molina story non-withstanding, we are actually looking forward to this years series. First off, none of the "Unlimited Budget" teams are playing in it. That unto itself, reinforces what we feel strongly about....that money can't always buy you happiness, or a title. There is something to be said for having a good team...with guys in it for the team rather than the money.
It seems baseball fever has taken hold in Dallas/Ft. Worth, in October. Since the Dallas Cowboys are not very good (I'm keeping it clean too.) D/FW is jumping on the Texas Rangers bandwagon.
Tuesday night the Rangers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-1 in game five of their ALDS series and are moving on to the ALCS for the first time ever. Oh by the way the Rangers will play the New York Yankees.
The Rangers will have home field advantage in the ALCS but judging from their ALDS series with Tampa Bay that doesn't mean jack.
Here some locker room celebration and sound from the Rangers. (Thanks WFAA-TV)
Ranger manager Ron Washington takes a beer shower and other alchohic beverages. (Thanks WFAA)
You don't see Josh Hamilton in the locker room celebrating with his teammates when the alcohol was flowing. For years Hamilton has battled substance abuse and alcohol issues. When Hamilton entered the clubhouse his Ranger teammates doused him with ginger ale and soft drinks.
"It says a lot about my teammates," Hamilton told the Dallas Morning News, "them understanding the sensitivity of my situation and not wanting to send the wrong message to other people out there."
Two groups are vying for control of the Texas Rangers in a Dallas bankruptcy court: one headed by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban with Houston businessman Jim Crane as a partner, and the other currently running the team with Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg.
There was talk that FoxSports would be interested in the Rangers and the Dallas Stars, but it didn't materialize by the deadline.
Ryan's team questioned Wednesday morning whether Cuban's bid was qualified. The judge in the case decided it was.
The amount of the Cuban-Crane bid exceeded the Ryan/Greenberg bid by US$25-million, but the folks at MLB are wanting the Ryan/Greenberg bid to be the one they choose.
MLB has even threatened to dissolve the franchise if they don't get their way.
1820 UPDATE: Ryan/Greenberg is reviewing the Cuban/Crane bid... 1845 UPDATE: Ryan/Greenberg, after reviewing the Cuban/Crane bid, came back with a US$320M bid in cash. Cuban/Crane responded with a US$335M bid. The debtors are in the process of reviewing the proposals until 1915EDT
PM UPDATE: The Chief Restructuring Officer, the judge, and the two parties dickered for most of the evening over the bids. Cuban/Crane even went as far as bumping their bid up another $US20M to US$355M. The Ryan/Greenberg group went on record as saying that the auction process wasn't an auction anymore... as evidenced by this piece that comes from our friends at WFAA-TV in Dallas... Chris Hawes was outside the courtroom...
0039 EDT UPDATE: The Cuban/Crane bid went up to US$356M cash. Ryan/Greenberg, as the next step, went up to US$365M and want to eliminate the escrow portion of their bid.
0110 UPDATE: The Cuban/Crane bid went up to US$390M while cutting US$12M in escrow. The minimum bid had to be US$388M from Cuban/Crane to continue.
0145 UPDATE: The Cuban/Crane bid gave the team to Rangers' Express (Ryan/Greenberg). There was a standing ovation in the court when this was announced. Ryan/Greenberg get the Rangers for US$385M in cash plus assumed debt in the neighborhood of US$200M.
The courtroom was, somewhat, in shock when the decision to pull the plug was given by Cuban/Crane. Jim Crane did not hang around the courtroom long after the decision was announced. Mark Cuban did hang around the courtroom to answer questions for the Metroplex media. Chuck Greenberg was left to shake hands in the room.
Texas Rangers right-hander Dustin Nippert left the field under his own power after being hit in the head by line drive off the Detroit Tigers' Austin Jackson.
The Rangers announced that Nippert appears to be OK but he is being taken to a local hospital for precautionary X-rays.
Jackson’s shot up the middle appeared to hit Nippert above the right ear and ricocheted into left field.
Nippert quickly was able to sit up, and after being examined by trainers, he walked off the field.
Here's the play... in real time... ((HT: MLB/FS Rangers/tball275))
Your Tuesday morning update: per Fanhouse.com
Nippert was examined at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. A CAT scan was negative and the Rangers say that Nippert will be listed as day-to-day on the injury report.
The HQ thinks this is a dangerous game that Major League Baseball is playing with the courts these days where the sale of the Texas Rangers is concerned.
We all know Tom Hicks was hemorrhaging money and wanted to sell. His losses in the soccer world in Liverpool and with the Dallas Stars forced him, like any other smart businessman, to want to restructure his debt load...
Of US$525-million... after he defaulted on those loans...
Here was the story at the time of the default, thanks to our friends at MyFoxDFW James Rose was outside for the story in April...
So, then the Rangers go up for auction... and the team files for bankruptcy protection back in May.
The group led by Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg agree to a purchase price not once, but twice, and the plan for Hicks was to make sure that his liability was capped at $75-million dollars. That idea, in June, surely, annoyed all Hicks' creditors who feel they're owed closer to US$450-million.
Major League Baseball went even as far as to float a US$40-million loan so the team could make its 2010 expenses- which include paying Cliff Lee.
The whole process is now heading for an August 4th auction, and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is seen as a possible competitor for Ryan/Greenberg, who have sued Hicks for negotiating behind their back for a better bid.
MyFoxDFW caught up with Dallas attorney Clint David...
And now JP Morgan has jumped in to sue the team for transferring its lease- a violation of loan agreements.
There is a better bid on the table, fully financed, from Houston businessman Jim Crane, but Selig wants nothing to do with the Crane dollars.
And the Commissioner has made it publicly clear he wants the Ryan/Greenberg group and no one else... How far...???
Get this, from the New York Times article:
Selig has blocked Hicks from seeking higher bids, and he has threatened to invoke the “best interests of baseball” clause to accelerate the sale. When Hicks voiced doubts in April about whether lenders would approve the Ryan-Greenberg offer, baseball officials issued a statement later that day affirming that it was running the sale and that Selig would deal “appropriately” with interference from Hicks or anyone else.
One of Selig’s lawyers vowed profanely in a conference call that if the judge did not approve the team’s prepackaged bankruptcy plan, which would have sped approval of the Greenberg-Ryan bid, M.L.B. would terminate the franchise, according to a person on the call.
Selig thinks that he can choose the owners- regardless of financial status or solvency... and ignore the court system...???
What do you think the US Government has to say about that idea...??? Just axin'...
TUESDAY UPDATE: A court-appointed official says the August 4th auction should be delayed.
The restructuring officer, William K. Snyder, testified that potential buyers probably wouldn't be able to secure financing by that time. Interested bidders have to come up with at least $500 million.
Snyder suggested that a mediator pick the date after talking to all potential bidders.
The bidding procedures set the Greenberg-Ryan group's offer as the opening bid, but their financing guarantee is set to expire August 12th.
So, if the auction is set past the 12th, Ryan/Greenberg may be out on their ass. That could set in motion the Selig gambit mentioned above, a messy court battle with Hicks' creditors, and a messy court battle with the winner of the auction.
They're not happy with how, essentially, Tom Hicks was still negotiating with other groups after the Greenberg/Ryan group was approved by bankruptcy courts as the one who was going to purchase the club.
Apparently, and rightfully so if true, they're bent at court-appointed Chief Restructuring Officer William K. Snyder who took the bankruptcy case over while bankruptcy court judge D. Michael Lynn was on vacation. Snyder went on to recommend opening up the process to new bids all over again. But, Lynn did come back to rule last week that he intends for the case to be all figured out by July 22nd.
Greenberg and Ryan feel Hicks and the Rangers are in breach of the deal and seek to stop all their alleged shenanigans.
Multiple sources are reporting that the Seattle Mariners have traded starting pitcher Cliff Lee and reliever Mark Lowe to the Texas Rangers for first baseman Justin Smoak and three others.
This flew in the face of every other report that had the Mariners other-ace heading to the Yankees as a done deal...
Earlier in the day in the New York Post, the Yankees were planning on sending prized catching prospect Jesus Montero to Seattle as part of a package deal.
Other teams reportedly interested in the 31-year-old veteran were the Mets and Twins.
A 6PM eastern presser had been scheduled and the Rangers clubhouse was closed to reporters and other non-Rangers personnel.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has the deal as: RHP Blake Beavan, OF Matthew Lawson, reliever Cory Lueke, and Justin Smoak for Lee, reliever Mark Lowe, and cash to cover Lee's salary since the Rangers are in bankruptcy proceedings at present.
SI's Jon Heyman adds that Chris Davis is being called up to the big club for Texas.
Here's a little bit of the press conference explaining the trade with the front office and Rangers Manager Ron Washington ((HT: KTVT-TV Dallas))
Here's what Mariners fans are missing with the trade ((HT: MLB/Seattle Mariners/sporto10101010))
A male spectator fell from the second deck onto field level seats while leaning to catch a foul ball at The Rangers Ballpark at Arlington during the fifth inning of tonight's game between the Cleveland Indians and the Rangers.
Texas' Nelson Cruz fouled a ball into the first row of seats in the club level along the first-base line, and the fan attempted to catch the ball before losing his balance and falling about 30 feet onto the seats below.
The fan was strapped to a stretcher and taken to a hospital. The game was stopped for a total of sixteen minutes.
Here's the game video, shot through a television at home... Watch the reaction from the home plate umpire... ((HT: MLB/FS Rangers/bowlinja))
2225 UPDATE: The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the fan was responsive and able to move all extremities when emergency personnel reached him. He was transported to John Peter Smith Hospital for further treatment.
Four other fans were injured when the fan fell upon them. They are all being treated at the Ballpark.
2245 UPDATE: The fan is said to be in stable condition at present...
2320 UPDATE: The game just gets more and more weird...
In the seventh, a homer is hit to the grassy knoll in centerfield... An older dude just crushes a kid into the wire fencing at the wall so HE can get the ball for himself...
((HT: Brooks))
Tim McMahon from ESPNDallas.com later Tweeted the old guy eventually gave the kid the ball...
Swell move there... and did you hear Josh Lewin say who hit the homer...? Yup... Nelson Cruz...
2325 UPDATE: One of the first persons to come to the man's aid was Derek Dilday, an off-duty paramedic. "He was breathing hard; probably the wind got knocked out of him... No bleeding," Dilday said. "He was trying to move his neck, but I was trying to hold his neck, so movement is good and he seemed OK."
Karen Borta leads CBS11 coverage, thanks from our friends at KTVT... Melissa Newton is at the Ballpark...
Interesting story developing in the Tom Hicks goes bankrupt and tries to sell the Texas Rangers saga.
According to a couple of published reports, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is seriously considering using the powers granted to him (I'm not gonna make the joke!) and seize control of the team which would enable the Rangers to then be sold to a group headed by current team President Nolan Ryan and Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenburg.
((Tom Hicks//Courtesy: Dallas Observer))
The reason for this is somewhat technical. Apparently creditors who want a piece of Hicks; he owes a lot of people a lot of money...about $525 million all told. Hicks wants to sell the team, but can't agree with his creditors on how much money from the sale will go to them.
It's complicated.
For a more detailed explanation, go to the source of the story, the Bizofbaseball.com RIGHT HERE
This one will be interesting. Aside from the NHL taking over the Phoenix Coyotes for this season, there really haven't been a whole lot of precedents for this. The league did for a time exercise this option with the Montreal Expos to help facilitate the sale to Ted Lerner, so that he could move the team to Washington DC back in 2001.
Interesting story today developing around Texas Rangers Manager Ron Washington. Washington, a 57 year old baseball lifer has admitted that he used cocaine during the 2009 season. While we realize the Rangers weren't very good and there is a lot of stress involved with the job, what he did is probably not very good.
Washington made a statement today, NBCDFW.com has it...RIGHT HERE
((Ron Washington's Photo//Courtesy: KDFW.com))
He was tested and showed a positive result sometime shortly after the 2009 All-Star break and hasn't tested positive since. He apparently brought the results to the Rangers and to Major League Baseball. His apology has been accepted though he will continue to be subjected to random testing. It remains to be seen if there will be any punishment from the league.
SI.com's Tom Verducci talks about what this all means. Thanks SI.com:
Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton once again addressed his troubled history with alcohol abuse, after a website published photos of him cavorting with several scantily clad women in a bar last January.
Hamilton created headlines last season with his inspired comeback from the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse to lead the major leagues in RBI and nearly win the Home Run Derby.
The All-Star stood at his locker at Angel Stadium a couple hours before game time Saturday and told about a dozen reporters how much he regretted what happened at a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Prior to this latest episode, Hamilton said he hadn't drank since Oct. 6, 2005.
"I always knew there would be a chance it would come out," said Hamilton, who has three daughters. "I believe I got to the point where if you have alcohol in your system, your inhibitions go out the window. The details don't matter -- what kind of drink it was. It just put me in a bad situation."
Hamilton said he had gone for something to eat when he decided to have a drink. A dozen photos posted on Deadspin.com show the Texas slugger taking shots off the bar, and dancing and hugging several young women. "I'm embarrassed about it for my wife Katie, for my kids and for the organization," Hamilton said. "I'm not perfect. It's an ongoing struggle, and it's real. It's amazing how these things can creep back in. But I am human and I have struggles."
When the Rangers acquired the 28-year-old outfielder from the Cincinnati Reds on Dec. 21, 2007, they were aware of Hamilton's off-the-field problems and came out with a "zero tolerance" policy regarding his drinking.
"If I think I can have one drink, I think I can have two, and then it snowballs to 10or 12," Hamilton said. "As soon as it happened, I called my support staff -- Katie, the organization and MLB -- and told them what happened. I was open and honest about it. People with an addiction can make a mistake."
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels spoke with Hamilton in the clubhouse Saturday before they addressed the media, and said later the tone of their conversation had a different kind of emotion than the one in January because of the time Hamilton's had to think about it.
"I'd hesitate to say it's something we're going to put behind us, but we're not going to allow this to become a distraction the rest of the season and we'll try to move on as best we can," Daniels said.
The Rangers, who entered Saturday trailing the Angels by 3½ games in the AL West, have not discussed punitive measures in case there is a recurrence. But Daniels said Hamilton will not be taking a leave of absence.
"That would be counterproductive," Daniels said. "We knew that going in when we acquired Josh. We know the risks of dealing with someone with substance abuse problems. Ultimately, he's a grown man and he has to make his own decisions. Nobody's here to baby-sit him, but we should help him make the right decisions and help him get through this."
When asked whether he will make a formal apology to his teammates in private, Hamilton said: "More than likely. I don't necessarily know when it would be, but I won't let it linger too long. What I do off the field affects my teammates and the name of this organization. They know who I am and what I want to accomplish."
MyFoxDFW/Fox 4's Peter Daut has the standard fan reaction piece
Admittedly, the editorial staff at OSG HQ was trying to determine the news value of the story and the angle we would take on the whole news item.
Public figure- check... Sports- check... Interesting angle- check...
Decide for yourself what you think about Hamilton as a person and this apparent relapse. Thus the posting. We're leaving the whole personal opinion out of the deal.
