# MLB: Selig keeps spouting gibberish
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [May 17, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606 "2002-05-17T19:36:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/1 "2002-05-17T19:36:58Z")
The latest: [6-8 teams are in danger of folding](http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/0517/1383609.html), according to our esteemed Commissioner. One of these teams, it seems, is the Anaheim Angels.
A few comments:
First, as someone said on [this discussion thread](http://www.baseballprimer.com/clutch/archives/00003229.shtml#23):
> [@](#):
>
> By mentioning that the Angels are for sale in that context, is he implying that the Angels are in danger of folding? If so, are we really supposed to believe that? And even if they are, then I have to ask, what can MLB do to stop it? Gosh, the Angels are in the #2 media market in the country, owned by one of the richest companies in the world. If they can’t stick it out, who can? This is absurd. Well, I mean, even more than usual.
Second, to further quote from the Baseball Primer discussion:
> [@](#):
>
> If I was Don Fehr, I’d be holding a press conference right now saying, “OK, Bud–put up or shut up. I’m calling your bluff. If 6 or 8 teams want to declare bankruptcy, let 'em. It might be the best thing that ever happened to the game.”
>
> In a real bankruptcy, as opposed to the charade of “contraction,” a company throws in the towel and its assets are auctioned off to the highest bidders, and the proceeds used to (partially) satisfy the claims of any creditors.
>
> If that happened here, it would open up a whole new world of possibilities for the sport. Cities could buy their franchises (a la Green Bay) and operate them as a public trust. Corporate-raider types could buy low, install creative management, and sell high. Teams could sell stock, “go public,” and be run professionally for a change. Even the union could step in, buy a club or two, and start to share in ownership’s obligations–and get a real idea of whether the contract is “unfair.”
>
> Does anyone not born yesterday believe that if 6-8 teams went through this process, you wouldn’t see a multitude of bidders for the right to compete in this market?
Finally, I’ve not yet found a MLB apologist who is willing to answer the following set of questions:
1. When was the last time that a major league baseball team was sold at a loss?
2. If baseball teams are in such dire financial straits, why are there no shortage of potential purchasers any time a team is put up for sale? More to the point, why are past team owners eager to get back into the ownership biz–see Loria, Harrington, etc.–if it’s such a losing proposition? Hmm?
Anyone?
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2002, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/2 "2002-05-17T20:34:10Z")
The answers to your questions are:
1. The Second World War, and
2. They aren’t in financial dire straits, of course.
Selig’s lying is reaching levels of surrealism even I would never have believed possible. I absolutely cannot fathom how he can spew such ridiculous fictions and keep a straight face. Honest to God, you would have to be retarded to believe the man. Selig is openly blackmailing municipal and state government; he has lied to Congress; he has used a conspirator to destroy one franchise and is now using the same man to destroy another; he lies almost every time he saying anything.
I love baseball, but I’m losing interest in MLB; the owners are, for the first time in 40 years, successfully driving fans away. And we’re at the beginning of that trend; another strike and cancelled World Series would probably drop attendance by 25% and maybe more. The idiocy apparent in this industry is on par with the dumbest corporate strategies in the entire history of industralized nations.
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### Author:  [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2002, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/3 "2002-05-18T00:52:44Z")
Now, despite being a NY teams fan, I’m all for a Minnesota Twins–Montreal Expos World Series. What they gonna call it–The Bankrupt World Series? Anybody with me?
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2002, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/4 "2002-05-18T07:39:39Z")
The Angels are about to be sold. Disney want’s out of baseball. I’m sure they will get top dollar.
The Angels drew more than 2 million fans to the park last year.
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### Author:  [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/5 "2002-05-18T14:03:40Z")
Where are all the MLB apologists? 🙂
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [May 18, 2002, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-selig-keeps-spouting-gibberish/109606/6 "2002-05-18T15:51:20Z")
Someone believes this line?
Admittedly, it can be difficult to feel sympathy for either side in this little upcoming war but I don’t get the feeling that every time he opens his mouth Don Fehr is lying.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s going to paint his side in the best light possible. But he hasn’t actively lied.
Me? I’d love to see the Players agree to the bankruptcy of 6-8 teams. Just to see the hubris taken down a step.
But I’m bitter, that’s all.