http://www.aminews.com/news/

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OK, YOU CAN CALL LES NOW: The “insiders” were wrong. A group that included American Skiing Company founder Les Otten was successful in landing the Boston Red Sox. The group is led by Florida Marlins owner John Henry (who is selling that team) and Hollywood TV mogul Tom Werner (Third Rock From The Sun). Most expected the Yawkey Trust to sell the team to Cablevision’s Charles Dolan. Speculation is that deal could have had problems getting approved by MLB. Dolan’s brother owns the Cleveland Indians, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is hardly a Cablevision fan. The group paid $660 million for the team, about double what a Texas Rangers shortstop was worth last year. Call Les and tell him you are a skier. It might get you into his suite.
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I'm sure there's much more info available on this.

This doesn't seem right to me. I'm not sure you should not be allowed to bid on one team when you already OWN another one. The Marlins' owner wants to buy the Red Sox, and the Expos' owner allegedly will buy the Marlins (which doesn't make much sense--both franchises want/need new stadiums, so isn't he going from one bad situation to another?).

Did MLB politics interfere with the selection process? The Massachusetts A.G. is concerned, and the Red Sox organization has refused to provide the documents he has requested. It looks like the Yawkey Trust's charitable beneficiaries are being sold down the river. Dan Shaughnessy said it in a great column last week: "Shame on John Harrington." What a disappointment.

rsb - I know it's an over-simplistic question, but wasn't Harrington's overriding fiduciary duty to maximize the sale price (in order to turn over the maximum amount of $$$ to the Trust)? Or is the sentiment that the Bud Fright back-door deal will NOT accomplish that goal?

BTW, I once went to Durgin Park and was given a dressing down by a drill sergeant disguised as a waitress - my offense? Trying to order iced tea in October!! (great lobster, though)....

That's right Wurm, the A.G.'s interest is in seeing to it that "the charities get all the money they're entitled to from the sale of the Yawkey Trust's controlling interest in the Red Sox." The question is whether maximum value to the beneficiaries necessarily means maximum sale price, because in fact the selected bid was the lowest offer, by some $50m. Dum-da-dum-dum

BTW, if you go to Durgin Park, the assumption is that you deserve a dressing-down. It's a tired schtick, though... Gee, that brings us right back to His Toadness!



PS- Not to go off topic, but there's this other John Harrington... I don't know a thing about hockey, but WOOF!

[ December 28, 2001: Message edited by: redsoxbreath ]