AJC > Sports > Braves > Blog > Archives > 2005 > December > 14 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBlank interested; Marcus is not
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Home Depot co-founders Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus had differing reactions to news that the Atlanta Braves might be put up for sale: Blank’s interested in owning a baseball team, Marcus is not.
Tuesday night, Arthur Blank’s spokeswoman said the Falcons’ owner might be interested in purchasing the Braves. Today Blank’s office reiterated that through a statement:
“We are aware that the Atlanta Braves may be available for purchase, and we have been informed of this potential opportunity. As with all other potential investments, we will review any information provided when we receive it and give this opportunity consideration as warranted.
“It is inappropriate to comment beyond this, and it is premature to speculate about whether anything will develop.”
A short time later, a spokeswoman for Marcus said he wasn’t interested in owning a baseball team. Marcus recently spent $250 million of his Home Depot fortune to build the $290 million Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta. He has also pumped millions into the Marcus Institute, which treats children with behavioral disorders like autism.
“His main focuses are the Georgia Aquarium and the Marcus Institute and his other charitable causes,” said spokeswoman Donna Fleishman. “He said long ago that owning a professional sports team is nothing he would be interested in.”
AJC reporters are trying to contact other potential buyers for the team today.
Meanwhile, some Braves players also gave their reaction.
Pitcher Tim Hudson, who has a four-year, $47-million deal through 2009 with the team, took the rumors in stride.
“”I’ve heard all these rumors and to be honest, I don’t think two cents’ [worth] about it. Because I know whoever owns the team, with those guys running the ship [Bobby Cox and John Schuerholz] this team is going to be fine. The only thing that would change would be maybe the budget they’d be dealing with. But it can’t get any better than having those two running the show.
“As a player we don’t worry about that [possible sale]. If the headlines were ‘Bobby Cox is gone and Schuerholz is retiring,’ that’s when you’d see panic buttons being pushed around the locker room.”
Hudson said most players don’t care about ownership issues, as long as there is a solid financial commitment to the team.
“For the guys who are committed with the team for a few years out, obviously you want to know where your teammates are going to be, and know whether we’re going to be able to keep the guys who are going to be free agents pretty soon, that kind of thing,” said Hudson.
“Andruw [Jones is] coming up in a couple of years [free agency], and those are just things he’ll have to handle when gets to that time. It’s not easy, hopefully he’ll have the necessary resources to keep these guys around and keep winning.
“Personally, I want to have the best team out there we can possibly have, but I understand it’s a business and there’s always budgets to work with. But [Schuerholz] has done a good job dealing with all that. You can’t argue with his track record.
“As players, you’re not necessarily wanting the budget to go higher just because you want more money. You want it to go higher because you want better players on your team, to be able to go out and sign high-quality free agents, that kind of thing. But at same time you understand it is a business and there’s budgets.”
Andruw Jones was on his way to the gym for a workout when he was contacted by the AJC.
“I didn’t know anything about it [team being for sale] until a guy told me last night,” said Jones, who is coming off his best season as a major leaguer. He agreed with Hudson that ownership specifics aren’t a concern to most players.
“Not really. Sure, you want somebody that’s willing to spend some money and get some good players. And after that, it’s just up to the players to go out and do the job.”
It was pointed out to Jones that a change in ownership could affect his upcoming contract issues with the team. His current deal expires after the 2007 season.
“That’s true, but I don’t think that far ahead. But sure, that might affect it. A new owner might spend a lot of money, or you might get an owner that might decide to cut all the payroll and go even lower, like the Marlins.”
Jones’ other thoughts on a potential sale of the Braves:
“When AOL bought the team, they cut the team budget, and you see what happened — we had a lot of guys [free agents, trades] go away. We got younger. We have a couple of older players like me and Chipper. Now the team is for sale.
“Hopefully somebody with money will buy it, and be willing to put a really good team together. We’ve still got a good team, with good young guys who can get the job done. But you always need some guys with experience to get to the promised land.”
Permalink | Comments (41) | Categories: Braves sale
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By jack
December 14, 2005 01:53 PM | Link to this
Be glad to be shed of those AOL Time Warner tightwads!!!
By Penn
December 14, 2005 01:54 PM | Link to this
I see no reason for panic. Rather I see reason for rejoicing. How can it not get better so long as new owners don’t decide they can do a better job than John and Bobby?
And that includes cutting the budget to where it is impossible to function….like the Marlins and Tampa Bay and other teams have done.
I would hate to try to run a major league team today with a budget below $50 million.
Perhaps baseball needs two layers, one for the real majors and one for the Junior Majors. That is the reality of the situation anyway so why not just recognize it? No way are there enough quality players to stock 30 teams no matter how much money is spread around. Even a salary cap won’t solve the talent problem.
By amy
December 14, 2005 02:01 PM | Link to this
Where is Ted Turner? He was never scared to spend money.
By Maz
December 14, 2005 02:10 PM | Link to this
I’m sure glad to see the tightwads wanting to sell a “winning team”… just because their stock price is in the can…. man… tha’s the problem with rich people… all they want is more money.. even a billionaire wants more money… dude, leave the winning to the braves, rid yourself of a minor blemish with a junky stock price, and let someone else come in, and help the team with the type of ‘energy’ they need.. positive.. not negative all the time….
By Reggi
December 14, 2005 02:20 PM | Link to this
Ted Turner does not have the bottomless pit of money he once did, and is not in a position to buy the team back. Perhaps as a partner, but not a controlling interest,.
By Erajh
December 14, 2005 02:30 PM | Link to this
This is the best news I have heard in a long time. AOL - Time Warner is terrible and they are destroying the Braves.
By baseball sucks
December 14, 2005 02:31 PM | Link to this
Tightwads???? Millions and millions to play a childs game and they’re condsidered tightwads? All of that cash for those pansies and they can’t get the job done. Year after year, after year… What planet do you live on?
By Dan
December 14, 2005 02:31 PM | Link to this
I’ve been waiting for this day for years. AOL no longer has the resources for owning an MLB team. I’d really like to see Arthur purchase the team…..he spent over a 100 Mil on Mike…why not do the same with the Braves? Maybe now we’ll be able to afford the closer we’ve been looking for…
By CK
December 14, 2005 02:34 PM | Link to this
Please Ted, buy back the Braves!
By Fish Fan
December 14, 2005 02:35 PM | Link to this
Buy the Marlins! Let the Braves go somewhere else….Start over!
By dylan
December 14, 2005 02:37 PM | Link to this
always good to see someone calling themselves baseball sucks postin gon a baseball blog. Yes we get it you dont understand sports and the money involved but instead of trashing us for being interested why dont you go chat with your buddies over at the home and living sections where you can learn to make a wreath and find out what kind of christmas tree brangelina are buying.
By Jason
December 14, 2005 02:37 PM | Link to this
To “baseball sucks”
Baseball, and for that matter, ANY sport, is not a “child’s game.” That is an EXTREMELY ignorant comment and one that was made without any thinking or, for that matter, intelligence. Baseball and all other sports are enjoyed and played by people of ALL AGES, from 3 to 93. And yes, TimeWarner were HUGE tightwads when it came to the budget. Trust me, I’ve worked for the Braves. It’s sad. And so is your stupid comment.
By C Daddy
December 14, 2005 02:38 PM | Link to this
Let’s temper those expectations of someone like Arthur Blank raining money on players like he did for Mike Vick (whether warranted or not) by the fact that the NFL pools revenues (and also has more TV money) and shares across the board, baseball does not. The economics of owning the Braves will differ, and money will always be an issue for baseball salaries unless you have an owner who likes to spend $$, like George Steinbrenner and few others.
By wildbill
December 14, 2005 02:39 PM | Link to this
The Braves organization will continue to be succwssful as long as it is able to retain its current leadership and philosophy. A single owner might be willing to infuse new money into the team during the stretch drive each year. Being part of a multi-national corporation with investora who are only interested in the value of their stock will not allow for the cash infusion needed every July and August. An owner as Ted Turner or Arthur Blank would willing to spend to retain key playesrs and to spend to add a pitcher or hitter during the season. Time Warner selling the Braves could be a great tning for the team and its fans.
By ATL
December 14, 2005 02:41 PM | Link to this
If the rumors are true and Blank is actually interested in buying the team, that would be a great thing. He has proven in the last couple of years that he is a sports fan and actually wants to win. I don’t know Blanks balance in but he spent about $500 million to purchase the falcons but if he can do it I think that we would finally be able to get over these first round exits. PLEASE BUY my team Arthur.
By TD
December 14, 2005 02:43 PM | Link to this
Christmas could not come soon enough for the Braves if Mr. Blank would buy the team. If money is an issue, here’s a wishful thought: Mr. Blank would buy 60% controlling interest of the team. And for old times sake, Stan Kasten could come in at 30% and Ted Turner in for 10%…Braves fans can only dream.
By Bronx Bomber
December 14, 2005 02:45 PM | Link to this
Whoever the new owner(s)is, he or they, couldn’t spend enough money to buy the Braves an ounce of post season HEART. The players need to become excellent post season closers. Period!!!! Sorry for the negative vibe, but the truth has to be told. And the same goes for the The Yanks!
Go Yankees!
By LeTwan Anthony
December 14, 2005 02:49 PM | Link to this
Somebody take last Saturday’s Marietta Daily Journal down to the AJC and let them read that Arthur has already been in discussions with AOL and nowhere is Bernie mentioned. The AJC won’t pick up on this until it is over with and Chipper has on his new orange apron at 3B.
LeTwan hopes that was a typo instead of a direct quote from Andruw. Makes Chipper sound eloquent. Nah, not really.
By Paul
December 14, 2005 02:51 PM | Link to this
It’s about time that AOL/Time Warner recognized that they need to get back to basics and focus on what they’re really good at: Overcharging for inferior cable and internet service.
As a lifelong Braves fan, I’ve been a witness to the lowest of the lowly teams – and seen some of the best of the best – but Atlanta deserves so much more than a team whose annual budget limits them to being a perennial bridesmaid.
While Schuerholz & Bobby Cox have been miracle workers over these last few years… now we can only hope they find a new owner who possesses love for the game and the enthusiasm of a Ted Turner or George Steinbrenner… [Arthur Blank: Are you reading this?]
By Robert (Justice is the best)
December 14, 2005 02:58 PM | Link to this
Well, it looks like the Yanks are up to their old tricks of throwing money at names instead of making good baseball decisions. Nomar has something left in the tank but 1st base. I realize Giambi is not the greatest defensive 1B but you are going to put in a guy who has never played their. Okay?
By Dave
December 14, 2005 02:59 PM | Link to this
It’s about time!!! Good riddance, Time Warner — you never gave a damn about this team, it was just a holding in the portfolio to you. The only thing that would have made this better would have been the news Time Warner was being stripped and sold for parts, like a car in a chop shop — because that’s what you deserve.
By JS
December 14, 2005 03:02 PM | Link to this
Bronx Bomber, go back to the Bronx. We don’t need your input in this. It does not concern you!
By DawgsR#1
December 14, 2005 03:10 PM | Link to this
I think that it would be great for the Braves to be sold, but being a fan from Ohio I am worried about the possibility that they might cut the Braves off TBS.
By Jim
December 14, 2005 03:11 PM | Link to this
the sooner the sell goes through the better. I do agree that 13 million to Furcal was too high, but 80 million for a bugdet for a champion ship calbier team is too tight
By LeTwan Anthony
December 14, 2005 03:15 PM | Link to this
Forbes values the team alone at $382 million. Too bad the story broke so early. Arthur might have gotten it done without interference. Now, there will be others driving up the price.
By Chop Chop
December 14, 2005 03:17 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t say that an $80 million-dollar payroll is too cheap for a championship-caliber team, but when you hold to that number without allowing yourself the possibility of going over it to improve your team’s chances of winning a World Series, that’s a problem.
Well, let’s just say that fans have a problem with it even if the ownership doesn’t.
By TR
December 14, 2005 03:30 PM | Link to this
Time Warner has slashed the Braves’ payroll, but only because the fan support has dwindled every year. Why would you pump payroll when the fans won’t get behind a perennial division winner? Our attendance figures are awful compared to the other big payroll teams. Attendance has gone down every year since the Ted opened. Without butts in the seats, a new owner won’t be any more willing to spend more on payroll than Time Warner was. I hate the Yankees as much as anyone, but they probably drew twice as many fans as we did, so their payroll is twice as high. But who knows? Maybe someone is willing to lose money for a couple of years to get our house rocking like it was 10 years ago.
By Stephen
December 14, 2005 03:31 PM | Link to this
Come on, Blank put over 100 Million towards Michael Vick. MICHAEL VICK? Hello? I’d be afraid he’d do something similar with the Braves and lock up the payroll (See A-Rod’s tenure with the Texas Rangers).
By Stephen
December 14, 2005 03:31 PM | Link to this
BTW… may I add, Michael Vick sucks and isn’t worth 100 Million. That is all.
By Robert (Justice is the best)
December 14, 2005 03:37 PM | Link to this
And, may I add that if sucky Michael Vick was not on that team it would be at best a .500 team with no direction and a bunch of fans complaing about how aful they are. Yes, Vick needs to mature but I would take him over a lot of guys.
By Robert (Justice is the best)
December 14, 2005 03:38 PM | Link to this
Maybe, it is not Vick who sucks but the no catching receivers that he has to throw to.
By Stephen
December 14, 2005 03:44 PM | Link to this
Perhaps had they not spent 100 million on Michael Vick, they could afford better recievers.
By Bronx Bomber
December 14, 2005 03:47 PM | Link to this
Everyone hates the Yanks, but believe this, the money being spent has as much to do with history and posterity as anything else. No one will give a damn about how much money was spent 20 years from now because the WORLD SERIES RINGS are all that matters. The Braves need a shot of big spending to bring some REAL excitement to A-town. $180 MILLION is a cost that says that The NY Yankees are always a constant contender for the crown. Being eliminated in the first round year after year makes you a constant pretender for the crown. You got your one World Series…Be Happy about it. So what you were smashed by Yanks a year later…Nobody remembers that. We think in terms of sweeps anyway. Mr. Blanks….PLEASE SPEND THE MONEY so that all those Bloggers on the other page can shut up and die happy I am a life long Yankee fan in NY as I write this…I was ready to die at the age of ten.
By Cal
December 14, 2005 03:50 PM | Link to this
FOR SALE: Cheap fish available for aquarium or minor league baseball team. Contact Jeffrey Loria@BR549
WANTED: New Bison Free ownership for the Braves. Ted cant fill the seats in his own hamburger joints! Mr. Blank seems like a man of his word. Hopefully he’ll practice what he’s preached and “do it himself”. Imagine all the new “how to” clinics…hmmm
By Voice of Reason
December 14, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this
BB: When was that, 2000?
By Chop Chop
December 14, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this
TR, the Braves will never be a money-making operation because Atlanta cannot sustain a money-making sports team unless the payroll is kept low. If I had the money to buy a sports team, I wouldn’t be too worried about whether it made a profit or not. I’d want to win big. That’s what fans want from an owner. They want someone (or some group) that is willing to lose money in order to achieve athletic glory. Besides, if the Yankees are losing money despite selling out Yankee Stadium every night AND merchandise sales AND having their own pay cable network, why would anyone ever want to buy a sports team?
The only legitimate (or sane) reason to own a team is because you’re a fan of the sport and you want to be associated with winning championships. It should never be about the bottom line. After all, if the bottom line of your team can really hurt you financially, you shouldn’t have bought it in the first place.
By Chad
December 14, 2005 03:51 PM | Link to this
It would be nice to see the Braves owned by someone who cares about Atlanta.
By Robert (Justice is the best)
December 14, 2005 04:02 PM | Link to this
I agree that it should be a private owner. The problem with conglomerates owning sports teams is that they only buy them for a profit and don’t have the fire and heart to want to see a winner. Blank would bring that just like he has to the Falcons. And yes 100 million is a lot for Vick but Vick has brought a winning attitude to this team. Just imagine if Vick had gone to the Chargers. He and LT in the same backfield. Can you say Super Bowl.
By Robert (Justice is the best)
December 14, 2005 04:06 PM | Link to this
I also must add this about Vick. Did anyone notice that when he did what a “good” quarterback did and styaed in the pocket and threw for a lot of yards that they Falcons lost 3 in a row. Let the man play his game.
By old timer
December 14, 2005 04:06 PM | Link to this
Robert, the Chargers got LT and their current starting QB with the 2 picks they received for the Vick pick.
By josh
December 14, 2005 04:07 PM | Link to this
OH REJOICE PEOPLE REJOICE!!!!! I hope to see an owner’s actual face at the games this season!