What am I bid for a Major League Baseball team?

Have you ever heard of a Major League Baseball team being auctioned off? I haven’t either. The sale of the Texas Rangers becomes more bizarre as the days wear on in the Texas heat. Like my friend Willie Martin and I were discussing yesterday, baseball is a large game with many smaller games inside that game. So is the sale of the Texas Rangers.

The judge in this case could decide tomorrow on whether the team’s auction will be held as scheduled on Aug. 4 despite objections from major lenders and the ballclub’s court-appointed chief restructuring officer. 

J.P. Morgan Chase, the lead bank for the top lenders, filed a separate lawsuit Friday saying it holds the right to block the transfer of the $2 million a year lease on Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. That move has a chance to stall any sale of the team.

If that weren’t complicated enough, then there’s Mark Cuban throwing his hat in the ring as a possible investor. Why would he do that? Which side is he on? The Greenberg-Ryan side, or is he really wanting to be the owner of the baseball team himself? Interesting.

Major League Baseball wants Greenberg-Ryan as the owners, and the lenders want the chance for other potential investors to be allowed time to raise the ante so their losses won’t be as great. It’s all very confusing. Stay tuned.

The Grand Prairie AirHogs losing streak reaches 13 games – As some of you may know or not know, I have been spending most of the summer going to AirHogs game in Grand Prairie. I’ve been amazed how after it’s all said and done, it’s all a business. Forget trying to know who’s on first because they will probably be gone the next day. It’s just business. And you think it’s easy on the players?

To me, it seems very difficult to know how to cope with a 13 game losing streak, and then I take a step back and watch and listen.

Kids. They don’t care what the record is….Kids can come to Quick Trip park and get autographs! Kids can have fun no matter what the record is.

So there ya have it. From the 1st place Texas Rangers, to the last place Grand Prairie AirHogs, baseball always stands the test of time. We may get older, but baseball stays the same.

When I was a kid in Sweetwater Texas, I could fly like the wind. Center field was my home. It’s where opposing fly balls went to die.

I think back about center field every time I attend a game now. Baseball is the same. It’s me that has changed.

Why are there so many Cubs fans?

So I went to a Rangers game last night and the Chicago Cubs were in town for a 3 game series at the Ballpark in Arlington. This series was getting lots of publicity, a la New York Yankees and I wondered why. I mean, we’re talking the Cubbies right? I wondered what the attraction is/was. Probably the most hard luck sports franchise (besides the Rangers) that has ever put on a baseball uniform. I couldn’t wait to get out t the ballpark to find out what the attraction was.

Ahhhh, now I see. Local fans that are distant Cubs fans maybe? See, I guess I’m sort of old-school. I mean come on, which team do you really support? Can sports fans be fans of multiple teams? I guess it’s possible.

So anyway, I took some additional video of the great night at the ball park. The Rangers won 2-1 by the way, and that made it extra nice.

That hot dog was finger-licking good! As you may or may not know, I’ve been on a limited diet for almost a year, and I’ve finally gotten to where I can eat again. I kind of need to watch it though.

It was a great night of baseball. I love it!

I really hope the Rangers get sold to Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg soon, we Rangers fans deserve a chance at some great baseball.

For Sale: Major League Baseball Team, Owner selling to highest bidder

Here we go again. The on again, off again sale of the Texas Rangers. You might remember back in December that I thought that Major League Baseball needed to repo the Rangers away from Tom Hicks. 

It seems that there have been rumblings about that is about to indeed happen this week , as MLB has quarterly owners meetings this week. MLB needs to do something before the potential owners Greenberg and Nolan Ryan blow the whole thing off.

MLB could seize control of the club, which has been speculated for three weeks now, especially in light of the sources who have told a few national outlets that Tom Hicks’ lenders have rejected the proposed sale. MLB isn’t commenting, nor is Rangers Baseball Express (Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan). Hicks hasn’t been heard from since MLB told him to be quiet April 22. Such silence from involved parties on a sticky subject usually is an indicator that something is about to happen. Commissioner Bud Selig will have something to say this week at the meetings, to the owners and publically.

Someone please rescue the Rangers so some common sense can prevail.

UPDATE: Here is a more detailed look at the proceedings so far.

Wait! We want people to come to north Texas for this?

Our good friend Rick Chandler, over at NBC’s Out of Bounds has a great story about the North Texas Super Bowl Committee and their new video introducing the Host Committee’s Super Bowl XLV extravaganza.

The video is funny, but you can’t help but hope these folks keep their day job.

Now without further ado, here are several “North Texas athletes, mayors, and personalities” singing This Kiss, which is supposed to get you excited for the arrival of Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. This was my reaction.

When you choose a song with an octave range that would challenge any singer, and pair it with a dozen or so of the most tone-deaf people in Texas, the result cannot help but be golden. The video debuted at the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee’s Kick-off Concert Series on Saturday in Fort Worth, headlined by Faith Hill. From the Dallas Morning News:

Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, Pro Football Hall of Famers Roger Staubach and Emmitt Smith and Hockey Hall of Famer Brett Hull join Rangers Michael Young and Ian Kinsler, Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki and Rolando Blackman, Dallas Cowboys Tony Romo and Daryl Johnston, Olympic gold medalist Michael Johnson, broadcaster Pat Summerall and a kinda creepy looking Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones to sing Faith Hill’s “This Kiss.” All I can say is the folks at the Super Bowl XLV Host Committee office are geniuses. Or have pictures of people. You can’t help but smile.

In other news, hell is real. You can’t help but smile.

Requiem for your ears: Texas sports celebs attempt to sing ‘This Kiss’ (Out of Bounds)

Nolan Ryan, Jerry Jones join Dallas athletes to sing ‘This Kiss’ (DMN)

Deal reached for sale of Texas Rangers

There is joy in Arlingtonville tonight.

  Tom Hicks has agreed to sell the Texas Rangers to a group that includes Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan.

The sides announced Saturday night that they had finally reached an agreement, eight days after a 30-day exclusive negotiating window expired. The group is headed by Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg.

“Together, we have worked exhaustively since last month to attain this agreement,” Hicks said in a statement. “It’s a complex business deal that positions the franchise positively for the future.”

I for one have been anxiously awaiting this good news. I hadn’t reported on it much for fear of jinxing the deal, but i can tell you now this is great news for the Ranger team and fans.

In a separate transaction, Ballpark Real Estate, L.P., an independent investment vehicle controlled by Hicks, will sell or transfer to the Greenberg-Ryan group approximately 153 of 195 acres around Rangers Ballpark and Cowboys Stadium that is owned or controlled by Hicks. In return, Hicks will receive cash, notes, and an ownership position in the team.

Deal reached for sale of Rangers to Greenberg-Ryan group (DMN)

Big News. Hicks accepts Greenberg’s bid to buy Rangers

Not so fast!

Nolan Ryan isn’t going anywhere.

Baseball sources have confirmed that Tom Hicks has accepted the bid of Chuck Greenberg, who is partnered with Ryan, to purchase the Texas Rangers.

Tom Hicks announced Tuesday that he will ask Major League Baseball to approve his decision to grant exclusive negotiating rights to Ryan and Pittsburgh lawyer Chuck Greenberg to purchase the financially troubled team.

Hicks’ decision ensures that Ryan will remain as club president and get an ownership stake in the franchise currently owned by Hicks Sports Group.

“Our family has chosen to negotiate with the group we believe will be best to protect and ensure the long-term positive future of this franchise,” Hicks said in a prepared statement.

“I am most appreciative of the fans’ patience and support for the last year. I know it’s been difficult, but this new generation of ownership is 100 percent resolved to excellence and a superior fan experience for the long term.”

That is great news for the Rangers fans. Having this thing move along finaly puts a good position for the Rangers so that there may be some money in the coffers by the trade deadline next summer. New ownership and Nolan staying made this a great day in Rangers history.

Sources: Hicks accepts Greenberg’s bid to buy Rangers (Star Telegram)

Hicks picks Greenberg-Ryan bid for control of Texas Rangers (DMN)

MLB needs to repo the Rangers

It’s no secret Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks is trying to sell the Rangers. I understand times are tough for everyone in this economy. But Hicks’ exit strategy is becoming insane and I believe it’s time for Major League Baseball to step in and take control here. The team has no money. Players are leaving the Rangers as if the entire city of Arlington has the plague.

Marlon Byrd is gone. So is Pudge Rodriguez, Omar Visquel, and they are shopping Kevin Millwood. The 2010 Rangers won’t be quite the same as the 2009 version that did pretty well with the exception of perhaps one more solid pitcher and hitter.