Bert Blyleven, circa 1979. Nice uniform...
This Is Why I Like Mark Cuban
Some of you may have seen the news that the Mavs are about to sign French star Antoine Rigaudeau. He's a 6'7" guy who can dribble and shoot from the perimeter, and is supposedly going to be an asset for the Mavs. I've never heard of the guy, having not watched much international basketball the last few years, but by all accounts this will be a good signing.
Funny, how some teams lament how their hands are tied, and other teams find a way to add the talent. Of course, it all goes back to the owner, and the reason they own a sports franchise. Mark Cuban has laughed in the face of the NBA luxury tax for one reason: he wants to win. Same with Paul Allen, though Cuban clearly has better people running his team. I know people in baseball bitch about George Steinbrenner for his lavish spending, but as a fan, what would you rather have? An owner that you know loves the team as much as you do, and cares about the product on the field from a winning perspective? Or a guy like Red McCombs, owner of the Vikings, who publicly has always said that he views sports as a way to get a return? McCombs: "If I wanted a toy, I'd spend $6 and get one."
When the bottom line really is the bottom line, watching sports becomes a slightly different exercise. I envy Maverick and Yankee fans, and the knowledge that they have that their owners are going to try to field a winner, because they CARE about winning. You don't necessarily have to break the bank to do it; some owners of less means care just as much about winning, but they have to operate within their means. But look at all the teams that are owned by people or corporations with SERIOUS resources that won't add a little extra payroll to improve the team. What do fans of those teams root for, exactly?
Don't get me wrong; it's Red McCombs' or Glen Taylor's or Carl Pohlad's money to do with as they please. But when you hear them bitch about why the fans don't support the team (or a stadium drive), you have to wonder how short-sighted these guys are. Why should we care about your bottom line? You don't care about our team? You help the team, we'll help you.
Mark Cuban helped his team, as did Paul Allen and Steinbrenner. They got new stadiums and cable deals. People love a winner. Businesspeople love a profit. The best franchises make both a reality; the worst bemoan their problems and wonder why they can't get anybody interested, or get a new arena.
Mamby Camby
I see on the ESPN Rumor Central teaser that there are rumors that the Nuggets will deal Marcus Camby. To who? These days, he's barely worth what they were paying him at UMass. Of course, I could pay the fee and become an "insider" and get all the Camby trade rumor dirt...
Nah.
What Must Bert Do?
Well, Pipeline readers, the day will soon come when my passions make their seasonal shift to baseball. Unfortunately, this happens more or less smack-dab in the middle of the NBA season, which seriously ought to consider taking a March sabbatical. I'm not sure how I will handle the transition to our Pastime; I might establish a new newsletter and space on the internet, or I might morph this into a general sports column. Feedback from readers might be helpful...
So, that explains this first baseball note on the BP: What the hell does Bert Blyleven have to do to get elected to the Hall of Fame? I won't go into the numbers, but rest assured that I have studied them carefully, and there just is very little case to be made for keeping him out. Now, I know some people are of a mind to "take back the Hall", and use a more rigid standard for inclusion than has typically been employed, especially by the Veterans Committee. I even have one friend who seriously questioned Eddie Murray's recent induction into the Hall.
I'm not saying there aren't people in the Hall that shouldn't be there; there are at least 20 of them. But Blyleven won a lot of games, had a ton of K's, pitched well for two championship teams and pitched very well in the post-season. And I say this not as a Twins or Blyleven fan of any real passion; my formative baseball years were spent as a Royals fan, and Blyleven KILLED the Royals. The numbers don't lie. What do people have against Bert?
11:48:54 AM 
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