In the second part of a two-part piece, Pat Jordan examines
the on- and off-field progress of the Rockies and Marlins in this
week's THE SPORTING NEWS. Jordan writes that while the Rockies
are now enjoying success in the books and in the standings, the
Marlins were originally expected to be the team competing for a
title first. Jordan credits the signings by Rockies GM Bob
Gebhard and record attendance in Denver for the team's success.
However, the Marlins' lack of on-field success has translated
into a drop in attendance and made it necessary for GM Dave
Dombrowski "to tighten his purse string at the same time the
Rockies are loosening theirs." Some of the fan apathy in Miami
may be due to fans "punishing" owner Wayne Huizenga, "one of the
hardest of the hard-line owners" during the strike. In addition,
Jordan blames Huizenga's over-emphasis on marketing. Jordan, on
the signing of Miami-native Andre Dawson: "As a businessman,
Huizenga is determined to make a profit with his team, and if
that means signing a 40-year-old Miami native rather than a 25-
year-old Californian in order to draw fans, then so be it" (TSN,
7/28 issue).
