MLB officials are "hopeful" they will be able to "convince
or force" Reds Owner Marge Schott to give up her day-to-day
control of the team, according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON
POST. MLB execs do not plan to force Schott to sell her
controlling interest since they believe she would win a lawsuit
by claiming they were "trying to deprive her of her property."
One attorney close to the situation said while MLB officials
would like to remove her from the daily operations, they would
probably have "to settle for something less than that." One
unnamed MLB owner, on acting MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and NL
President Len Coleman: "They're trying to get her out, that's
for sure. ... They don't think they can make her sell, but they
want to get her out before she says anything else stupid."
Coleman sent a letter to Schott "expressing concern about her
operation of the team." Officials expect a response today
(WASHINGTON POST, 5/18). Reds spokersperson Charles Henderson:
"She was invited to submit any response to the National League.
This is not mandatory" (Ronald Blum, AP/DETROIT NEWS, 5/18).
REAX: SI's Tim Kurkjian: "It's an unhealthy franchise as
long as she is there. She is basically running that team into
the ground, and even if she is taken away from the day-to-day
operations, she still owns the team. As long as she owns it,
there's not much that can be changed" ("Baseball 96," CNN, 5/18).
Mike Lupica: "She is as much a threat to baseball's image and
baseball's integrity -- the integrity it has left anyway -- as
someone like Albert Belle" ("The Sports Reporters," ESPN, 5/19).
NEWSDAY's Steve Jacobson writes Schott "doesn't have to sell;
just get her out of the process" (NEWSDAY, 5/19). NEWSDAY's Jon
Heyman wonders if "anyone really believes that additional
sensitivity training will do her any good?" (NEWSDAY, 5/19). In
Chicago, Jerome Holtzman criticizes SI's handling of their cover
story and its heavy use of anonymous quotes. Holtzman: "I will
not be in the lynching party. Also, there is a wonderfully
simple solution. Leave her alone" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/19). In
S.F., Glenn Dickey notes the need is for a Commissioner, calling
Schott "just an irritant" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/20).
