As Reds Owner Marge Schott made her first appearance at
Riverfront Stadium Sunday since relinquishing day-to-day control
of club, immediate changes imposed by interim CEO John Allen were
noticeable. Banners have been hung above the scoreboard
commemorating the '75 and '90 championship teams, and rock-and-
roll was played in the ballpark during batting practice
("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/16). CNN's Tim Kurkjian called the
banners "a good start to show people that this is baseball, this
is not Marge" ("Baseball 96," 6/15). ESPN's Peter Gammons
reported Allen is "not going to have a fire sale," but rather
will promote the team like never before, keep the scouting and
developing budget, not sell off players, fix equipment broken for
over a year, and buy video equipment for the clubhouse. Gammons:
"When Marge comes back in about two and a half years, she'll have
a new stadium and a totally regenerated franchise" ("Baseball
Tonight," 6/16). In his Sunday column in the BOSTON GLOBE,
Gammons notes Allen "has made it clear" to all Reds personnel he
intends to use the 60-day interim period to rebuild the team and
prove to NL President Len Coleman that "he should be the man to
run the Reds." This became possible when Allen "convinced the
other owners to prohibit" Schott from signing the checks," a
last-second change that effectively stripped her power" (BOSTON
GLOBE, 6/16).
ROBINSON INTERESTED: In L.A., Ross Newhan offers former
Orioles Assistant GM Frank Robinson as a candidate to be the new
CEO of the Reds. Robinson said, if asked, he would be
interested. Coleman tells Newhan the search for a new team
leader is "wide open" (L.A. TIMES, 6/16). ESPN's Dick Schaap
said Schott should "begin her baseball comeback right away by
picking a qualified and capable minority executive" to run the
Reds ("Sports Reporters," ESPN, 6/16).
WHAT CAN YOU SAY? The L.A. TIMES' Newhan also notes a
recent phone conversation between Schott and acting MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig, in which Schott complemented Selig on his
integrity and fairness in his treatment of her. Newhan notes
Schott, almost incredulous, added, "I just never thought you were
Jewish." Selig was reportedly "so stunned he couldn't respond"
(L.A. TIMES, 6/16).
FINAL REACTIONS: A WASHINGTON POST editorial says MLB's next
move should be to get Schott to sell her controlling interest
(WASHINGTON POST, 6/15). In San Jose, Ann Killion writes MLB
owners will be "sorry" for not having Schott around because
"baseball might actually have to take a look at its own ugly
shortcomings" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/16).
