In the wake of Royals Chair David Glass' announcement
that he would submit a bid for the team, competing bidder
Miles Prentice said that Glass "should step down" from his
position with the team during the sale process, according to
Steve Rock of the K.C. STAR. Prentice: "There should be no
doubt at all that the process is untainted. If there's any
doubt at all that there's even a hint of impropriety, then
he should step aside. ... I am quite surprised that he would
not offer to resign." But Glass, who has "recused himself"
from all BOD discussions regarding the team's sale, said
"that's as far as he'll go." Glass: "Under no circumstances
would I consider removing myself from the board. I've
discussed it with the board. I've discussed it with [MLB].
I've discussed it with legal counsel. They're all
comfortable with what I'm doing." Meanwhile, Prentice said
that he would submit another bid for the Royals, although he
"doesn't yet know whether he'll be able to appreciably
improve" on his initial $75M offer. But some investors in
Prentice's group "are predicting success for Glass."
Prentice group investor John Hoffman: "With (Glass) in here,
I don't think there's much of a chance for Miles. ... I
would be pleased to have David Glass as the owner of the
Royals." While Prentice said that Glass' "low-key persona
and matter-of-fact style may have sent the wrong message" to
MLB team owners in his bid for the team, Glass said that he
"absolutely" lobbied for Prentice and that the two "worked
very well together" (K.C. STAR, 11/25).
MILES TO GO? In K.C., Jeffrey Flanagan wrote that if
Prentice "really had Kansas City's best interests in mind,
as he proclaims, he would step aside now and bow out
gracefully. ... Sadly, Prentice is looking more and more
like the business world's version of a stalker" (K.C. STAR,
11/25). Also in K.C., Joe Posnanski, on Prentice: "He's
never going to own the Royals. Never. ... So all he's doing
is muddying the process" (K.C. STAR, 11/26).
GLASS PROFILED: Also in K.C., Steve Rock profiled Glass
and described him as a man "who commands respect among
baseball's owners." Rock: "He's a familiar face and a
proven commodity, a guy who would doggedly fight for small-
market rights and push for change in baseball's inequitable
economic system." Glass: "I would not be the kind of owner
who would fund major losses. There are teams today that are
losing $20 million, $30 million, $40 million. I think
that's irresponsible. ... The goal of the franchise should
be to break even" (K.C. STAR, 11/28).
