Blue Jays Reportedly Want Suns' Rick Welts To Run The Club

Welts Being Considered For Blue Jays Post

Suns President & COO Rick Welts is "being considered to take over the Blue Jays" from interim CEO Paul Beeston, who is leading the search for his permanent replacement, according to sources cited by Jeremy Sandler of the NATIONAL POST. Beeston would not confirm the news, but said, "I think a person like Rick Welts would be the perfect person. But that's all I can say about it." Welts said, "Anybody would be honoured to be considered a candidate. I've known Mr. Beeston a long time and he's a great friend and we talk on occasion. But as far as I'm concerned, I have the best job in the world right now running the Phoenix Suns and I expect I'll be doing that for a long time" (NATIONAL POST, 4/7).

BLACK & BLUE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Jeff Blair writes the Blue Jays are "going to be revenue-challenged this year, particularly if the team performs to its low level of expectations," as the team will be "hurt by the Canadian dollar." Beeston: "Attendance will go down, unless we're a contending team in August or September, in which case we might be able to pull ourselves out. That's due to the challenges of the economy, the perception that we did not improve the team -- which I don't agree with ... but if we play hard and are entertaining, I think we'll bring the fans back." Blair notes the Blue Jays "have had trouble hanging on to corporate sponsors." While Beeston "wouldn't get into specifics," he said, "We've cut down on our advertising, too. We're trying to spend dollars more judiciously" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/7). Meanwhile, in Toronto, Richard Griffin writes the Toronto sports landscape is "open for the Jays," who drew a crowd of 48,027 at Rogers Centre for last night's home opener against the Tigers. Griffin: "The inescapable truth is that pro sports is in dire straits in this town right now. ... The Jays are the only beacon of hope" (TORONTO STAR, 4/7).