Bloomberg TV's Michele Steele reported that two execs from rival MLB teams have told her that Dodgers Owner Frank McCourt "losing the Dodgers is a foregone conclusion." The team made payroll today, but if it defaults on payroll in the future, MLB "could seize the team and operate it until it finds a suitable buyer, but that plan is really fraught with potential legal liabilities." Another option is Frank and Jamie McCourt settle their dispute about ownership of the team and "find a viable buyer for the team while the league finances operations" (“Inside Track,” Bloomberg TV, 6/15).
THE BULLY PULPIT: In N.Y., Andy Martino reports the Mets "plan to address bullying," though team sources said that it is unlikely the Mets will work with the It Gets Better campaign as other MLB teams have. A Mets official said, "We had already been looking around trying to find an organization to partner with on the bullying issue. We are interested in inclusiveness. If you target one specific subset, what about the other groups that are bullied?" Several players said that they "would be willing to appear in a video aimed specifically at gay youth" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/15).
TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY: Jaguars Owner Wayne Weaver yesterday reiterated he has "no interest" in moving the team to L.A. AEG President & CEO Tim Leiweke last week mentioned that he had talked to five teams, including the Jaguars, about a move to Farmers Field in downtown L.A. But Weaver said, "I have been consistent in saying I am committed to Jacksonville and have no interest (in moving)." In Jacksonville, Vito Stellino noted the Jaguars "have often been mentioned in the past as a relocation candidate because of their problems selling tickets" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/14).
CALF CRAMPS: On Long Island, Neil Best reported the resale ticket market for Thursday's Rangers-Yankees game "crashed after Derek Jeter suffered a calf injury against the Indians Monday night." Jeter is six hits shy of 3,000, and that was "driving up resale market prices" for Thursday, the Yankees' final game of their current homestand. But FanSnap.com indicated that by early yesterday afternoon, the "average price had been halved to $55 and still was falling fast, even before" the Yankees officially placed Jeter on the 15-day DL (NEWSDAY.com, 6/14).
SLINGS & AEROS: In Ohio, Stephanie Storm reports Double-A Eastern League Akron Aeros are "reaching out to fans to determine" whether team officials should consider a "new moniker for the team" after 15 years. The Aeros are running a rebranding contest in which fans are "invited to submit new names or vote to keep the Aeros name." The contest winner "will get season tickets for life." The deadline for submitting entries is June 23, while "fan voting on potential names runs through the end of the season" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 6/15).
