Baseball HOFer Tony Gwynn said that he “will join a group headed by Legendary Pictures CEO Thomas Tull in its attempt to purchase the Padres from majority owner John Moores,” according to Dan Hayes of the NORTH COUNTY TIMES. Gwynn “confirmed he met with Tull for two hours” last week after the movie producer contacted Gwynn’s agent, John Boggs. Gwynn said, “He’s not doing this to have a toy. He’s getting in to win. That was conveyed.” Boggs said that “several other parties" have inquired about Gwynn’s interest, but Tull “impressed him, so he implored Gwynn to meet with the producer.” Gwynn said that he and Tull “mostly discussed basic topics.” The two “didn’t talk about payroll or the outfield dimensions at Petco Park, only that there ‘should be a Padre way.’” Gwynn's decision “won’t affect his role as the San Diego State baseball coach.” He and Tull “haven’t discussed what Gwynn’s role with the Padres will be should their bid to buy the team be successful” (NORTH COUNTY TIMES, 5/22). Gwynn said, “From the minute Tull started talking, I was excited about what he wanted to do with the Padres. … He wants to take the Padres to the top. That fired me up as an ex-Padre.” In San Diego, Bill Center notes those who are “also known to be exploring the purchase” of Moores’ controlling interest are Mets investor Steve Cohen, White Sox Special Assistant Dennis Gilbert, former Dodgers Owner Peter O’Malley and MLB Giants investor David Wolff (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/22).
SHOW ME THE MONEY: Also in San Diego, Tim Sullivan writes under the header, “Padres Legend Gwynn Brings Cachet, But Money Talks.” Sullivan writes, “Securing the Tony Gwynn Seal of Approval gives Thomas Tull gravitas and goodwill, provides the Hollywood mogul instant credibility in San Diego, and demonstrates that he is a prospective owner attuned to this town’s sensibilities, traditions and deities.” If this were “an election,” Tull would be “looking at a landslide.” Getting Gwynn on board “should be a top priority for any prospective Padres owner, and channeling Mr. Padre’s enthusiasm on behalf of any baseball venture is bound to open doors, minds and wallets.” Sullivan: “Yet sentiment normally counts for squat on the auction block, and there’s no basis to believe this deal will be any different. The investors who won control of the Los Angeles Dodgers did not prevail because of Magic Johnson’s magnetic personality, but because they outbid the competition by hundreds of millions of dollars” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/22).
