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July 24, 2008
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Wilpon Won't Sell Mets, But His Will Would Allow Family To Do So

Mets Owner Says He Has No
Intentions To Sell Team In Near Future
Mets Owner Fred Wilpon said that he has "no intention of selling the team," but added that his will would "not prevent his family, including his son, [Mets COO Jeff Wilpon], from doing so," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. Fred Wilpon: "That would be unfair if, for some reason, they needed to." Wilpon added that his "preference would be that they sell some of his other properties, which include real estate, before selling the team" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/24). Wilpon added that his family will "always be involved with" the Mets. Wilpon: "Everything has a price -- not the Mets. I'm never going to sell (the team). My family is going to have this asset. Whether it be my granddaughters of my grandsons, or whoever it is. They are going to have the Mets. This is different than anything else I own" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/24).

TRIAL BY FIRE: Wilpon yesterday also addressed the June firing of Mets manager Willie Randolph, saying, "I screwed up." Wilpon said Mets GM Omar Minaya told him he intended to fire Randolph following the June 16 Mets-Angels game. Wilpon: "I wasn't smart enough to say,  'And cut the New York press out of it?' I didn't even think of it" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/24). ESPN’s Mike Golic said, "They’re admitting what everybody else already knew. We’re just scratching our heads a little bit that they didn’t want to admit it before” (“Mike & Mike,” ESPN, 7/24). Wilpon added, "I should have said, 'Wait a second, let's balance that it may leak with, why not do it the next morning?'" On Long Island, Neil Best notes the day after the firing, the Mets-owned SportsNet N.Y. "bashed the team as spiritedly as did independent media outlets, which Wilpon said illustrated the network was following through on its promise of objectivity." Wilpon: "I know there were doubters, and we really have stuck to it." Meanwhile, when asked about the high price of tickets at Citi Field, set to open next season, Wilpon said, "It's my greatest personal concern, because it is partly a public trust" (NEWSDAY, 7/24).

IN THE BULLPEN: Mets P Billy Wagner, who sat out Tuesday's Phillies-Mets game due to a muscle spasm in his shoulder, yesterday criticized N.Y. Times columnist William Rhoden for writing that Wagner "had second thoughts about not playing after seeing the Mets bullpen get 'slapped around.'" Wagner: "I know right now I didn't say I changed my mind and wished I'd have pitched (Tuesday) after seeing the bullpen get slapped around. I know I didn't say that quote. [Rhoden's] going to stand in front of you guys and this team and apologize" (NEWSDAY, 7/24).


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