Despite "complaints" about MLB Enterprises CEO Greg
Murphy that have "reached a crescendo in sports marketing
circles," MLB officials say Murphy's job "is secure,"
according to Terry Lefton of BRANDWEEK. Lefton: "Grumbling
has proliferated both inside MLB's New York office and
within the sponsorship and licensee base. Baseball
licensees are angered that Murphy has not hired anyone to
run the licensing side of the house." Also, Murphy's
"management style is ruffling feathers internally." One
"high-ranking" MLB source: "It's messier than you can
imagine. He thinks anyone inside baseball is an idiot and
he doesn't put any stock in anyone around him." But MLB's
top officials continue to back Murphy. Acting Commissioner
Bud Selig: "Greg is the President of Major League Baseball
Enterprises and I expect it to stay that way." Murphy: "I
am laboring without a VP of team services. I'm trying to do
things which are trampling on areas that have traditionally
been state's rights." Murphy said he will name a president
at MLB Properties this month, but Lefton writes "his choice,
another packaged goods-marketer, is sure to draw fire from
critics" (BRANDWEEK, 2/4 issue). In Friday's WALL STREET
JOURNAL, Stefan Fatsis noted some of Murphy's "early
missteps," including reports that he has "failed to make
courtesy calls on key sponsors Gillette, Gatorade and True
Value." Murphy said he "has visited numerous sponsors and
licensees" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/31).
