Braves Owner Ted Turner "wasted no time beginning his
assault" on potential Dodgers Owner Rupert Murdoch,
addressing a group of MLB owners Wednesday in St. Petersburg
"on why the head of the Fox Group shouldn't be allowed into
baseball," according to I.J. Rosenberg of the ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION. Rosenberg: "It was a restrained attack, no
fiery speech from the Time-Warner vice chairman but instead
a five-minute synopsis of why his rival Murdoch wouldn't be
good for baseball." After the meeting, Turner followed the
guidelines of Acting Commissioner Bud Selig in not talking
publicly until after today's vote on the matter: "It's not
that I don't want to talk. I just got to keep quiet right
now." The Dodgers sale requires approval from 12 of 16 NL
teams and 8 of 14 AL squads. Turner has "two votes in his
camp," coming from the Padres and Giants, "meaning he would
have to persuade two other clubs to say no." Rosenberg
writes, "This is not likely to happen," as Turner "has
little, if any influence among the game's power brokers."
Rockies Chair Jerry McMorris, on today's vote: "It's going
to be very, very close" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/19). USA
TODAY's Hal Bodley writes that "one theory" on Selig's gag
order is that if the sale is not approved, "public comments
might be used in litigation" (USA TODAY, 3/19).
COUNTING THE VOTES: DAILY VARIETY's Ray Richmond writes
that in addition to the Padres, Cubs and Giants, both the
Astros and Marlins are "said to be particularly vulnerable
to Turner's anti-Murdoch venom" (DAILY VARIETY, 3/19). But
in N.Y., Bill Madden writes the Dodgers sale is expected to
win "overwhelming approval." One "high-level" MLB official:
"Do you really think we're going to vote down baseball's
biggest benefactor?" (Bill Madden, N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/19).
THE QUIET "MOUTH FROM THE SOUTH"? One member who
attended yesterday's meeting said Turner "made his points
that he's against [the sale to Murdoch]. ... There were no
real fireworks. I've been to far more inflammatory sessions
than this one." The session lasted an hour-and-a-half.
Owners "will get another chance Thursday to express their
views" before the sale is put to a vote (N.Y. TIMES, 3/19).
CUTTING TO THE CHASE: In L.A., Ross Newhan writes that
Fox TV CEO Chase Carey, "working at times in conjunction
with [MLB] lawyers, met throughout the day and evening
Wednesday with several concerned clubs." They "agreed to
small changes ... in the language of the agreement that Fox
has made with baseball (separate from the sales agreement
with the Dodgers), strengthening assurances the Murdoch
organization would protect the Dodger image and abide by all
baseball regulations, particularly those governing
international and local telecasts" (L.A. TIMES, 3/19).
FALLOUT: Turner's appearance in St. Petersburg was
featured on CNN's "Moneyline" and CNBC's "The Edge," "Market
Wrap" and "Business Center." Ladenburg-Thalmann media
specialist Porter Bibb, who wrote a biography on Turner:
"Turner and Murdoch have been going at it for quite a long
time. ... Both of them are very emotional, very competitive
individuals, and they both respect the fact that of all the
people in media and entertainment, these are the two guys
who have taken their businesses globally further and faster
than anybody else in the world." CNBC's Garrett Glaser
reported that Bibb said that "if Turner loses in Florida and
Murdoch is approved ... a new template of corporate sports
ownership will be established" ("The Edge," CNBC, 3/18).
USA TODAY's cover story profiles Turner and Murdoch, as
David Lieberman writes the "feud could explode -- and
possibly have a lasting effect on sports and business -- if
Turner gets his way" (USA TODAY, 3/19). In Atlanta, Jeff
Schultz: "In some ways, the Turner-Murdoch feud has typified
baseball's infighting for years. The new owner should fit
right in" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/19).
