Walt Disney Co. Chair Michael Eisner is interviewed in
the L.A. TIMES by Bill Shaikin and discusses the state of
MLB, the Angels and the renovated Edison Int'l Field.
Eisner, on Wayne Huizenga's management of the Marlins: "I
think it was pathetic that you could buy your way into a
pennant and then sell your players off like cattle." On
MLB's stratified economic system: "I hope it's an anomaly.
I hope it doesn't come down to the biggest wallet gets the
best team. I think that would be the end of baseball." On
the Angels: "We're going to have competitive teams, just
like we have competitive movies and competitive television
shows. You're not always competitive by how much you pay."
On Disney's commitment to MLB: "We'll be a part of the
league for as far into the future as I can see. We'll be
competitive. What that means as far as economics, I don't
know. It's going to be very hard to justify our sports
teams on the economics. We're justifying the fact we
believe in indoor and outdoor entertainment. We believe in
the community of Anaheim." On the stadium renovation: "It
is as good as -- if not the best of -- any baseball stadium
in the country." The TIMES' Shaikin writes that Disney "can
afford a modest loss on the Angels" as the team provides the
company "a ballpark forum for advertising" its movies, TV
shows and retail products. Also, the possibility of adding
an MLS team "intrigues" Disney (L.A. TIMES, 4/1).
