NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani yesterday called Wednesday's
attendance of 23,142 for the Yankees-Rangers game
"pathetic," according to Robert Hardt of the N.Y. POST.
Giuliani: "This just can't go on forever and forever" (N.Y.
POST, 5/15). Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner: "People
say, 'Don't leave Yankee Stadium.' ... Tell me why I should
stay here. If you're a decent, smart businessman, you have
to say, 'Why should I stay?'" Steinbrenner "alleged" he is
losing money, but he would not say how much. Steinbrenner:
"It would probably shock some people" (Bergen RECORD, 5/14).
REDS: In Cincinnati, Geoff Hobson reported that Reds
limited partner Carl Kroch, who owns one of the team's 15
shares, said that he believes that none of the team's owners
will align with Managing General Partner Marge Schott's 42%
to help her keep a majority after the current partnership
expires December 31, 2000. Kroch: "I'm perfectly willing to
let her keep her 40 percent, as long as she's a silent
partner. We need someone who is professional, can run a
business, and really knows baseball." Kroch said "his
impression is none of the other limited partners wants to
run the team." He added that Managing Exec John Allen has
"done a good job but he hasn't thought about a potential
candidate" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/14).
D'BACKS: HBO's "Real Sports" airs Tuesday with a
segment on the controversy over the $253M public subsidy
toward construction of the $350M Bank One Ballpark. In
N.Y., Steve Zipay writes that the report "can be viewed as a
warning" to all politicians looking to publicly subsidize
new facilities (NEWSDAY, 5/15). During an interview with
HBO's Armen Keteyian for the piece, D'Backs Managing General
Partner Jerry Colangelo walked off the set. But HBO Exec
Producer Ross Greenburg commended Colangelo "for calling me
to apologize" (Rudy Martzke, USA TODAY, 5/15).
NOTES: In St. Paul, Charley Walters reports that Twins
President Jerry Bell estimates the team will lose $12M this
season (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/15)....The Devil Rays
announced a season-low crowd of 24,296 for last night's game
against the Royals (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 5/15).
