NL President Len Coleman gave Carl Lindner, Bill Reik
and George Strike -- the limited partners purchasing
controlling interest in the Reds -- a "resounding
endorsement" yesterday, according to Scott MacGregor of the
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER. Coleman: "With the promise of their
stewardship, the future of baseball in Cincinnati is very
bright for the fans" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/22). Also,
MacGregor & Klepal write that the team's sale "means nothing
to the fate" of its new $297M ballpark, and "ongoing lease
negotiations won't be affected" by the ownership transfer.
Reds Managing Exec John Allen: "It should have no impact
whatsoever" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 4/22).
MORE SALE REAX: In Cincinnati, Bill Koch wrote that
with the sale, Marge Schott "can't do any more harm to this
franchise." Koch: "After 15 years, we've got our team back"
(CINCINNATI POST, 4/21). Also in Cincinnati, Cliff Peale
called Lindner the city's "most influential business leader,
a major philanthropist and a mysterious public figure"
(CINCINNATI POST, 4/21). In Dayton, Bucky Albers wrote that
Schott "tried to keep baseball affordable for families" but
"probably will be more remembered for the insensitive
behavior that got her in trouble." Albers: "Most of her
good deeds went unnoticed against a backdrop of politically
incorrect remarks she made almost every time she made
herself available to the media." Also in Dayton, Gary Nuhn,
on Schott: "In the end, I think her real offense was being a
dowdy, old woman who didn't fit into the new corporate image
of baseball" (DAYTON DAILY NEWS, 4/21).
