O's Are (Quietly) For Sale

**bacchys** · 02-15-2012, 06:22 AM

Originally Posted by TL24x7

We've asked Steve about owning the Orioles a couple of times when he's been on the Ravens Rap with us. He has emphatically stated he has no interest and points to the economics of baseball and the inability to effectively compete given the uneven (financial) playing field as being too out of whack for his liking. Besides, given the way Angelos treated Bisciotti's Ravens staff during the MASN dealings, the ONLY way that this kind of conversation has any lift off is if MASN is on the table. Then that becomes a great venue for Bisciotti and the Ravens. I could also see Ripken being in the mix.

All that said, you have to wonder why potential estate taxes that inspired Art Modell to sell to Bisciotti wouldn't be a factor with Angelos and his sons. But I've never professed to being close to a tax accountant or an estate planner.

Reading between the lines, MASN might be the whole point behind the effort to buy the Orioles.

Though I don't know how much value MASN would be to an NFL owner. The NFL controls the broadcast rights, IIRC, and not the individual franchises. It's the same with NFL properties (jerseys, etc.).

**bud2** · 02-15-2012, 06:26 AM

It might be too little, too late for some. I am one of those that has written off the Orioles because of the Angelos family. Instead, I am much more interested in the Nats. I vowed to come back once the team got sold to another person, but now I am not so sure.

**pslholder96** · 02-15-2012, 07:38 AM

Sometimes I wonder if the Orioles are simply an annual tax write off for Angelos to offset the millions he makes in his other endeavors. There couldn't be any other possible explanation as to why he makes no sincere effort to improve this organization.

**RavenTerp** · 02-15-2012, 08:16 AM

The Orioles are hardly a "tax right-off" for Angelos! He makes millions on the Orioles and MASN each year!

**RavensQB** · 02-15-2012, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by pslholder96

Sometimes I wonder if the Orioles are simply an annual tax write off for Angelos to offset the millions he makes in his other endeavors. There couldn't be any other possible explanation as to why he makes no sincere effort to improve this organization.

DING DING DING.....

He has done this before. A certain place on York road in Timonium.

He makes money from MASN. The Horibles not so much.

**AirFlacco** · 02-15-2012, 10:22 AM

This came up when Angelos tried to buy a team - first the Rams and then the Bucs. It was said then one
couldn't own two major league teams or was Tags just tryiing to shut out Petey and Bmore from getting
a team?

The TV deal became a huge point after the Nationals moved into DC cutting the O's market in half.

Speaking of MASN, Tom Davis had a crew on last night talking about the new season and it doesn't look
pretty. Absolutely no pitching - not even down on the farm and a lot of teams are bringing in 40 pitchers
to comp and O's are bringing in only 30.

Nothing they do makes sense.

**dandrews** · 02-15-2012, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by AirFlacco

This came up when Angelos tried to buy a team - first the Rams and then the Bucs. It was said then one
couldn't own two major league teams or was Tags just tryiing to shut out Petey and Bmore from getting
a team?

The TV deal became a huge point after the Nationals moved into DC cutting the O's market in half.

Speaking of MASN, Tom Davis had a crew on last night talking about the new season and it doesn't look
pretty. Absolutely no pitching - not even down on the farm and a lot of teams are bringing in 40 pitchers
to comp and O's are bringing in only 30.

Nothing they do makes sense.

They have plenty of pitchers. They signed all kinds of pitchers this year. The problem is they all suck

**NCRAVEN** · 02-15-2012, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by dandrews

They have plenty of pitchers. They signed all kinds of pitchers this year. The problem is they all suck

This reminds me of a Seinfeld episode were their talking about the MEts

Fat Guy: They still have no pitching. Goodin's a question mahk. ...You don't recover from those rotator cuffs so fast.

Jerry: I'm not worried about their best pitching. They got pitching. ...They got no hitting.

FG: No hitting? They got hitting! Bonilla, Murry. ...They got no defence.

JS: Defence? Please. ...They need speed.

FG: Speed? They got Coleman. ...They need a bullpen.

JS: Franco's no good? ...They got no team leaders.

FG: They got Franco! ...What they need is a front office.

JS: But you gotta like their chances.

FG: I LUV their chances.

**esmd** · 02-15-2012, 10:54 AM

No disrespect to HR, but I've never been impressed by the Junkies. To be fair though, I haven't listened to them since they were on the radio. It's been several years. That said, color me extremely skeptical of this report. I think Angelos would certainly let someone make an offer, but as for seriously considering it, I'll believe it when I see it. I also don't see Steve B. buying the team for all the reasons already listed (potential ownership restrictions with the NFL and/or MLB, on the record as not-interested, etc). I think Cal would love to be involved with an ownership group that would try to purchase the team, and I believe he and Angelos have discussed that. But I don't see anything happening there anytime soon. I think we're in for more of the same from Angelos and the Orioles.

I sincerely hope that I'm wrong and the team is sold ASAP.

**pslholder96** · 02-15-2012, 12:23 PM

Just heard on the radio during the Bob and Rob show that the Orioles put out a statement denying all this.

**AntiMoon** · 02-15-2012, 12:25 PM

#1 EB is a clueless assclown
#2 There is NO WAY anybody ever buys the O's without MASN being included. MASN is a license to print money that increases the O's value from 300 mil to 7 or 800 mil. Without it you are buying a small market team that pales in revenue to Nats. With it you can afford a 150 mil payroll despite the brainwashing from Angelos and his media cronies.

**Greg** · 02-15-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by bacchys

Reading between the lines, MASN might be the whole point behind the effort to buy the Orioles.

Though I don't know how much value MASN would be to an NFL owner. The NFL controls the broadcast rights, IIRC, and not the individual franchises. It's the same with NFL properties (jerseys, etc.).

The NFL only controls the regular and post-seatson TV deals. They do not handle preseason games or the local shows a team might have on, those are all done completely by each team and that revenue is not shared. Same with radio deals for the whole season (except the subscription service through Sirius).

**Real Fan Dan** · 02-15-2012, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by DrUnk

Please let this be true! Get that fucknut Angeloser outta here.

No No No, you are sadly mistaken my friend. Mr. Angelos is a very kind and wise, wise man. And we should say so over and over and over again until such time as he wisely and kindly sells the team to Mr. Bisciotti.

**HoustonRaven** · 02-15-2012, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by AntiMoon

#1 EB is a clueless assclown

Who has accurately broke stories that the Terps were going to hire Edsall and Turgeon before it was in the media. He also broke the story that McNabb refused to wear a wrist band during games, in spite of Shanahan's instructions to do so.

You may not like his style (and I don't as well) but he is on point given the circle of people he runs with.

Originally Posted by AntiMoon

#2 There is NO WAY anybody ever buys the O's without MASN being included. MASN is a license to print money that increases the O's value from 300 mil to 7 or 800 mil. Without it you are buying a small market team that pales in revenue to Nats. With it you can afford a 150 mil payroll despite the brainwashing from Angelos and his media cronies.

Agreed and that was the whole point of the story being told. If you listen to it, they say up front that it's the MASN issue that's holding up the deal.

The crux of the story is accurate -- Angelos is hearing offers quietly.

**festivus** · 02-15-2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by pslholder96

Just heard on the radio during the Bob and Rob show that the Orioles put out a statement denying all this.

*chuckle*

I'd be skeptical of a denial like this coming from a *reputable* sports team FO, and I sure as heck wouldn't believe it coming out of that snake oil salesman's shop.

**HoustonRaven** · 02-15-2012, 01:36 PM

Apparently the team sent out an email denying the report.

Anyone have a copy?

**festivus** · 02-15-2012, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

Apparently the team sent out an email denying the report.

Anyone have a copy?

I do.

Originally Posted by Peter Angelos

Dear fan,
It has come to my attention that certain people are circulating a rumor that I am exploring the possibility of selling the Baltimore Orioles.

That rumor is just not true. In my years of owning the Baltimore Orioles I have had tremendous satisfaction watching the organization grow into the proud franchise it is now. It is with great pleasure I look forward to our continued success as a franchise.

During the eighteen home games we have every year at Camden Yards we are proud to support the Baltimore economy by making sure the hotels and restaurants are crowded with people excited to come watch baseball. I can hear them cheering from my office, and it makes me proud.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

&c. &c.

Is that the same one everyone else got?

edit: WARNING: WHAT YOU JUST READ IS NOT REAL. IT'S A JOKE, WHICH I AM NOT DELETING SO THE FOLLOWING POSTS MAKE SENSE.

**goodandfast** · 02-15-2012, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by festivus

I do.

Is that the same one everyone else got?

That's one of the most delusional things I've ever read.

---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.869122,-117.227809

**festivus** · 02-15-2012, 01:48 PM

Originally Posted by goodandfast

That's one of the most delusional things I've ever read.

---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=32.869122,-117.227809

Yeah, don't go attributing it to Peter Angelos, though. Or to me.

**Kyle Cactus** · 02-15-2012, 01:50 PM

Is that seriously real. If it is it's insulting. Don't feed us crap about "watching the organization grow into the proud franchise it is now" and "I look forward to our continued success as a franchise."

There is no pride. There is no success. There is only failure and apathy on the part of the Orioles. Screw Angelos.