You're comparing apples to bowling balls. Unconfirmed rumors leaking out are not in the same stratosphere as holding a press conference where you term approval a formality and have the "new" owner put on an Astros cap and talk about plans for his new team. McClane even gave it a time frame (30-60 days, IIRC). This puts an incredible burden on McClane and Crane to ensure they don't look like bumbling idiots.
So you think this would have remained an 'unconfirmed' rumor for all the months it has currently been going on? Everytime something leaks and McLane is asked a question he would either have to lie or say no comment? Saying no comment would be akin to saying yes. I don't think McLane did anything wrong in holding a press conference to announce a signed agreement to sell the team. Perhaps he should have held off on a timeline, but nothing wrong with making the announcement. Have there been any recent sports franchise sales where an announcement of a signed deal wasn't made prior to approval? Texas Rangers - announcement Minnesota Vikings - announcement New Jersey Nets - announcement Chicago Cubs - announcement
When the article came out, there was a lot of public backlash and criticism. Also, you didn't address bobrek's very good point: "They had a tentative deal between the two of them, not a full fledged contract that would necessitate an investigation." Speaking of "comparing apples to bowling balls"...
He can confirm its in-process but can't discuss the details until its been approved, etc., etc. Fairly routine. It doesn't require a press conference. I do this roughly 12,000 times a day. We call it the "no comment" comment. Except that Selig asked him not to do it. And Drayton is free to do whatever he wants; again, it's a privately-held corporation. But I promise you, from a PR perspective, it's much, much easier to clean-up rumors and leaks than it is undo the fiasco McClane unleashed. Trust me, neither man, after making such a public spectacle of the sale, wants to have to hold a second press conference explaining why the first one was a giant waste of everyone's time. Again, there's light years difference between confirming a sale agreement and holding a press conference dog and pony show.
McLane doesn't want to do it, but why does Crane care? All he has to say is that "MLB wanted to me to make the Astros an AL team. I know you all don't want that, and I didn't either, so we weren't able to complete the deal." All the blame goes on Selig and Crane simply walks away. Crane is not going to make a $700 million decision based on whether he has to hold a press conference. Agreed - it's annoying for Drayton. But he can't do anything about it and his press conference doesn't make it any more or less likely that he gets his money. If anything, it would make it MORE likely he gets his money if your argument is that it's harder for Crane to back out (which I don't believe). Selig didn't gain any leverage out of a press conference - he would be able to push this issue whether it was behind the scenes or not.
Please cite it. I'm very curious to know on what grounds people were upset. Especially given, again, that this didn't come to light until roughly a year and a half later. I brought it up to illustrate that much of this can, and should, take place behind closed doors. He's under no obligation to make any of his dealings public. Its no different than, say - Ed Wade's "I don't discuss trades until they've been finalized" policy. Imagine Wade announcing he's reached an agreement to trade Brett Myers to the Phillies before actually getting the official OK from the Phillies. In those terms, can you see how a press conference would be a really bad idea? And that's exactly what Drayton did. He put the cart before the horse and its absolutely coming back to bite him. It handed Selig a tremendous amount of power.
If he has to hold a second one announcing "my bad," it sure does - it greatly diminishes his bargaining power to get a comparable deal the next time around. If you just watched Jim Crane get dragged through the mud publicly because you held a press conference announcing him as new owner, would you be anxious to deal with Drayton? Selig obviously has leverage regardless; he's commisioner. The dog and pony show simply gave him more of it.
Sure - but that's the case regardless of the press conference. Simple question: is Crane going to change his $700 million decision because he might have to hold a press conference saying the deal fell through? If not, what specific leverage has Selig gained? Is Crane more likely to buy the team under Selig's terms because they held a press conference a few months ago?
If I was thinking of spending $700 million on a baseball team, I don't think some PR issues would phase me at all unless I had my own skeletons. And those would come out regardless because that's the nature of buying and owning a major league baseball team.
There was a press conference to announce the Nolan Ryan group reached agreement to buy the Rangers. There was a press conference to announce that Wilf reached an agreement to purchase the Vikings. There was a press conference to announce that Tom Clancy reached a deal to purchase the Vikings (that deal obvisouly fell through). There is almost always a press conference to announce that an agreement has been made to purchase a sports team subject to league approval. It is a relatively routine practice to have a press conference to announce such deals. So you 'no comment' roughly 12,000 times a day? Hyperbole doesn't help your argument.
Please, Ric, continue the verbal thunderdome with everyone on the board. It is thrilling. You stated a week or month or something ago that you don't particularly care what happens to the Astros, what the **** is the purpose of this?
What an idiotic argument this has become. Screw Selig. Screw McLane. Screw the AL. Screw the DH. Screw Hitler and the Nazis. Screw Kadaffi or Q'daffi or however Daffy is spelling his name this week. Screw Lenin and Stalin. Screw the Cowboys, and screw the Jazz. Any questions?
There was a press release. On a Saturday night. I have found no evidence of a press conference. They held a press conference when Reggie Fowler agreed to buy the team; when that fell apart and Wilf stepped in, there was decidedly not a press conference that I can find and likely because of the Fowler fiasco - which underscores my point that these guys don’t like to look foolish. I think you’re confusing press conference with press release. I’ve found no evidence of any press conferences for the three mentions above. And, if you provide contrary evidence, there’s still the large issue of Selig asking them not to hold a press conference.
When you publicly start the countdown, as Drayton most assuredly did - it raises the stakes. It sets expectations, puts you and your would-be buyer in the spotlight, invites media scrutiny… The landscape is altered. And Selig – who, again, asked them not to do it – gains additional leverage because he can now hold those expectations against Drayton and Crane. Trust me, they do not want to hold a second press conference to announce the deal is off, for a variety of reasons. But that’s exactly the path they created with the first one.
I have no idea where this is coming from, or what you mean, or why you thought to jump in here. I simply think there’s merit to jim1961’s original idea that laying low – as Selig asked them to do – was probably a better play. Why the vitriol? As for the Astros, I don’t care if they stay or go. I think it’s all ultimately much ado about nothing and that, possible bumpy transition aside, it’ll all return to business as usual quickly if they are moved.
You understand that while, yes – those skeletons might likely come out, that they’re far more likely to come out if you hold a press conference and put your would-be buyer in the spotlight, right? That’s a very basic tenant of PR: Don’t give face/voice and access to a subject unless you’re comfortable with them becoming a major focus point for the media. That is the primary reason behind a press release – it protects principles from having to face the media.
there was zero chance of there not being a press conference. can you point to any example of an agreement to buy a big league sports team (subject only to league approval) where there wasn't a public announcement? there is no need for a press conference to call it off if the deal goes away. they'll just report the story and drayton will tell the reporters he's looking for a new buyer. i completely miss the idea that this raised the stakes csomehow.
Again, simple question: is Crane going to change his decision on whether to make a $700 million purchase based on the idea that he might have to hold a press conference saying he's withdrawing due to changed circumstances? If so, in what way will his decision change (and why)? If not, what leverage has Selig gained? Selig has leverage over Drayton because Drayton needs to get the deal done to get his cash. But Drayton has no power, so all the leverage in the world has no impact. The decision to buy or back out is entirely in the hands of Crane.
