Lip Man 1

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2024/02/23/turning-another-page-baseball-games-finally-begin-for-white-sox-pedro-grifol

Forgive me for being skeptical that in the Autumn of his life JR has suddenly decided to become altruistic and want to do something to benefit Sox fans. There's always a chance that he genuinely does and if that's the case I applaud him. But he simply can't think he can ask for handouts and not even offer to pay one thin dime out of his own deep pockets.

So two billion isn't enough for a family? OK then. I think I'd be more willing to give the benefit of the doubt in a project like this under new ownership which doesn't have a historical track record of doing a number of things that make you shake your head and say, "What are they thinking?" and then blame the fan base for their incompetence. But we'll see how this plays out, it will be fascinating to observe. One thing is clear, from early comments, JR does not have a patron with the clout of Jim Thompson around to carry the ball for him. I said at the start this is going to be a very hard sell to the politicos and the people. Time will tell.

Then forgive my ignorance but what then is the whole point of this stadium exercise? Seriously if he's not going to be around why does he even give a damn? What his family selling the team for two billion isn't enough to keep them in groceries? Apparently not since JR, who you correctly say isn't going to be around, is trying to extort more money. He can keep penny pinching the product, bitching about the way baseball is run and blame the fan base for issues he's caused, then go off to the great ballpark in the sky for the next few years. Why go through the trouble? And if he cared about the franchise in the first place he wouldn't have driven it into a shithole would he simply because his arrogance and ego won't let him admit he's screwed a lot up.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/23/liam-hendriks-red-sox-white-sox-boston-chicago-mlb-tommy-john-cancer “We had too many guys pulling in different directions, too many cooks in the kitchen trying to fix what they thought was [wrong],” he said this week. “There’s a lot of Type A people in a clubhouse. You’ve got certain people thinking, ‘This is the way it’s got to go.’ Certain people want to fix something, so they just scream and yell until someone fixes it. There wasn’t, honestly, enough positivity and eagerness to go out there and play on a day-to-day basis.” According to Hendriks, some Sox teammates didn’t like it, in particular how open and accessible he was with the media. “Some guys thought I was seeking too much attention,” he said. “But when you answer questions in a non-generic way, they tend to come to you a little bit more. And I’m not one to shy away from a conversation, whether it be uncomfortable, whether I’m going well, whether I’m going poorly. I want to be as transparent as I can, because baseball is a very stoic man’s sport.

How did building fan support work out with the new place when it opened? Record setting numbers the first few years but then of course came the labor shut down driven in a significant part by JR and then you had the White Flag Trade in 97 again OK'd by JR. Hard to build fan support when ownership keeps doing everything possible to dump on them for outdated principles.

Well an embarrassing start to what may very well be another embarrassing season. But hey, let's all give JR another billion! What say you? ?

I can only speak for myself but I'm simply tired of this ownership. Of the penny pinching ways, the still insane desire to destroy the MLBPA, the arrogant attitude of "We know better, who are you to even question us" when history shows that way doesn't work, the inbred hiring of just members of the "family" over the years (like this was the mafia) and the incompetent, dysfunctional and inept decisions to go along with the back biting and power struggles (as outlined in my November 2022 story "The State of the Sox.") inside the organization. To say nothing of the garbage baseball on the field. From 1981 through 2006 Sox fans at least could reasonably think the franchise would at least have a winning season and at least be competitive, the numbers show that. But since 2007 it has ben a total clusterfuck, one of the worst records in baseball and that's saying something. Now after JR getting what he wanted in the late 80's suddenly what he demanded back then isn't good enough. In my opinion it would be good enough if there was a good organization and he would keep his nose out of the baseball side of things. Again he thinks he knows better than everyone in the room. The latest debacle being TLR. He doesn't. And I think it's a good guess a large portion of them fan base is simply tired and want him gone one way or the other. Just leave and don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out. If fans are complaining they have every right to be given the misery they have seen on the field especially the last 17 years and the dysfunction in the front office. I don't blame them one bit. And the organization (and some fans) should kiss the asses of every fan who after all this still actually cares enough to complain. They aren't far away from what's even worse. Total apathy. And with all this history JR still has the gall to say its the fans fault for not supporting a garbage product. Which he recently did when he said that's why they can't afford top free agents. They can't afford the top free agents for one reason only, because JR doesn't feel players are worth the money they are getting from other teams and owners. Well adapt or (not literally) die JR. And remember this is the same guy who at that economic forum last year said this: "Sports is a business of failure but the fact that you finish second or third or fourth it doesn’t mean you had a bad year." Of course not because that way the fans still have some hope and you continue to make tons of money...that's JR's business philosophy.

https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/jerry-reinsdorf-chicago-white-sox-departures-sell-team.html

Lots of stories, columns today: https://awfulannouncing.com/radio/dan-bernstein-laurence-holmes-jerry-reinsdorf-white-sox-stadium-talks.html https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2024/02/22/jerry-reinsdorf-united-center-parking-lots-purchasing-white-sox-south-loop-ballpark https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2024/02/22/reinsdorfs-save-the-sox-for-chicago-argument-has-familiar-ring The last column quotes a political rep who lived in Sarasota the last time JR made his stadium or move pitch.

Always nice to beat the Cubs regardless of if the game counts or not.

Can't argue with that but I was trying to be kind. ?

The last time they broadcast all the spring games on CSN Chicago was in 2005.

Of course we can (assuming a bunch of other teams forfeit the season!) ?

I was born and raised on the South Side, my family was all Sox fans, some of my earliest memories revolve around the team starting in 1960. I'm loyal but unquestioned loyalty to anything...a government, a religion, a sports team is dangerous. After following the team for 63 seasons I've earned the right to criticize I think.

Well it certainly makes cutting it down from 70 easier that's for sure.?

The issue with JR selling while he is alive, as he has stated himself, is the gigantic tax hit he'd take from capital gains (roughly 200 million on a sale worth two billion) and the Illinois state tax.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2024/02/22/white-sox-reliever-john-brebbia-out-with-right-calf-strain-lefty-shane-drohan-has-shoulder-surgery

Speaking of the Bears stadium efforts: https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2024/02/22/bears-stadium-arlington-heights-property-tax-review

Hard to tell right now with all the conflicting stories, won't know for sure until a definite proposal is put down on paper but you can rest assured of one thing, JR wants as big of a handout as he can possible get and he wants to spend as little or none of his own money. That's the way he operates.

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/02/22/utah-may-pay-900-million-to-fund-potential-mlb-stadium-increase-hotel-tax/

Yea the first exhibition game hasn't even been played and already three pitchers are hurt, one out for the season with TJS.

That's fine I'd never dispute your right to enjoy what you will. (even if with the Sox it's mediocrity defined!) ?

It won't be for two years assuming he stays with Miami since the Sox go there this season.

Since 2007, 11 losing seasons, five winning ones and a .500 season. Three playoff appearances. Playoff record in those three appearances is 3-8. Seven playoff appearances in the past 43 years, among the worst in baseball Knock yourself out enjoying this sir! ?