By John McMullen
The Phanatic Magazine
"I've failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."
-Basketball great Michael Jordan
Huh?
In deference to the greatest basketball player in history, I will admit Michael Jordan probably believes that quotation but I think talent and drive had a little more to do with his success.
The Philadelphia Phillies stand on the precipice of a landmark no other professional sports team has ever achieved -- 10,000 losses. And all that failing hasn't brought the local nine any closer to a ring.
They have some talent but the drive just isn't there. You can complain about Pat Gillick, Charlie Manuel or the bullpen but that's lazy -- the real problem in the City of Brotherly Love is at the top. The people running this team simply don't care about winning.
The ballpark is full, the concessions are moving and the merchandise is selling. That's already the big win in their book. Only a change in this ownership can save the Phillies.
Mark Cuban would have been perfect.
The Internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner threw his hat into the ring to acquire the Chicago Cubs Friday. And when he did, thousands of educated baseball fans in this town could only sigh, dreaming of what might have been.
Cuban is one of the best owners in sports and would have the Phillies in the hunt consistently inside of five years. Sure he's a bit nutty and hasn't brought a championship to Dallas yet but he will.
The Mavs owner just doesn't accept losing and he lives and dies with his team. He is the Y2K version of George Steinbrenner and will bring a championship to Big D sooner rather than later.
The Cubs are for sale because its owner, the Tribune Company, is selling to Chicago real estate magnate Sam Zell and the deal is contingent upon the media giant selling its non-core assets, including the Cubbies.
Cuban is not guaranteed to get the team. In fact he's a bit of a darkhorse as several suitors with deep pockets have lined up to purchase the club including Chicago native Jerry Colangelo and the family of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.'s founder Joe Ricketts.
But the Cubs, a team steeped in a losing tradition similar to your beloved Phillies already know who they want to win the bidding.
"I don't know him, but the guy basically, he's a winner," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He's a character. He has obviously got the resources. I do know that he's got a lot of charisma. He likes the competition and he likes to win."
Imagine that - a winner with resources in Philadelphia baseball.
You can always dream.
The Phanatic Magazine
"I've failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."
-Basketball great Michael Jordan
Huh?
In deference to the greatest basketball player in history, I will admit Michael Jordan probably believes that quotation but I think talent and drive had a little more to do with his success.
The Philadelphia Phillies stand on the precipice of a landmark no other professional sports team has ever achieved -- 10,000 losses. And all that failing hasn't brought the local nine any closer to a ring.
They have some talent but the drive just isn't there. You can complain about Pat Gillick, Charlie Manuel or the bullpen but that's lazy -- the real problem in the City of Brotherly Love is at the top. The people running this team simply don't care about winning.
The ballpark is full, the concessions are moving and the merchandise is selling. That's already the big win in their book. Only a change in this ownership can save the Phillies.
Mark Cuban would have been perfect.
The Internet billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner threw his hat into the ring to acquire the Chicago Cubs Friday. And when he did, thousands of educated baseball fans in this town could only sigh, dreaming of what might have been.
Cuban is one of the best owners in sports and would have the Phillies in the hunt consistently inside of five years. Sure he's a bit nutty and hasn't brought a championship to Dallas yet but he will.
The Mavs owner just doesn't accept losing and he lives and dies with his team. He is the Y2K version of George Steinbrenner and will bring a championship to Big D sooner rather than later.
The Cubs are for sale because its owner, the Tribune Company, is selling to Chicago real estate magnate Sam Zell and the deal is contingent upon the media giant selling its non-core assets, including the Cubbies.
Cuban is not guaranteed to get the team. In fact he's a bit of a darkhorse as several suitors with deep pockets have lined up to purchase the club including Chicago native Jerry Colangelo and the family of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.'s founder Joe Ricketts.
But the Cubs, a team steeped in a losing tradition similar to your beloved Phillies already know who they want to win the bidding.
"I don't know him, but the guy basically, he's a winner," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "He's a character. He has obviously got the resources. I do know that he's got a lot of charisma. He likes the competition and he likes to win."
Imagine that - a winner with resources in Philadelphia baseball.
You can always dream.
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