Consolation Prizes: Timberwolves and Lynx?

[Déjà Bru]

Alex Rodriguez and an e-commerce billionaire have signed a letter of intent to purchase the N.B.A.’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the W.N.B.A.’s Minnesota Lynx. This news makes me scratch my head for a number of reasons.

Rodriguez is no billionaire. According to Baseball-Reference, he made a paltry $441,285,104 in his baseball career and, let's face it, he has big expenses, you know? Well, probably you don't know, and neither do I, but I would say his net worth in in the low hundred millions.

It would seem that A-Rod is the face of this deal while the e-commerce guy is putting up the real dough. But, A-Rod? Basketball? Is there a connection that I am missing?

Sure, Rodriguez (and Jennifer Lopez, who is not mentioned in this deal) are probably smarting from being outbid (as part of an investment group) by Steve Cohen for the New York Mets. At least that's a baseball team.

Aside from occasionally pounding the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, I see no association of Rodriguez with Minnesota. Any promises not to move one team and/or the other to Seattle, as is widely speculated, hold not much weight considering the Timberwolves are on course to miss the playoffs for the 16th time in the past 17 seasons and rank #28 of 30 in team value according to Forbes. (Plus, Rodriguez does have a connection to Seattle.)

So, if this is consolation for losing out on the Mets, why is Rodriguez getting into basketball? And why should Minnesota and the NBA welcome him? It sounds ridiculous, but the term "slumming" comes to mind.

[mgom27]

Could also move them to New York aka New Jersey.

[pgjocki]

Even the worse run professional team will make the owner money when they sell down the line.

Maybe A-Rod wants to be a Billionaire and this is a step in that direction.

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[Westheim]

Are we sure he is no billionaire? Yeah yeah, he made 400 million and small change from *baseball*. But what did he make from *endorsements*?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Are we sure he is no billionaire? Yeah yeah, he made 400 million and small change from *baseball*. But what did he make from *endorsements*?

Woof! I never thought of that.

Why would I? Nobody asks me to endorse anything except maybe what the wife made for dinner. Such endorsements are given freely and (mostly) honestly. Sigh, I am naive.

Alright, so maybe Rodriguez is more than a front man. But is he in such a rush to own a major league team that he'll gravitate to a sport that he knows little about and probably never played anywhere?

I did find a connection to basketball for him, though.

Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone suffered a knee injury while playing a game of pickup basketball that sidelined him for the entire 2004 season, creating a hole at third base. On February 15, 2004, the Rangers traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later (Joaquín Árias was sent to the Rangers on March 24). The Rangers also agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on Rodriguez's contract.

[rudel.dietrich]

Rodriguez and Lore became friends through Lopez. Lore is from Staten Island.
They wanted to buy the Mets together but that did not happen.
I think they want to own a franchise and are bidding on them as they become available.

[kq76]

I'm not so surprised that he wants to buy a basketball team. I mean, why not? I would and my first love is baseball too. But the Minnesota Timberwolves, really? You don't have to own them forever though. It could just be a stepping stone to learn how to be an owner. Then if the Miami Heat or the New York Knicks become available, you dump the Wolves and pounce on them.

[cephasjames]

Wealthy people invest in things that can make them wealthier. It's pretty simple.

I once worked for a guy who started up a water garden (koi pond) company. He hated the business, but he knew it would make him money. Which it did. And when he felt he'd made enough money from it to make a new investment somewhere else, he sold the company.

[Déjà Bru]

Pretty cynical stuff, but I guess you guys are right. I go back to the (George) Steinbrenner days. You may have hated that guy, but you knew three things about him, for sure:

1. He loved baseball.
2. He loved New York City.
3. He LIVED the New York Yankees.

[dkgo]

Owning a major pro franchise is a matter of prestige. There are only ~90 of them in the US and the opportunity to buy does not come around very often. It makes sense that a pro athlete would be interested in dabbling in pro sports ownership if he gets the chance.

I'm guessing he is only putting in a minority share. Jeter for example is only a 4% owner of the Marlins but is a big name that draws interest.

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

(George) Steinbrenner

1. He loved baseball.
2. He loved New York City.
3. He LIVED the New York Yankees.

If ARod owns the Timberwolves for 37 years, he may end up the same. Particularly if they end up even half as successful as the Yankees.

Steinbrenner was business man. He also was in the shipping business in the Great Lakes and the Gulf. The Yankees were a good business for him. Also one he happened to enjoy.

ARod may really like basketball. He may like Minnesota. And he may even represent well. But it may just be a business opportunity until a better one, more to his liking, comes along.

[rudel.dietrich]

I love when they interviewed Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves 19-year-old #1 overall pick, he had no idea who Alex Rodriguez is

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

I love when they interviewed Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves 19-year-old #1 overall pick, he had no idea who Alex Rodriguez is

Way to ingratiate yourself with your (prospective) new boss!

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

I love when they interviewed Anthony Edwards, the Timberwolves 19-year-old #1 overall pick, he had no idea who Alex Rodriguez is

Goose? Mark Green from E.R.?

[Syd Thrift]

A-Rod’s link to Seattle is that he was drafted by them and then left for a lot more money, so much money at the time that the team who signed him couldn’t afford it and traded him to the Yankees. For years after he left he was booed whenever he came to town. I don’t think his memories of the city are particularly fond...

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Goose? Mark Green from E.R.?

This Anthony Edwards has a bit more vertical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNodFiofS8

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Way to ingratiate yourself with your (prospective) new boss!

For a 19-year-old he gives great interviews. And I don't think he meant it as disrespect. I truly think he does not know who he is.

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

This Anthony Edwards has a bit more vertical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNodFiofS8

Goose had a pretty good vertical too until the cockpit canopy got in the way.

That's an amazing dunk in that video.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

This Anthony Edwards has a bit more vertical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyNodFiofS8

And horizontal, by which I mean distance to the basket from where his leap began.

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

For a 19-year-old he gives great interviews. And I don't think he meant it as disrespect. I truly think he does not know who he is.

Oh, I don't doubt it. Fame is indeed fleeting, you know! Which may, by the way, explain another reason for seeking ownership of a team, any team, at the highest level — a need for getting one's face in front of the cameras again.

[albatross11]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Goose? Mark Green from E.R.?

Who is Goose? Who is Mark Green? I think E.R. is a television program/movie..maybe not.