As we await the big summit meeting that will decide the future of professional baseball in Israel, Hometown paper The Jerusalem Post has been very slow, lax and deficient in its coverage of the game, the league, the controversies and the scandals that have been covered so comprehensively here under the leadership of Our Man Elli In Israel. Yet in recent weeks, the JP has been playing catch-up, as if someone, in the spirit of the recent Associated Press memo instructing staff that virtually anything involving Britney (Spears) is a big deal." To wit, the story about New York Mets GM Omar Minaya's visit to promote the Israeli-Palestinian children's sports program:
...When asked about the Israel Baseball League that got off the ground last summer, Minaya was very optimistic for the future, despite the resignation of many of the leading members of the IBL advisory board in November."The fact that they had the league last year is a great step," Minaya says. "I think that, in hearing from the people I'm talking to over here, we need to build more fields and strengthen the little league development in the country."
Regarding the mixed reviews the IBL received in its inaugural season, Minaya says he believes that, "anytime you have a league, growth and youth development will come along with it, so it is important for the league to continue to grow and get better to maintain and further the game's expansion in Israel."
Going forward, Minaya is clear that he understands the need for Major League Baseball to become involved in developing the sport in this country for it ultimately to be successful.
"I hope to come back to Israel to see the baseball league here during the season and I know that we, the Mets, hope to be able to participate and help out as much as we can with baseball here," he stresses.
Looks like someone is instructing the reporters to be sure to include an IBL question in every interview. (Did they ask former MLB team owner President Bush? Send us your sightings.)
EXTRA!
POP QUIZ: Pick out the four mistakes among the five statements in the lede of this IBL posting on the a site called Blog Aladdin:
"The Israel Baseball League had a successful debut season on the field with six teams competing in a full schedule of games that were well received with attendance that generally exceeded expectations. The on-field product was very good and two players received minor league contracts with the Yankees. However, the offseason is a different story and the viability of the league and its ability to play a second season are in serious doubt."
10 comments:
THAT LEAD SENTENCE IS A CLASSIC PRESS RELEASE BY THE IBL:
"The Israel Baseball League had a successful debut season
WELL, HOW SHOULD WE MEASURE SUCCESS? I AND MANY OF THE PLAYERS WERE MIGHTY PISSED OFF BY HOW THE LEAGUE TREATED US, OR MISTREATED US, I SHOULD SAY. AND THERE WEREN'T 25 ISRAELIS WHO CAME TO THE GAMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE WHOLE SUMMER, SO HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS THAT?
on the field with six teams competing in a full schedule of games
THERE'S THE IBL AT WORK AGAIN, MAKING UP PAP THAT GETS SWALLOWED UP WHOLE BY THE IDIOTS IN THE MEDIA. THERE WASN'T A FULL SCHEDULE OF GAMES PLAYED BY ANY OF THE SIX TEAMS - FOUR TEAMS PLAYED 41 GAMES, AND TWO PLAYED 40, AND THE SEASON CALLED FOR 45 GAMES. AND THE LEAGUE WAS LUCKY TO GET IN THAT MANY, CONSIDERING TEL AVIV WASN'T OPENED FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS
that were well received
BY WHOM? BY THE AMERICANS LIVING IN ISRAEL, WHO DIDN;T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, BUT NOT BY US PLAYERS - EXCEPT IN HINDSIGHT - AND NOT BY KENNY HOLTZMAN, WHO IN HINDSIGHT WAS MORE CORRECT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THAN WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE TRUTH THEN.
with attendance that generally exceeded expectations.
---WHAT??!??? SOME GAMES HAD LESS THAN 50 PEOPLE SHOW UP - OR IS THAT EXACTLY WHAT BARAS WAS HOPING TO GET AT AS GAME, SO THE LEAGUE COULD TANK AND HE COULD WALK AWAY WITH THE INVESTMENT MONEY? ANYBODY KNOW WHERE THE MONEY HE COLLECTED WENT? DOES BIALYSTOCK ABND BLOOM RING A BELL? AND HAVE ALL THE PLAYERS BEEN PAID YET?
The on-field product was very good
BEING HUMBLE, I CAN'T DISAGREE WITH THAT ONE
and two players received minor league contracts with the Yankees.
FRIENDS AT THE YANKEES, PERHAPS - THAT IS, BEFORE THEY QUIT THE ADVISORY BOARD?
However, the offseason is a different story
ACTUALLY, THE OFF-SEASON IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IN-SEASON
and the viability of the league and its ability to play a second season are in serious doubt."
HEY, GREAT BREAKING NEWS ON THAT BLOG SITE. NOT. THERE IS NO VIABILITY OF THE IBL, AND NO ABILITY TO PLAY A SECOND SEASON, NONE WHATSOEVER. IT IS JANUARY 13, 2008 - THERE IS NO IBL, SAVE YOUR IBL T-SHIRTS THEY ARE ALREADY COLLECTOR'S ITEMS.
Larry seems to have a history of raising money from investors but never accounting for where the money goes. In the end, he is the only person that will make money off of the league. The "advisors" will pay him off just to get him out of the way. But the damage and havoc he created can't be undone. Only the investors are in a position to demand accountability
If the "advisors" are that stupid to pay off Larry Baras than good for them. It shows they are culpable for all the shit Larry did and then they can pay off the million dollars that he stole and is now owed to vendors.
If Larry stepped aside it would make things a lot simpler. The IBL charade would be over and the advisory board can raise money to pay off the debts as they see fit.
Agreed. Larry stepping aside would make everything easier. For whatever reason, the advisors probably think he needs to be paid off and Larry is demanding it. But what position is Larry in to be paid off? The goal should be to apply enough pressure so that he just walks away quietly. He should just be satisfied that there are people who are willing to try to clean up his mess.
Let Larry walk away? Why? Let everyone sue him in Israel ,in New York, Miami and Boston and put the scoundrel in jail where he belongs!
That is the only way vendors will see any money.
I'm just curious. Has any one had recent contact and/or communications with Berger or Baras?
I spoke to Larry
I just came back from under his rock
He wants to wish everyone a happy new year and wants to fool people in paying off his debts after he gave no
accounting. (after taking a salary which nobody can say how much that was)If Martin Berger or the IBL lawyer knows what he has done ,they are liable as well unless they come clean before the lawsuits start.
Larry has ruined baseball in Israel for many years to come. Thanks Larry. It was a great idea but why did you have to be so dishonest?
What's happening with the NY meeting that includes Dan Kurtzer and the other advisors?
If Larry is paid off, there will be a lot of angry and disillusioned people
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