Yes, sometimes we think we ought to rename this site Tabloid Baseball, but hey, we're sixteen days from Opening Day for the Major Leagues and over in Israel, that rival, renegade, rebel, upstart Israel Professional Baseball League, formed amid the rubble in the debt-ridden aftermath of the Israel Baseball League's inaugural (and, most likely, final) season, is scrambling to get something going by summer.
Sources tell Our Man Elli in Israel that the IPBL's billionaire frontman Jeff Rosen is negotiating to use a soccer field in Bat Yam, a coastal city just south of Tel Aviv, for IPBL play in the summer of 2008. Word is that Rosen's group has decided that the Baptist Village Field in Petach Tikva (former home to the IBL's Ra'anana Express and the Petach Tikva Pioneers) is too expensive.
Last week, Our Man Elli broke the incredible news that reports of the death of baseball in Israel are, if not greatly exaggerated, at least premature, with the report that Rosen and the IPBL are also negotiating with Israel's baseball governing body (which still carries an IBL logo and link on its website) to play ball without having to first cover the IBL's million dollar debt.
Is Rosen's rush good enough? Skeptics tell us there's not enough time to turn the field into a pro-level ballpark, and others wonder why Rosen hasn't put up any of his own vast fortune to cover some of the IBL debt (or made any good faith public gesture) to get his own league into first gear.
Watch this space for the latest. And while you're at it, check out our one-stop Baseball in Israel archive site here.
16 comments:
Why are you angry about Israel Baseball - why are you hoping it fails. I had a great time as a spectator last summer - and even with all problems why would anyone (unless they have a HUGE chip on their shoulder)be working so hard to make it fail. Why does it bother you? Let them play ball.
Boy elli is really got the scoop. Hey 'scooper' (elli 's new name) just to give you a heads up on the new scoop and just bewtween us so you can cll it your scoop, Bat Yam is off the chart and it is somewhere else (i know where but i'm not telling). It sure took you long enough scooper.
You are talking to the wrong people!!!
Want another scoop, scooper?
Ok here is something, Jeff Rosen says he dosn't care if the IAB get sued and i got that from someone who was in the meeting way back then in NY and he could care less if they went bankrupt , but he would help them build up in the future.
The IAB are so naive, their Board are being played by the master of business games and all this for a few $.
Spitzer resigned. Why can't Baras?
The 3 month wait after 2007 is quickly approaching. He should wave his white surrender flag soon to avoid further embarrassment.
Nothing embarrasses Larry
(snore)
the lawsuits have started against the IBL and Mr Baras
They need to wait in line. Baras has several to deal with before getting started with the IBL lawsuits
anything else besides the Blacher bagel lawsuit?
Yes!
I understand that there are at least known lawsuits
Should have said-there are at least two known lawsuits, possibly more
the company that printed the tickets and baseball cards is suing Larry.
What else?
The other ones relate to the bagel business and have nothing to do with the IBL. He owes money to a lot of people from before the IBL
scooper, i got it before you did, Chaim Kats of the IAB has just signed an agreement with the IPBL
scooper you better get on the ball , i got this before you did.
he signed a contract and Rosen will be giving the IAB a good amount of money for this contract.
GOOOOOO IPBL!!!!!!!!
It's Katz not Kats. And if you want a real scoop here it is: Larry is being
sued by more than just a couple of people. He is also being divorced from his wife who had enuf BS from one assh--- to last 10 lifetimes
I would not take the Baras divorce at face value. Robyn has been a willing financial and legal partner with Larry for more many years. This may well be another way to protect their assets. By transferring assets to Robyn it protects the family. The lawsuits are against Larry and his business. He can file for bankruptcy or claim no assets but in reality they have just been moved to his spouse.
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