Hey, we just realized that in our haste to make deadline this afternoon, we allowed a very important moment and scoop by Our Man Elli in Israel to pass without comment: Dan Rootenberg, the Israel Baseball League player who was chosen as the league's "in-coming president" (that's what they call him on the IBL website) as it reassembles for a four-team, 20-game, three-week "momentum-keeping" mini-season-- is not only making a major break from the secrecy of his predecessors by speaking with Our Man Elli-- and acknowledging his preeminence in reportage on the subject-- but he is staking his reputation on the future of the IBL.
Rootenberg told Our Man Elli that he personally mailed out overdue paychecks to the majority of IBL players who are still owed money from the inaugural season. And he said those checks were "the first wave."
Never has the phrase, "The check is in the mail," sounded so refreshing and generated so much hope for the future.If Dan Rootenberg is not the Obama of the IBL, then at least he promises to be the Gerald Ford.
Will the IBL season begin on July 27th as promised? Is there enough time and money to prove the naysayers wrong?
At least now there is a face and voice of the IBL on which to hang our hopes, offer praise, and if this turns out to be a bamboozle-- place the blame.
Larry Baras, Marty Berger and others behind the IBL curtain should acknowledge his bravery in literally sticking his neck out and facing his fellow players. They should remove the "in-coming" from his title. With one small action, Dan Rootenberg has shown he deserves the title of President.
13 comments:
Elli, why are you kissing up to him?
Has he paid ALL players? The kfar? The bus driver? The hat company?
Oh, jeez, lay off! This first simple act is a million times better than a year of nothing and talk from the rest of the league's "leaders." Rootenberg has already proved more valuable in two weeks than Baras and Berger proved in two years. So give the guy a break.
good for Dan
lots of luck
Roots is and will be awesome for the league. But how about some credit for Baras. Didn't he enlisted the big money investors?
If he was the total d-bag TB/Ella were claiming him to be why is there a 2nd season and players being paid for last year?
Dan deserves a lot of credit for sticking his neck out but how about some props for Baras for putting up with all the sh*t flung at him and getting a 2nd season together.
Larry did a marvelous job. But shouldn't he have paid the players last summer? Are all vendors going to be paid? We all want baseball in Israel but not with a lying stinking skunk running the show!
How much did Dan really do?
Has he paid the players from his own pocket? I just hope that he pays everyone!
The IBL will not play any games.
Gezer has not been paid. The umps ,kfar ,bus driver ... are all holding their hands out. The IAB is just trying to get something paid from these deadbeats. That by the way is Dans motive as well. He is sticking up for the players 100% . He knows it it is all a shame and a sham.
Keep trying to bad mouth Dan... go on... open wider so you have room to insert your foot.
Who bad mouthed Dan? We salute his efforts to get people paid. We do however bad mouth Larry who so cowardly wrote that last comment.
Where is the money Larry?
Where is that lousy, lying, looser Larry Baras?
We need more Israel Baseball Stories. Tabloid Baby we are 19 days and counting. Interested parties want to know what is going on.
Keep up the good work.
Everything is all set
Players have plane tix
Fields have been secured
The shelves are full of new merchandise
Burgers Bar is cooking dogs and burgers
ALL Debts have been paid from last year
WOW!
I have got to stop taking these hallucinagens
hey elli
have i got a scoop for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you need to contact me,
surprise , surprise surprise!!!!!! Not really!!
I got it first
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