ROOTENBERG RESIGNS: HATS OFF TO DAN!

Dan Rootenberg, the Player King of the New Israel Baseball League, has tossed aside his crown and walked away.

We say, "Hats off to Dan!"

And sadly, we knew it was going to come to this, because there was no other way it could end. Dan Rootenberg proved himself to be an upstanding straight shooter, who took on the job– or at least was in line for the job-- as "in-coming president" of the Israel Baseball League for one purpose: to straighten out the outstanding debts of last season, and to right the ship for this season.

And because we know him to be a straight shooter, we will also forgive him for his apparent hubris in thinking that he alone, could have been the savior of the league; that he alone, could have forced the league leaders to suddenly engage in financial transparency, opening the books and admitting how much money was raised, how much was spent, and how much debt is still owed- and why.

Because honest as Dan is, did he really think he could accomplish exactly what another Dandy Dan couldn’t achieve ten months ago? Last September 19, IBL Commissioner Dan Kurtzer– the former U.S. ambassador to Israel, who carries considerably more weight and muscle– attempted the very same thing. He and others from the IBL advisory board held a four-hour meeting with Boston bagel baron Larry Baras, reading him the riot act and demanding to know the who, what, where and how of the IBL's money.

And as as Our Man Elli reported here reported here on January 26th, Baras had a free offer from his advisory board to have an independent financial professional-- somebody he’d find acceptable-- review and assemble the financial information of the league.

Baras turned down the offer.

So if Larry Baras told dandy Dan Kurtzer to stuff it like one of his UnHoley bagels, how could dandy Dan Rootenberg have believed that he was going to get the Boston bagel baron to come clean on the dough?

Even after Kurtzer and the IBL 10 quit — as we reported first on November 15th-- still there was no accounting of how much was raised ($3 million? $4 million? $5 million?), or how much was spent.

All these many months later, we still we don’t know.

Nice try, Dan Rootenberg. At least he made the effort, and had the courage to quit when he was being stonewalled, as did the IBL 10.

Dan Rootenberg stands in good company.


THE EMAIL:

Elli,

I got your phone call earlier today and I'm writing to let you know that the league is issuing a press release later today announcing that I will not be accepting the presidency of the IBL. I wanted to give you a heads up since you have been so closely following the story. “I remain committed to cultivating a strong, responsible and viable professional baseball league in Israel.” I think I will wait a bit before commenting further, if at all. Elli, I appreciate your cooperation through all of this.

Sincerely,

Dan Rootenberg

He's no puppet: "In-coming president" Dan Rootenberg lays his reputation on the line for the Israel Baseball League

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.

Twenty Questions for Dan Rootenberg

Something's going on behind the scenes of the supposedly new and improved Israel Baseball League, and it doesn't bode well for their headline-changing promise of a four-team, 20-game, three-week, momentum-keeping mini-season beginning July 27th. Player Dan Rootenberg, who was plucked from the ranks and plopped into the role of "in-coming President" certainly put a fresh, new, Obamalike face on the embattled, secretive IBL operation. But weeks after his installment, for all his good intentions, he appears to be the odd man out, while backroom dealings continue with the involvement of the Cheney-like, bunkered-down IBL founder Larry Baras.

Dan is a straight-up guy who deserves our respect. He's placed himself in a very difficult role with a very arduous task ahead. We should know, because we, led by Our Man Elli in Israel, have been alone in reporting the shenanigans of the IBL for about a year now.

Elli spoke on the phone with Dan a week ago, and at Dan's request, followed up with twenty questions that he'd promised to respond to by today.

But then Dan stalled, asked to have until Sunday. Then Monday.

Then Tuesday.

He's stalling us. Obviously his IBL teammates are stalling him.

By now, we know some of the answers to the questions. We've reported them. Others have no answers, but need to be asked for the record.

We wanted Dan-- the official "in-coming president" of the IBL-- to have a chance to set the record straight. But it appears that he's not in a position to get the answers. Perhaps his former colleagues, IBL apologists like Leon Feingold or Eric Holtz, can answer.

Better that somebody answers them now, before they're forced to answer, under oath.

Here are Our Man Elli's 20 questions for Dan Rootenberg:

1) How much of the $1.5 million in IBL debts from last year has been paid?

2) Has Kfar Hayarok been paid? If not, will it be? What about Gezer?

3) Does the IBL owe money to the JNF for the roughly half million dollars given last year by the JNF to the IBL?

4) Is it true that most of the money being used to pay players now came from Israeli VAT refunds relating to last year's activities, and the proceeds from the sale of Maximo Nelson to Japan-- in other words, not from new investors?

5) How many investors have signed on to the new season?

6) When will the private placement memorandum necessary to raise most of the money needed by the IBL be available?

7) Is it true that the IAB is requiring the IBL to make a security deposit ($200,000) in order to be re-licensed, which the IBL hasn't been able to make?

8) If the IAB doesn't acknowledge a license with the IBL, will the IBL try anyway to conduct a league?

9) Who is controlling the finances of the new league - Solomont? Baras? Duquette? You?

10) Will David Solomont's brother, Jay, have any involvement in the league?

11) Is it true that Larry Baras still has a large ownership stake in the IBL?

12) Will Dan Duquette be the CEO of the revamped league? If so, would you be reporting to Duquette, or to someone else?

13) Have plane tickets for this year's players been purchased?

14) Where will the players be staying during the summer? Have there been any payments made reserving those arrangements?

15) Have the player's uniforms been ordered and paid for?

16) Is the league supplying bats or will the players have to bring their own?

17) How many players have committed to playing this summer, and what percentage is from last season?

18) Who are the managers and coaches?

19) What is the drop-dead date for declaring that there is no season this year?

20) If there is no season this summer, are there plans to continue efforts to create a season in 2009?

"Dan, talk to us!" A reader has some questions for the Israel Baseball League's "in-coming president"

Did you get a load of that comment
on our last post about
the Israel Baseball League?

Our continuing coverage of the IBL saga may have cost us a few regular readers, but the new readers from around the world and all walks of life from the world of competitive eating to the corridors of corporate power, have more than made up for it. And nothing makes it more worthwhile than the fact that this little tabloid, T&A and media watchdog website has become the clearinghouse for all things Israel baseball and the center of spirited debate. Whether it's the teasing of 0007 or the anonymous comments from IBL players, the comments are all terrific. But every once in a while, someone posts a comment that's so... well, long... it deserves a larger forum.

No, in light of our earlier report from Our Man Elli in Israel, this reader has some simple yet serious questions for the IBL's "in-coming president" Dan Rootenberg. We only wish he wasn't Anonymous:

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 12:26:00 PM PDT:

Dan Rootenberg is a seasoned businessman. He runs a well-regarded physical therapy practice in NYC and makes a good living. It's not anyone who can throw down $25K in a fledgling baseball league, right?

Dan also loves baseball and has been immersed in it for years. He is one of many that would like to see pro ball take hold in Israel. He may be one of the few in that group that can actually contribute to making it happen.

There are questions out there though that are still unanswered. Some have been posed on this blog about who else besides players are being paid.

Paying some of the players is a good start. Understandably, Dan has a strong allegiance to the players having been one of them. Yet, one might well wonder how it was determined which players get paid first...the ones Dan wants to come back (apparently that is a qualification based on the latest Elli post)? the ones who are owed the most (some were owed $500, others supposedly as much as $1500, maybe even $2000 for the full summer fo 2007)? What about the managers? Some time ago, it was noted that at least 2 of the managers were owed a lot of money. Have they been paid? And all the vendors? The overall number was reportedly over $1 million. That leads to other questions.

Like, what about the financials from last year. For Dan to accept the reins of this enterprise and for him to be able to engage new vendors, one would think that the accurate financial statements for last year now exist and were prepared by a certified, licensed financial professional of unquestionable reputation; as well, it would make sense that a statement about new funding would have to be in place. After all, he has now reportedly sent out a bunch of checks to players. So, what about the source of the funding for the venture Dan is looking to head up this summer. Who are the new investors? Were they vetted and, if so how? Are the rumored investor problems that have appeared accurate or a nasty rumor? What's up with Solomont? Is he another Larry Baras? Do birds of a feather...? With all the distrust flowing from last year's experience, why not firmly dispell the rumor if the latter is true?

And who are the new vendors? Have they been paid even before the debts were paid to the 2007 vendors, without whom last year might not have happened. And if the financials for 2007 have been done, why haven't they been summarized for the public to create a better sense of trust going forward. Even more importantly, why is it that original investors have not received any financials yet although they were entitled to them in early April.

Then there is the decertification by the IAB for the IBL's breach of contract, as stated in the IAB's letter that made it's way to the public. Where is a joint statement from the IBL and the IAB that they've ironed out their differences, if in fact they have done so?

It would be great to see a full press release providing meaningful answers to these questions and would go a long way towards creating a broader base of trust based on a transparency that was non-existent with the 2007 leadership (when their attempts at transparency later proved to either shade the truth or simply be false).

Lastly, here, word is getting around that the documentary Holyland Hardball is stirring up (significant?) interest in new investors, perhaps with the assistance of this Boston-based investment firm Elli heard about. However, the video, while apparently very well done, only documents the creation of the IBL through its opening day. It does not address the major league problems of last summer's then brand new league...from the lack of a the IBL website-reported "marquis"playing field at Sportek Park upon our arrival and it's hasty, sub-par construction to the sub-par room and board to the near work stoppage in mid-July (which would have been the end of the IBL only shortly after it started) to the broader financial problems that almost led to the travel agent pulling the return flight tickets of league players and personnel and did lead to bounced checks (that have reportedly had serious impact on some league participants) and unpaid debts of over a million dollars.

Which begs the question, what broader disclosure about the inaugural/only season is being made to the prospective investors who are being lured in with the Holyland Hardball film? What promises, if any, are being made and what is truly behind those promises that will ensure that they can be kept. Or, are the people who were more prominent last year but seem to be almost publicly invisible right now up to what some, and perhaps many, would say are the same questionable business practices?

This is pointedly not a suggestion that Dan Rootenberg would be involved in this type of behavior; rather, it is a question of what information does he have about how the now silent leadership behind the scenes is going about their business. Remember that Mr. Baras' investment firm quit on him last winter after they discovered he'd been less than honest with them, having failed to mention to them his being sued for securities fraud in Boston Federal Court.

All of these are very valid questions given the debacle that was year one. No doubt the players made the league the success that it was. And no doubt, the founder and his close allies quickly ran that success into the ground.

Baseball is a magical sport. It is intoxicating to player and fan alike. Find a bunch of like-minded people with some bats, gloves and a ball, a large grassy area and a baseball game can break out almost anywhere.

But a professional baseball league is a whole different world. And speaking of worlds, doing business in Israel is a far different world in many ways than doing business in other places. Everyone I know wants a professional league to take hold and grow in Israel. That means making the Israelis fans, making the Israel vendors happy and really selling the game to the local population. It means having a meaningful PR and advertising strategy. It means having a field development plan. It means connecting with a feeder system of talent that will build the talent level and status of the league in the baseball world.

All the power to Dan if he has a real plan for getting pro baseball to stick in Israel. One wonders whether a three week long tournament, some clinics and playing catch, without much more on the league's part, can accomplish that goal. It would seem to be appropriate to hear some more from him (and, perhaps, the others in the current IBL hierarchy) about his/their plan of action, particularly given the unfortunate prior history of the IBL. Hey, if it sounds good and has some teeth to it, it might well interest investors he never knew had in interest in funding this attempt at reincarnating the original venture.

Ball's in your glove, Dan. Talk to us.

Eric Holtz wants your Israel baseball questions

Eric Holtz will answer your questions if you give your name.

Opinions from the 41-year old New York City businessman who left his business, wife, children and responsibilities behind to chase a boy's baseball dream in far-off Israel are of interest because he's been a cocky, controversial figure in the Israel Baseball League long before his family discord was immortalized in the IBL documentary film, Holy Land Hardball.

In the weeks following the IBL’s first season, as the façade was being methodically stripped away by the intrepid reporting of Our Man Elli in Israel and the stink of corruption began to ooze from the Middle East, across Europe and back to Boston, Eric was not only the main player apologist for embattled IBL founder Larry Baras, he shockingly became the IBL management’s attack dog against the reporter who was revealing a rats nest of wrong.

Eric wrote on this site's comment pages:

“In life it is always easier to pick apart what someone did wrong (Monday morning quarterback) Like this Elli guy from Israel who could be the lowest level of Human Life in a reporter that I have ever seen, rather than to Look at the Positives and try to recover from them. I myself have always prided myself on being a Glass Half-Full Guy but again -That is Me!"

This Glass Half-Full guy has yet to apologize to Elli. But when his former league mate Dan Rootenberg was forced to walk away from what turned out to be a ceremonial role as “in-coming President" of the "new and improved" IBL, Holtz jumped onto the public stage to again declare himself some kind of leader, writing in the comments section of this site:

"I am very disappointed and disturbed at how things have transpired. I had been planning great things with Rootenberg in the hopes of resurrecting the league, but only if it would have been done correctly and responsibly. There is for sure a future for Baseball In the Holyland, however there needs to be a Group to come in and right the wrongs-save face if you will and move on in a positive and right way. Financial responsibility and paying previous debt is paramount to the future of Baseball. Putting an ample product on the field will never be the issue at hand, rather being Businessmen is the foremost task at hand. I for one will attest to the Hard work, dedication and undying attempts to get this done correctly by Dan Rootenberg who I take my hat off to. The last month has been tough and believe me, he has tried to get things done only one way-The Right way! Thanks for your hard work and attempt at advancing Baseball in Israel..."

Eric’s grandstanding led to immediate ridicule and hard questions from commenters like "Anonymous":

"Disappointed and disturbed? Only now? Where've you been? Walking around with your head up your butt? Or Larry's? Or Martin Berger's? Maybe the people who somehow believed that the IBL leaders would change their ways should start explaining why they believed this. You all have empowered them to keep their operation going when it should have been steamrolled months ago. So, Mr. Holtz, after all that went on last summer right in front of your eyes, why'd you sign on with them? What did they tell you? What proof did they show you? What financials did they show you? What empty promises did they make to you about what they were going to do for the league? About what role they were going to give to you? To others? And what made you, after all this time, so disappointed and disturbed? The people deserve to know. The young players who followed your lead deserve to know."

Eric responded this morning:

"I don't respond to anonymous questions. You have something to say, step up and be a man. I'm easy to find."

So, gentlemen-- and ladies--we offer you a chance to “step up and be a man” and ask Eric Holtz a question.

Send your questions here-- and be sure to be a man and include your name.

Who wants to be first?

“I’ll start. Sam Peters is the name. I do PR and occasional research for this here site. And I got a question for Mr. Holtzman. Do you still blame Elli for the downfall of the IBL and for the state of baseball in Israel? And are you man enough to step up like a man and man up and apologize? There’s my questions. The name’s Sam Peters. Alto-Nido Apartments, 6350 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, California. I’m easy to find, too."

"I've got one too. I'm Shmuley. I work in research. Question, Mr. Holtz: You were so big on the IBL-- past and present-- but were you really willing to stick your neck out? Is it true, Mr. Holtz, that you were supposed to deliver the uniforms for this season, but refused to do so until you got paid?"

That's a start. Now back to work you two. Hey, someone submit the 20 questions we'd sent Dan and El Presidente Solomonte! let's see what Eric Holtz really knows!

DAVID SOLOMONT IS ISRAEL BASEBALL LEAGUE'S "INTERIM PRESIDENT"! PROMISES TO MAKE ISRAEL "THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC OF THE MIDDLE EAST"!

In wake of Our Man Elli in Israel's exclusive report last night that former Israel Baseball League player and "incoming president" Dan Rootenberg has resigned from the league amid frustrations and unanswered questions from an inner circle that includes embattled founder Larry Baras and controversial Boston businessman David Solomont, comes the expected cancellation of the new IBL's promised four-team, 20-game, three-week, "momentum-keeping" mini-season.

But the news release from the IBL bunker this morning includes several other revelations, shifts and promises that are sure to generate more controversy, and extend this story and its accompanying investigations in 2009:

* David Solomont is the IBL's "interim president."

* A brief, "best-of-seven, "festival-style" tournament pitting an Israeli all-star team against international players will begin on August 14th to coincide with the Beijing Olympics. The series will include youth clinics. The international team will be comprised of all-star players from last year, the league said.

* Solomont says the league hopes to begin winter play this year.

* Winter facilities have not yet been arranged.

* Solomont says the new management has raised enough money to pay off all remaining debts and finance the league for at least two more seasons... and believes it can be profitable.

* Former Boston Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, who oversaw player development last year, will now take on an expanded role as director of operations.

* Duquette and new board member Gary Woolf will oversee long-term development, including the launch of the winter league in southern Israel.

* The long-term goal is to attract international players along the lines of the winter leagues in the Caribbean.

* Solomont says: "This is going to be the Dominican Republic of the Middle East."

* The IBL is in the process of hiring a full-time staff, including senior sports-marketing professionals who will be based in Israel and the U.S.

* League founder Larry Baras, will no longer be involved.

* Officials at the Israel Association of Baseball, a local organization that promotes the sport in the country, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

* Solomont said he expected to work with the IAB "for years to come."


The expanded Associated Press story, from The International Herald Tribune:

Israeli baseball league to shorten season, launch winter league in latest shakeup

JERUSALEM: Israel's beleaguered professional baseball league on Wednesday unveiled its latest plan for survival, saying it would scale back its upcoming season to a brief exhibition series next month before launching a winter league and returning to full strength next summer.

The shakeup was the latest twist in the league's short but tumultuous history. Just last month, the league said it was coming back for a second season after an inaugural campaign that left it on the brink of collapse. At the time, it said four teams would compete, down from six last year, and the season would be cut in half to 20 games.

But after further discussions, the league's new management concluded a brief "festival-style" tournament pitting an Israeli all-star team against international players would be the best way to generate fan interest and showcase homegrown talent, said David Solomont, a Boston businessman who is serving as the IBL's interim president.

He said the best-of-seven series, which will include youth clinics, would begin on Aug. 14 to coincide with the Beijing Olympics. "The plan to host an Olympic style baseball festival is a fabulous way to promote the sport and give the Israeli athletes the attention they deserve as local baseball heroes," he said.

The international team will be comprised of all-star players from last year, the league said.

The inaugural 2007 season delivered a respectable level of play — roughly on par with single-A minor league baseball in the U.S. — and more than a dozen players went on to sign professional contracts.

But in a Middle Eastern country where football is king and baseball is little more than a curiosity, the league suffered from low attendance, financial difficulties and a mass defection of executive board members after the season. The troubles fueled persistent rumors that the league would fold.

Solomont said the new management has raised enough money to pay off all remaining debts and finance the league for at least two more seasons. He said the league's new investors believe it can be profitable. "In the next three to five years, the challenge, and the opportunity, is to develop a local fan base," he said.

Former Boston Red Sox General Manager Dan Duquette, who oversaw player development last year, will now take on an expanded role as director of operations. Duquette and new board member Gary Woolf, a Boston businessman with years of sports-management experience, will oversee long-term development, including the launch of the winter league in southern Israel.

"Now that the potential is established a more robust and sophisticated league, teams, management and vision can be engaged," Woolf said. "The entire team believes this enterprise can become an explosive element not only in Israel but have international marketing and business appeal."

Solomont said the league hopes to begin winter play this year, though he said facilities have not yet been arranged. The long-term goal is to attract international players along the lines of the winter leagues in the Caribbean. "This is going to be the Dominican Republic of the Middle East," he said.

Solomont does not expect to serve as league president for long. It is in the process of hiring a full-time staff, including senior sports-marketing professionals who will be based in Israel and the U.S.

The league's founder, Boston businessman Larry Baras, will no longer be involved, and Dan Rootenberg, a former player who was appointed league president last month, has decided not to accept the position, the league said.

Officials at the Israel Association of Baseball, a local organization that promotes the sport in the country, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. The group has had rocky relations with the professional league, but Solomont said he expected to work with the IAB "for years to come."

Our Man Elli: Israel Baseball League is running out of time, doesn't have the money, and may not have its momentum-keeping mini-season after all!

The new and improved Israel Baseball League is what? Eighteen days away from the first pitch of its four-team, 20-game, three-week, momentum-keeping mini-season, and everyone's still standing around with their fingers up their creamcheese-filled bagels wondering what's going on.

We praised player-turned "in-coming president" Dan Rootenberg for actually speaking with Our Man Elli in Israel, and for putting his reputation on the line when he promised that checks are in the mail to some players still owed money from last year. Today, despite our advice, the IBL site still hasn't taken the "in-coming" off his title and some checks that were supposedly in the mail a week ago have still not landed in mailboxes.

Behind the scenes, we're hearing the machers behind IBL Mach 2 are talking about delaying the mini-season by a week. But again, nobody's talking and all the anonymous commenters who were quick to say we were wrong in being the first to report there won't be any professional baseball in Israel this summer may have been, as they are in bed, premature.

But who knows? Time to wake up Our Man Elli.

Tabloid Baby: So?

Our Man Elli In Israel: Yes and good morning-- is it morning?-- to you. There's a a lot going on. Lots of news. Hard to keep up.

So?

You wanna play that way? Fine. First off: Gezer has been promised again that the money was wired to their account, but as of yesterday – Tuesday – no money has arrived. Which means that as of now, the IBL can’t play on their field.

What’s the problem?

Money. Duh.

We thought the IBL was paying off all debts from last year.

Yes. That’s what they're trying to do. And they're racing the clock to do it. Because if they don’t get the money soon, it's pretty much over. I don’t know about any drop-dead date yet, but c'mon! The season is supposed to start two weeks from Sunday. This can’t go on for much longer.

But what about David Solomont? Isn't he the moneyman who’s paying the tab?

I never said, and you guys never reported, that he was picking up the debts. We all said he was fronting a little money to make some payoffs needed to get the league off the ground or licensed by the IAB. And that he could be raising the bulk of the money from other investors.

So?

So it looks like Solomont hasn't been willing yet to put in much of his own money.

He's not stupid, you're saying.

He's definitely not stupid. And because of that it's looking less and less likely that the IBL will be able to conduct a season this year. I've heard that Solomont or Larry Baras retained an investment banking firm in Boston named Baker and Company to help raise money for the IBL. That probably means that the bulk of the money they need isn't committed.

They're soliciting.

Yeah. The important point is whether they're giving investors full disclosure of the IBL's history of the IBL and the risks of investing in it.

Okay. Hold on a minute. You mentioned Baras. Larry Baras. I thought he wasn't involved. Remember the AP reported--

I have it here. Last line of the story says that Baras, quote, “is not expected to be involved in day to day operations.”

So it depends on how you define "involved.”

My sources say that both Solomont and Baras would be involved in ownership, with Baras as a minority partner. They say Baras would continue to own part of the league, but he wouldn't be an executive, if Solomont can move things forward.

So we’re back where we started.

You were expecting maybe something new and improved?

"Sources tell me
that no team uniforms
have been purchased."

What about the players?

The same sources tell me that some players won’t be paid, at least not for a while. There’s a hierarchy on payment:

The ones coming over here to play will get paid first.

Americans owed money will be paid second.

Other foreigners, third.

And players who intend on playing this summer have to make their way to New York-- and only then will their airfare to Israel be paid. And they better bring uniforms. My sources tell me that players have been told that no team uniforms have been purchased.

Sounds like there's no money to buy them.

The IBL is scrambling. They need cash, and they don’t have enough of it.

"I've sent Rootenberg
a list of 20 questions.
I'm awaiting his response."

What about Rootenberg? Hero or puppet?

So far, neither. He’s certainly trying his hardest to do the right thing, but it’s still not clear that he'll be allowed to do it. Indications are they the new, and still, “in-coming” president, is not being fully informed. Sources tell me that Rootenberg recommended that "small creditors"-- like players and field workers-- be paid in full, especially the ones who'd be needed for a second season.

I don't know if this has happened or will happen. It could be that creditors are being offered much less than what they're owed. And it's not clear whether they'll have enough money to do even that.

In any case, I'm also hearing that Solomont and Berger are in charge of settling the IBL's debts, and that Rootenberg has little say. All he can do is recommend.

I've sent Rootenberg a list of 20 questions. I'm awaiting his response.

Any news about the IBL itself?

Well, their website hasn’t been updated since they made their dramatic announcement on June 19th. And that means ticket sales page is still listing Ra’anana Express and Tel Aviv Lightning as teams. And its very first sublink, a description of the IBL, still lists the original six teams (Bet Shemesh Blue Sox, Modi’in Miracle, Netanya Tigers, Petach Tikva Pioneers, Ra'anana Express and Tel Aviv Lightning) and still states that “among the managers of the IBL’s teams are former Major League stars Art Shamsky, Ken Holtzman, and Ron Blomberg," which must be a bit of a shock to Ken.

So now the good news.

Good news? I've got lots of it. The All-Star game next Tuesday at Yankee Stadium features three Jewish players. Well, one full and two half-Jews. We have Kevin Youkilis, the Red Sox first baseman who'll start for the American League. The two half-Jews are Ryan Braun, the sensational outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers-- he'll be starting for the National League, and Ian Kinsler, the Texas Rangers second baseman who made the American League team as a reserve. Both Braun and Kinsler have Jewish fathers. Braun’s dad is Israeli.

I mean good news about baseball in Israel.

Of course. The European Championship Qualifiers are going on right now. There are five tournament locations,featuring national teams vying for a spot at next year’s championship tournament between national baseball teams. It happens in Europe every other year in odd-numbered years. And it’s on this week through Saturday. Israel plays in Karlovac, Croatia. And incidentally, they're one-and-two in the tournament, but still have a chance to qualify for the finals. In one of the losses, the team lost an 8-0 lead.

And as I do the IBL, I wish the Israeli team much success.

As do all of us. But what about--
Gotta go.

Click. Brrrr...

EXCLUSIVE!!! DAN ROOTENBERG BALKS-- AND WALKS!!! ISRAEL BASEBALL LEAGUE'S "IN-COMING PRESIDENT" IS OUT!!! FUTURE OF LEAGUE IN JEOPARDY AGAIN!!!

Exclusive from Our Man Elli in Israel (that's Elli Wohlgelernter to you!):

Elli,

I got your phone call earlier today and I'm writing to let you know that the league is issuing a press release later today announcing that I will not be accepting the presidency of the IBL. I wanted to give you a heads up since you have been so closely following the story. “I remain committed to cultivating a strong, responsible and viable professional baseball league in Israel.” I think I will wait a bit before commenting further, if at all. Elli, I appreciate your cooperation through all of this.

Sincerely,

Dan Rootenberg

CRAZY!!!! ISRAEL BASEBALL LEAGUE SAYS IT'S LAUNCHING SECOND SEASON ON JULY 27TH!! FOUR TEAMS, 20 GAMES: IS IT REALLY A LEAGUE AND REALLY A SEASON???

The president of the Israel Baseball League said today that the league is coming back for a second season, after all!

Despite a first season that left a mountain of debts, angry vendors, a mass exodus of its advisory board, and angry unpaid players, Dan Rootenberg says the league will begin play on July 27th, about a month behind schedule and in abbreviated form.

Despite a promise to expand this year from its six teams, the league will consist of four teams, and the season is being cut in half to twenty games. This has already led some observers to say the "season" is little more than a series of exhibition games.

League President Dan Rootenberg said it's important to acknowledge and learn from last year's mistakes. But he says the season is committed to laying the groundwork for 2009 and beyond. The announcement comes the day an independent movie about the IBL's creation, Holy Land Hardball, premieres in Silver Spring, Maryland.

No comment from embattled league founder Larry Baras.

Stay tuned here for more.

New face for Israel Baseball League as attorney Berger is traded for player Rootenberg; Baras hides

The Israel Baseball League that announced a four-team, 20-game three-week season to begin July 27th is cosmetically different than the one that fled the country with more than a million dollars in debts and bounced payer checks left behind. Its website displays a new executive lineup:

Israel Baseball League player Dan Rootenberg (outfielder for the Netanya Tigers) has replaced controversial Miami attorney Martin L. Berger as league president. Rootenberg's IBL player bio says the New Yorker "had a stellar college career at Binghamton University where he led the team in many offensive stats and was a perennial Conference All-Star... was named to the College Baseball Jewish All-American Team in 1994... played baseball in Europe for seven years for the Zurich Barracudas... was a member of Switzerland’s entry into the European Cup in 1999 and 2004... has also developed a very successful physical therapy and state of the art training center in New York City... his father served in the six day war... his aunt currently writes a popular column in Haifa called “Rinunim”.

Berger is now "director of operations," under "director" Gary Woolf. The Boston consultant who formerly headed the sports management agency founded by his late father, "superagent Bob Woolf" is at the head of the executive list, out to attract sponsors, media partners, and make nice with with US Major League Baseball and Israeli officials.

Former Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette is the league's "director of baseball operations."

Ami Baran, head coach of Israel's Men’s and Women’s National Softball Teams, is the new "director of Israeli operations."

League founder Larry Baras remains in hiding from the media.

New England-based Geller Sport, Inc. is in charge of "field engineering."

IBL: Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

Get the joke with picture? Good.

No? Then go to our archive site and figure it out.

So here we go again: a group of American businessmen with dollar signs in their eyes rush into a season of baseball in a country thousands of miles away, and they do it secretly, ducking questions, refusing to step into the sunshine and simply brush the dirt off home plate.

Secrecy. Arrogance. Nastiness. Something so simple, so refreshing, so steeped in tradition-- baseball, for G-dsake—brings those words to mind because of the manner in which the business men behind the Israel Baseball League chose to make their return: restarting the countdown clock on the IBL website, leaking anonymous, teasing comments on this website, sliming Our Man Elli in Israel and then timing an announcement to the premiere of a feelgood documentary about the leagues’s 2007 start-up.

The undercover operatives of the IBL even sullied their greatest marketing tool, that acclaimed Holy Land Hardball documentary, by insinuating that the film was edited to further discredit the reporter who's covered the historic story singlehandedly:

“When you get to see the movie, watch the utter joy in Elli's face as he asks a typical leading question forshadowing the failure of the IBL before the season even starts. Don't tell me he is an unbiased reporter... now it's forever on film for everyone to see and a picture is worth 10,000 Elli Wanabergers words!!!”

How different the reception to the new bright and shiny Israel Baseball League would have been, had new “president” Dan Rootenberg and his older, experienced colleagues announced the return with a news conference, or an interview with Our Man Elli, and answered-- or at least addressed the questions on everyone’s minds.

But they didn't. And a poke through the comments section of this site shows that while there's pride and excitement over the news that Israel may indeed host a four-team, twenty-game, three-week, momentum-keeping “season” next month, the smirking secrecy of the league management has also caused confusion and anger:

When are the debts being paid? Has anybody been paid yet?
Who is still owed money???
T his might be the last time you can come forward and make a claim.
 Dan what are your plans?

I would want to be paid for last season and this season BEFORE I got on the plane to go anywhere with the IBL!!!

Dan is also a fool because he now exposes himself to the possibility of being party to the fraud which is the IBL.

 Before you agree to be president of a league you better make sure the books are clean.

You better make sure you know who Larry took money from and who is owed money. 

Larry took money from many people and had many side and individual deals with people.

There is a long trail of emails to support this. 

Larry has ruined himself and the people who go into business with him will either be taken by Larry or subject themselves to covering the fraud.

It's great to see how the players have manifested their selfish motives. How can they dream of playing if their teammates have not been paid?

1. The IBL has not paid its debts for last year.
 2. There are claims that they will take care of their debts but these claims should be looked at with a great deal of doubt.
 3. Investors in the new entity should no that they are in danger of investing in a scam and they may incur liability in doing such.
 4. I hope that the ibl management knows that if they come to Israel there is a good chance that they might not get to leave the country and return to the states until their debts are cleaned up.

I look forward to going to the games and booing Berger and Baras for the scam artists they are.

So let the questions begin:

Is Larry Baras the Paul Winchell to Rootenberg’s Knucklehead Smith?

Is Baras, the Wizard hiding behind the curtain?

Why did they wait so long to announce their plans (thirty-eight days before Opening Day? Was it because they didn't know if they would have a league, or because they didn't want the media—especially Our Man Elli-- asking questions?

Why did the IBL 10 quit? Why were they wrong to do so?

Even if all debts are paid tomorrow, why has there has been no disclosure of how much money was raised last summer and how much was spent?

With 35 days to go, and no announcement of how to buy tickets, where the games will take place, who’s playing and managing, who are the games being played for? Certainly not the native Israelis who ignored the league last year.

Is this mini-“season” being jerryrigged in order to fulfill a contract with the IAB?

The anonymous boobirds and IBL operatives can slam us they want. We want professional baseball in Israel as much as anyone else. But we'll continue doing our job, which is to ask questions. And find the answers.

And seriously, why's everything so hush-hush?

By the way, the “clock to nothing” on the IBL site has been reset, and now the Opening Day game is scheduled for 6:03 pm on July 27.

Israel Baseball League's festival a no-go?

We’re 12 days from the supposed first pitch of the new Israel Baseball League baseball “show” that’s supposed to take the place of its second, four-team, 20-game, three-week momentum-building mini-season, but there’s no word on tickets or whether Presidente Solomonte can find two more “All-Stars” to join Shoeless Leon Feingold and his IBL Six to make up a full team to put on the “show” he promised, and reports now that the whole idea has been scratched.

Time to get filled in by Our Man Elli in Israel.

Tabloid Baby: So, is there a festival happening or not?

Our Man Elli in Israel: So where have you been? Jay Abramoff calls the site a "trash-talker," Steve Walz calls you "scatalogical"—

Yeah and neither had the balls to mention us by name. Little putzes. No, there was a glitch in the Blogger system. They say they mistakenly tagged thousands of sites as “spam blogs” and shut us down for two days. We’re back. So what gives?

Will there be a series? Who knows with these guys. I hear that some of the seven players have been told that they'll be flown to Israel on the 11th or 12th, but apparently they haven't received any tickets.

Not even Leon Feingold?

Maybe because Solomont and the IBL aren’t sure there’s even going to be a festival.

Maybe Leon speed-ate the tickets.

No. There hasn’t been any advertising. Despite all the lip service about spreading the word to native Israelis: bupkis.

Could they be planning to play ball without advertising? Without fans? I mean, people make summer plans even in Israel, no?

You’d think. Huh.

What else? We’ve been shut down for a couple of days.

I found out that the Israeli who did merchandising for the IBL last year apparently ordered bats for a 2008 season because he was told there’d be a season. He's still trying to get the new league president to pay for them--

El Presidente David Solomonte!

Well, if that’s what you insist on calling him.

Presidente of the Dominican Republic of the Middle East Baseball League!

Whatever.

Don’t you dig that Woody Allen Bananas picture?

Chico Escuela is what cracked me up.

Together: “Base-ball... been berry, berry good to me..”

(laughter)

Anyway, Solomonte was to suppose to pay for the bats, but he hasn't yet.

Has he paid the players?

Funny you should ask. I spoke to one player, Justin Cardinal, and he’s real upset. Quote: “I’m very frustrated. It’s been a year now that I’ve been waiting for my money.”

They owe him $1,500 from last season, and the checks keep bouncing.

Even now?

Yes, the one he got from the batch that Dan Rootenberg mailed out last month bounced. But Justin doesn’t blame Dan. Another quote: “I respect him. He left because people’s checks bounced.”

You gotta get an interview with Rootenberg.

Yeah.

What’s Justin doing to get his money back?

He said he’s actually been in touch with Solomont.

Quote: “I talked to him a few times, emailed him, three or four different emails. He said he would pay me through ACH transfer, whatever that is. Friday before last (July 18th), he told me to mail him my banking information, said he would get back to me as soon as possible. I called him the next Tuesday (July 22nd) he says, ‘I am going to look over it, shouldn’t be more than three-four business days.’ Here we are a week later, still haven’t heard from him.”

Sounds like the same problem Rollhaus ran into.

Exactly the same. Anyway, Justin says he emailed the Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport, which is in charge of sports in Israel. He told me, and I’m reading from my notes again: “I asked them if they could help me out. I’ll see what happens with them. The hardest part is, I don’t know if I’m dealing with Israel or U.S. law, it’s international. And I can’t sue anybody, because it costs more than the check is worth.” Unquote.

You think that’s what the IBL was counting on all along?

It could be seen that way.

But I only report. The readers decide.

But isn’t illegal to issue checks, knowing there’s not enough money in the account to cover them?

In the States, deliberate check-bouncers can be prosecuted, sure. I'm checking the law in Israel.

Melvin Ell- eye. Anything else from Justin?

Well, he did say he’s very grateful to Tabloid Baby for all the work you've done. Quote: “It’s been our main source. You guys have been our main backers, I’m thankful for it. It’s the source that all the IBL players are going to, great that you are so up to date, otherwise we’d be left in the dark.”

I told him we’re just doing our jobs.

Anything else with the IBL?

I noticed on their website that their countdown clock wound down to no game on Sunday. Now they’ve posted a new poll, asking this question:

Who do you think is having the best season in the professional baseball this year from among the following Jewish players:
Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers. AL All-Star, hitting .325 with 14 homers, 25 stolen bases, and a .526 slugging average
Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers. NL All-Star, hitting .294 with 25 homers and .573 slugging average.
Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Boston Red Sox. AL All-Star, Gold Glover hitting .311 with 17 homers and .551 slugging percentage.
Rafael Bergstrom, P, Bridgeport Bluefish (Atlantic League). Starting pitcher, 5-5 W/L record, 5.07 ERA

Cute, placing Bergstrom with the guys in the Big Show. And nice writing. English is definitely a second language to their webmaster.

Yeah, and besides the fact that such a poll question is, by definition, obsolete by the very next day, this poll has produced a slightly underwhelming response. When I checked this week, a total of zero people have bothered to vote.

You’d figure Solomont and Baras would at least pump up the numbers.

Yeah. Justin is right: the players are coming to Tabloid Baby, not the IBL site.

Maybe they could post a more appealing and relevant poll for the readers of the IBL site.

Like what?

I don't know. How about “Which IBL player is owed the most money?” Or “What hasn’t Leon Feingold stuffed in his mouth?” That ought to draw some traffic.

Leave Leon alone. Don’t judge. Oh, one more thing: the IBL home page has a link, Direction to the Ballparks- which includes directions to Gezer. I’ve reported more than once, Gezer will not allow the IBL to play there until all debts are paid. So why directions to Gezer?

Don't ask me. You’re the man in Israel.

That’s it.

Wait. Jay Abramoff, the guy who accused you of being biased, wrote a letter to the Jerusalem Post in response to your article.

And Steve Walz, the Jewish Press blogger who called you cynical earlier this year, comes back and calls us a “scatological site.”

They're both jealous. Plus, you did a number on them both.

We just reported what they'd written and responded.

Didn’t you have a photo with the post you ran on Waltz?

Yeah.

What was it?

Just a photo.

Come on.

A guy with his head up his ass.

Okay. And how did you depict Abramoff?

As a braying jackass.

A couple of asses, no?

A couple of assholes.

There you go. Let’s talk next week.

Click. Brrrrr…

Now we have twenty questions for Presidente Solomonte of the Dominican Republic of the Middle East Baseball League

Our Man Elli in Israel originally posed the following questions to Dan Rootenberg, the player-turned-"incoming-president" of the new and improved Israel Baseball League. Since Dan was not given the information to answer them, we turn them over to David Solomont, AKA "El Solomonte" of the IBL's successor, the DROTMEBL (Dominican Republic of The Middle East Baseball League):

Here are Our Man Elli's 20 questions. As a matter of fact, we;ll take answers from anyone who feels they can answer:

1) How much of the $1.5 million in IBL debts from last year has been paid?

2) Has Kfar Hayarok been paid? If not, will it be? What about Gezer?

3) Does the IBL owe money to the JNF for the roughly half million dollars given last year by the JNF to the IBL?

4) Is it true that most of the money being used to pay players now came from Israeli VAT refunds relating to last year's activities, and the proceeds from the sale of Maximo Nelson to Japan-- in other words, not from new investors?

5) How many investors have signed on to the new season?

6) When will the private placement memorandum necessary to raise most of the money needed by the IBL be available?

7) Is it true that the IAB is requiring the IBL to make a security deposit ($200,000) in order to be re-licensed, which the IBL hasn't been able to make?

8) If the IAB doesn't acknowledge a license with the IBL, will the IBL try anyway to conduct a league?

9) Who is controlling the finances of the new league - Baras? Duquette? You?

10) Will your brother, Jay Solomont, have any involvement in the league?

11) Is it true that Larry Baras still has a large ownership stake in the IBL?

12) Will Dan Duquette be the CEO of the revamped league? If so, would you be reporting to Duquette, or to someone else?

13) Have plane tickets for this year's players been purchased?

14) Where will the players be staying during the summer? Have there been any payments made reserving those arrangements?

15) Have the player's uniforms been ordered and paid for?

16) Is the league supplying bats or will the players have to bring their own?

17) How many players have committed to playing this summer, and what percentage is from last season?

18) Who are the managers and coaches?

19) What is the drop-dead date for declaring that there is no season this year?

20) If there is no season this summer, are there plans to continue efforts to create a season in 2009?

"This is going to be the Dominican Republic of the Middle East"
--IBL "interim president" David Solomont

Will there really be baseball in Israel this summer?

So where are we? Twenty-five days or so to Opening Day of the second season of the Israel Baseball League-- or should we say, the new, improved four-team, 20-game, three-week "momentum-keeping" mini-season of the Israel Baseball League. But is it really going to happen?

The new "in-coming president" of the IBL, Dan Rootenberg, spoke to Our Man Elli in Israel minutes ago, and he says, "The first wave of players' checks (from last season) have been sent out." Eighty percent of the players who are owed money can expect their checks, he says. "I personally put in the mail those players' checks."

Rootenberg wouldn't answer any other questions directly, including whether the IBL will indeed get it together in time for opening Day on June 27th.

Then we've got the players. Many of them don't care about the money issues. They're ballplayers. They'd play for free.

But they're in limbo.

The mini-season is set to start three weeks from Sunday, but no one knows who's showing up to play or what happens next. Many don't believe there will be a season, so at this late date, they're hedging their bets; not quitting jobs or taking leaves of absence because the summer plans are still up in the air.

The IBL has finally removed the roster of last year's players from its website, but hasn't replaced them with the new lineups.

Though they're selling tickets for six, not four, teams and still promise:

"This year, our menu will be a little different, but we think you will enjoy it all the more. The season will begin on July 27th and end on August 17th. The Bet Shemesh Blue Sox will be returning to defend their title and will be joined this year by three other teams – the Modi’in Miracle, the Netanya Tigers, and a new entrant, the Jerusalem Gold. Each time will play a 20-game regular season, culminating in a championship series. The set-up this year will be akin to the College World Series that is played each year in the U.S. Each day, there will be two games played, accompanied by on-field clinics, catch with the players, and softball games. Nonetheless, the competition and level of play at the pro level will be the same as last year, with the Blue Sox being public enemy number one for the other three teams..."

And as we head into what could be a great fun time of baseball in the Holy Land, we hear that Our Man Elli is persona non grata among many players because they think he's "against baseball." You schmucks! No one loves baseball more than Our Man Elli! And no one has dedicated more time to watching out for your best interests! Who took time to track down the "in-coming president"?

We can't wait for the first pitch.

Should it be thrown.