Players & vendors to picket Israel baseball "show"?

El Presidente David Solomonte of the Dominican Republic of the Middle East Baseball League might want to think about adding extra security for his weeklong baseball “show” festival that’s being promised to replace an actual Israel baseball league season, beginning August 14th at the Yarkon Sports Complex in Petach Tikva.

Our staffers who’ve been monitoring the “chatter” on the Tabloid Baby comment boards, not to mention off-the-record interviews Our Man Elli in Israel has had with former IBL players and vendors in Israeli who are still holding the bag or bounced checks from the IBL’s first season, are talking about protesting the games—possibly with a picket line that Leon Feingold and other IBL "All-Stars" would be forced to cross.

The athletes who manned the IBL in 2007 never formed a labor union, but as in wartime or summer camp, formed a bond that was only strengthened when many returned to their native lands to find that their paltry paychecks had bounced!

Public pronouncements by IBL pitcher Feingold, and his enthusiasm for joining the “All Star” lineup despite the of his fellow players, have hardened the determination of many IBL vets, investors and vendors to see “justice” from the new IBL executives who'd seemed to promise accountability and openness in a bid for an IBL revival.

Among the recent postings on the Tabloid Baby comments pages, which has long beenthe sounding board, monitored across the globe, for the Israel baseball community:

anonymous said...
"I say good for Leon, who seems like a great guy who is deeply committed to making baseball succeed in Israel."
Really? How exactly is he making it succeed when players from last year haven't been paid. And not only not been paid - the checks sent last month have bounced!!! BOUNCED! AGAIN!! So is he really doing anything "to making baseball succeed in Israel," besides kissing ass so he can get a free trip back to Israel? 

"All i wanna do is go back and play ball and forget about it." - Shoeless Joe Jackson, "Eight Men Out"


He was thrown out for life, Fat Mouth, and he didn't take any money. And all you want to do "is go back and play ball and forget about it?" Won't work, Feingold, you have teammates to answer to - you may have gottten paid in full, but your teammates have been stiffed.
Don't cross their picket line, scabs are not welcome to play.
Friday, July 25, 2008 6:02:00 AM PDT

ibl player said...
"Don't cross their picket line, scabs are not welcome to play."


Who the hell are you to create a picket line? Were you a player? Were you involved with the league at all?
Probably not. So shut up, eat your fast food, and f--- your wife. Leave the baseball to us.
Friday, July 25, 2008 9:31:00 AM PDT

another ibl player said...
Well if there is no union in place, then there can't be a picket line to cross correct?

If the anonymous person who made the comment about the scabs is indeed a player, why don't you fess up your name and talk to the players who have allegedly committed to go back? Instead of talking smack anonymously on this blog, hit them up on facebook or on their phones. I have most of their contact info. If you give up your identity, I can get you in contact w/them so you can make your plea like a man instead of hiding behind this blog.
Friday, July 25, 2008 2:15:00 PM PDT

anonymous said...
Mr IBL player 
Leave the baseball to us?

Where are your morals?

Just because you can hit or throw a baseball does not give you a license to f--- non-paid players and not care about any of the bad debts and ill will created by these idiots!
Friday, July 25, 2008 2:19:00 PM PDT

anonymous said...
To the last commenter, maybe the guy who wrote it isn't good enough to play anywhere else and/or simply doesn't give a sh*t about his brother players. Maybe some of the guys who were in the league last year are simply self-centered, egotistical and immature and don't care what the rest of the picture looks like even as simple as it is to figure out by now. They will stand up and be counted if and when they go to Israel or, if they get posted on the IBL website and are then dealt a dose of reality when the Festival falls flat. Or when they get stuck there because the return tickets aren't paid for.
They will eventually learn that what goes around comes around. It's too bad, but it is what it is.
Friday, July 25, 2008 8:59:00 PM PDT

ibl player said...
Ask anyone from last season if they would go back. 95% will say yes, paid or not paid.
Friday, July 25, 2008 11:59:00 PM PDT

ibl player said...
your number is way high, bro. and those who would go back, knowing now how these guys operate, just don't get it...to just not care about your mates and the other blokes who ain't been paid and to want to work for lying trash who will not help the game grow there is immature and selfish. it's time for some of our mates to grow up.
Saturday, July 26, 2008 5:08:00 AM PDT

anonymous said...
Once again, for Fat Mouth Feingold, it's all about him, and f--- the players. He's ready to come back and play, and to hell with everyone else who has not been paid. To hell with them.
Saturday, July 26, 2008 9:17:00 PM PDT

anonymous said...
Hey Leon, do you give a s--- about the rest of us who have been screwed again and again by the IBL? Who bounced my check again? And bulls--- me about getting me my money? And don't return my emails or phone calls? Who's paying your way to Israel? And why isn't that cash being used to pay everyone from last year first? What's the matter with you? Go choke on a schnitzel, jerk.
Sunday, July 27, 2008 6:36:00 AM PDT