Robert Nutting said this in response to questions about the propriety of a MLB owner also owning a casino, which he just purchased:
"We would do nothing that would embarrass the Pirates or the sport of baseball," he said.
The owners do not understand thirteen years of losing, culminating in a young team incapable of winning even 40% of their games, as an embarrassment for the Pirates and the sport of baseball.
It is an embarrassment for the Pirates, for the sport of baseball, and, most important to me, for all the fans of the Pirates. My grandfather is rolling in his grave I'm sure. Perhaps the business owners and management have no cause to be embarrassed, but surely the customers are embarrassed.
The quote, though taken out of context, suggests that Robert Nutting disagrees. Those who have argued that the current ownership and front office lack the will to compete are looking more and more right to me. They would rather own ski resorts. There is no other explanation of how these teams, which look mediocre on paper, continue to lose at a horrific pace--as though losing was an acceptable cost of doing business. Where did the players learn that there's no reason to "demoralize themselves" by reading the MLB standings every morning? The ownership ultimately bears responsibility not just for tolerating, but also for teaching such losing habits. They sign the checks; they have considerable influence over the players. If they are not embarrassed, why should the players be embarrassed?
The Tribune-Review's Robin Acton reports the conflict-of-interest created by the Nutting purchase may jeopardize the resort's acquisition of a slots license. Here's to hoping this signals a quick sale of the club. If the Nuttings don't own the club, they will easily get their slots for their ski resort. So maybe they anticipate that conflict-of-interest disappearing soon?
Or maybe not. And of course, it's not hard to imagine a world in which they get their baseball team and their slot machines.
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