A second baseball owner admitted Friday that one of his companies accepted a loan from a business controlled by Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad.
Colorado Rockies owner Jerry McMorris said baseball commissioner Bud Selig gave advance approval for the loan to McMorris’ Timnath Farms Inc. Earlier this week, Selig admitted he arranged for his Milwaukee Brewers to take a loan from a Pohlad company in 1995. Baseball has a rule preventing teams and officials from “directly or indirectly” loaning money to other teams and their officials.
– Baseball owners and umpires filed appeals of a federal judge’s decision that ordered management to rehire nine of the 22 umpires who lost their jobs following a failed mass resignation in 1999.
The commissioner’s office and the Major League Umpires Association filed the appeals with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals throw into question whether the case will be concluded–and any umpires rehired–by the start of the coming season.
– The Boston Red Sox held telephone discussions with the team’s limited partners after Charles Dolan’s late bid of $700 million. Dolan is chairman of Cablevision Systems Corp. He made the bid three weeks after the Red Sox agreed to a $660 million offer from a group headed by Florida owner John Henry.
– Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett and his wife are getting divorced less than a month after Tonya Puckett told police her husband threatened to kill her during an argument. Kirby Puckett denied the threat and no charges were filed.
Horse racing: Maywood Park offers the richest handicapping contest in local history with a $50,000 tournament. The first of five weekly qualifying rounds begins Jan. 18. Contestants will bet on thoroughbred simulcasts from major circuits. Three finalists from each week will advance to the championship Feb. 23. First prize is $15,000.
— Dave Surico.