John Fisher, perhaps the luckiest fool alive because no foolish move he makes can seem to deprive him of the money that must have been thrown at him from a moving vehicle, has once again caught a stroke of luck. With the Super Bowl taking place in Las Vegas this week, it will divert attention from the latest humiliation he faces. The mayor of Las Vegas thinks his plan is idiotic.
“I thought, this doesn’t make sense, so why is it happening?” Carolyn Goodman expressed.
Indeed, Mayor, we all share your sentiment.
Typically, when a team announces a relocation to a new city, the mayor of that city embraces the team, extolling the benefits it will bring and expressing excitement about throwing out the first pitch and the prospect of future championships. It is difficult to think of another scenario where, before the stadium design is finalized, the mayor is already calling the person behind it an “idiot.”
Mayor Goodman criticized Fisher’s insistence on locating the new stadium on the Strip, which will make it extremely difficult to access by car, instead of choosing a site that is centrally located and easily accessible for residents. She also rightly acknowledged the passion of the Oakland fan base, which does not deserve to be burdened with Fisher’s presence. She clearly wishes her constituents would not have to bear the shame that comes with it.
Goodman’s comments come after the Nevada State Education Association filed a lawsuit to prevent public funds from being used to construct a stadium that will likely not attract much interest, which could ultimately halt the relocation. If Fisher’s lack of clarity regarding his financial contribution doesn’t halt the move first, that is. It is worth noting that the teachers’ union initially attempted to include a referendum on the ballot, but their efforts were unsuccessful. However, they have appealed the court’s decision. This lawsuit specifically targets the Nevada legislature, not the A’s, and argues that a two-thirds majority vote is required instead of a simple majority because public revenue is involved, as stipulated by the Nevada Constitution.
All of this follows the widely shared shoulder-shrug moment on social media when Fisher tried to generate hype for the investors who are expected to support this ill-conceived venture.
Feel the enthusiasm. Prostate exams elicit more of a reaction than this.
Two months have passed since the A’s were supposed to present a rendering of the new ballpark, but there is still none. Fisher is desperately seeking someone to take on the burden of paying for his share of this imaginary stadium, but no one is rushing to do so. They still have no idea where the A’s will play for the three seasons after this one and before this barely-conceptualized structure is actually constructed and operational.
In broader terms, this entire process is a disaster, as it aims to move a team from one of the largest markets in the country to the smallest. MLB owners will likely have to bail out Fisher through revenue sharing when their TV deal yields no profit. Alternatively, they will have to share a league-wide deal with the A’s, who won’t attract many viewers either. Additionally, the A’s will play in the smallest stadium in MLB, in the scorching desert heat of July, hoping that enough tourists will be willing to endure the sweltering conditions to watch their team win a 4-2 game against a faceless A’s team. Fisher refuses to pay for any additional amenities, while the fans are likely to be severely hungover. What exactly is good about any of this?
In summary, a complete fool wants to take away the baseball team he has ruined from a much larger city that adores it, and was offering him a better stadium deal than the much smaller city that doesn’t want them. He has not proven that he can build or fill a stadium, and he requires the most deceitful commissioner in recent sports history to cover up his incompetence.
This is Rob Manfred’s MLB, everyone.