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From: rainbow@ihuxe.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: RE: cubs go to court
Message-ID: <1005@ihuxe.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 4-Jan-85 12:41:06 EST
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Posted: Fri Jan  4 12:41:06 1985
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Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball   Subject: Re: Cubs go to court

>Instead of railing against the unfairness of pressuring the Cubs to
>play night games, Cub fans ought to ponder the unfairness of the Cubs
>sharing the profits of a TV contract which demands night games during
>the week yet claiming exemption from its responsibilities.  The Cubs
>COULD have raised the issue beforehand, and presumably could have
>negotiated with the league and the networks to be get such a waiver,
>presumably at the price of part of their cut of the contract being
>used to reimburse the networks should the Cubs win.  They did not.
>
>Protestations against being pressured to play night games while
>cheerfully accepting the profits made possible by other clubs  playing
>night games has more than a hint of hypocrisy.  If Cub management (and
>fans) wish to impress me with their sincerity, let them refuse their
>share (or some portion thereof) of the profits they get from the
>networks for baseball holding weekday playoff/championship games being
>played at night.
>
>						David Rubin

May the Mets croak off in a plane crash.
I can't believe anyone would dare write such an uninformed article. I
knew New York wasn't exactly in touch with America's heartland, but
I was shocked to realize they are actually in siberia. Listen carefully
now while I explain reality.

You forget that the Cubs are not playing day games by choice.
The Cubs management has been trying to change local and state
ordinances against night baseball for years now. Thats because they felt
the Cubs were doing so poorly all those years by being worn down by all
those day games. Apparently, only because the Cubs are suddenly in the 
limelight has siberia become aware of recent attempts to change the laws.
Unfortunately the local inhabitants have so far prevented these cases from
succeeding.

So now, tell me why the cubs shouldn't receive their share of revenue?
Is it because the cubs are a class organization and are in the business of
providing entertainment and the league is Big Business and only cares
about profits?

By the way, the cubs have no power in negotiating their own tv contract
as you infer they should have down before the fact. The league board controls
such contracts. And they were caught with egg on their face for agreeing to
a contract that allowed the networks to pay less for day games. It is the 
board's responsibility to be aware of the ramnifications. They are suppose
to represent the best interests of the league. Obviously they must have
been satisfied with the contract(or gambled that the cubs wouldn't make it
to the playoffs). So now whatever revenue is brought in as a result of this
contract should be fairly divided between all teams(which they represented).
Otherwise next you'll be telling me teams with small ballparks should be given
a smaller share because they bring in less revenue compared to a team which
plays in a large ballpark. Or you'll be telling me teams with a small 
following(ie Minnesota) should receive a smaller share than teams with a large
following(ie Dodgers) because their tv ratings won't be as high. Right.
That cold up there in siberia must really be slowing your thinking 
process(note that the plural form was intentionally left off).

You forget, the contract does not demand night games. It provides different
revenue based on when the playoff games are held. This was agreed to by all.
So why now are the Mets fans renigging on the deal they made? They should 
have done so before the fact. They did not. What right do they have to change
the contract after the fact and dish out more or less revenue for various
teams as they see fit? 

This apparent Mets attitude is a disgrace to baseball. Baseball should not
be a big business charging for their product to maximize profits. 
Rather it should be providing a service. But I have no sympathy for Mets fans
who cannot enjoy the game as it should be and as it is provided to Cubs fans.

Robert

PS. I did not mean to put down all Met followers. Just one in particular who
is not a true baseball fan.