04/25/24
March 28, 2012
Magic Johnson-led group is picked as Dodgers' next owner: Johnson, who guided the Lakers to five NBA championships during the "Showtime" era of the 1980s, is a partner in the group along with longtime baseball executive Stan Kasten and movie executive Peter Guber. The controlling owner would be Mark Walter, chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, a Chicago-based financial services company. The winning group paid $2 billion for the team -- a record for a sports franchise.
posted by tommytrump to baseball at 09:58 AM - 8 comments
Mark Cuban did not want to buy them. He dropped out because he thought the valuation was too high (which was bumped up based on the projected media deals)
posted by holden at 11:15 AM on March 28, 2012
It's a shame he didn't.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:41 PM on March 28, 2012
I think Stan Kasten is much more important day to day than Magic will be.
posted by flannelenigma at 11:47 AM on March 29, 2012
Not to be contrarian just for the sake of it, but I don't see why Mark Cuban would definitely be a better option than this group. I understood why people wanted to see him bid on the Cubs (actually invest some money in the team instead of being happy to make money on the history), but I don't see where he's inherently a great baseball owner.
posted by yerfatma at 01:11 PM on March 29, 2012
but I don't see where he's inherently a great baseball owner.
I think it comes from the fact that he wasn't "inherently a great basketball owner", and yet he flipped that franchise from doormats to contenders (and eventual champions).
Maybe it doesn't work in baseball, but I can see where people would love to let him try.
posted by grum@work at 01:42 PM on March 29, 2012
Yeah, I get that, I just don't see where it applies to the Dodgers.
posted by yerfatma at 03:01 PM on March 29, 2012
Spending money hasn't been a problem for the Dodgers for awhile, spending wisely is a whole other ball of wax.
posted by lilnemo at 07:53 PM on April 02, 2012
I think they should have allowed Mark Cuban to buy them.