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Martin Luther King III, Investors Make Mets Bids
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 30, 2011
Modified Jan 30, 2011
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Jan 30, 2011
Modified Jan 30, 2011
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On Friday, the Wilpons announced that they were looking to sell a part of the Mets, in order to offset a lawsuit brought upon their company because of their dealings with Bernie Madoff. Yesterday, liquor distributor and Georgi Vodka owner/provocateur Martin Silver said he was interested in buying into the team; today, the latest person to throw their hat into the Mets ring is Martin Luther King III. "It's fitting with the legacy of Jackie Robinson essentially transferring to the Mets; what better place to have African-American ownership than with the Mets," said TV executive Larry Meli.
According to the Post, King has banded together with several people, including Meli, Mets legend Ed Kranepool; entrepreneur Donn Clendenon Jr., son of the 1969 Mets World Series MVP; and several unnamed deep-pocketed investors, to put in a serious bid for the share of the team. The Wilpons only want to sell 20-25 percent of the team, but according to Meli, King and his investors are interested in purchasing as much as 50 percent of the team. "Hopefully, something can be worked out. I certainly think I can be an asset to that organization. It depends on what they are looking for and how we can structure a deal that's good for everybody," said former Met Kranepool, who is now in the credit-card processing business.
Team CEO Fred Wilpon is reportedly very "distraught" that the lawsuit against his investment company portrays him and his son, COO Jeff Wilpon, as co-conspirators with Madoff. "Fred thought Bernie was a friend and he was betrayed. For Fred to have his reputation ruined is devastating...They're honorable, respected people. To the extent that the public thinks they knew what was going on concerns both Fred and Jeff," one source told the News.
Some bittersweet news: it's being reported that Citi Field and the Mets have been chosen to host the 2013 All-Star game. an official announcement won't come for months, but if so, it will be the team's second time hosting the game; the first one was at Shea Stadium in 1964, the year the stadium opened.
Tagged
All-Star Game
baseball
bernie madoff
citi field
martin luther king III
mets
mlb
wilpons
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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