LIVE From MySpace Field, The Murdoch Rangers?
Written by Karl Frisch
Published
According to an article in the New York Post, Rupert Murdoch's News Corp (which owns the Post) is considering a “bid for the bankrupt Texas Rangers.”
How cool would it be to see the Rangers playing at MySpace Field? A kid can dream can't he?
The Post's Josh Kosman reports:
Bidding for the suddenly resurgent baseball franchise will begin at $307 million, but a winning bid may be $100 million higher -- or more.
It could not be learned if News Corp., whose Fox Sports Southwest unit owns television rights to the team, would bid independently or as part of a group.
News Corp. may add its name to the list of wannabe owners of the suddenly competitive Texas Rangers baseball team.
There are several other potential bidders, including a group led by Hall of Famer and Rangers team president Nolan Ryan and a group led by Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.
It wouldn't be Murdoch's first foray into athletics. I highlighted the following report from The Independent in May:
Rugby club Melbourne Storm, which is owned by Murdoch's News Limited, has been at the centre of a major scandal, after players were found to have been receiving secret payments to stay at the club. This contravenes Australia's strict salary cap rules, and Murdoch has been fined a A$500,000. How many more fines can a magnate afford?
As a result of the scandal, the Storm was stripped of its “2007 and 2009 championship titles” as well as “three minor titles from 2006-08.”
UPDATE: Accoring to another Post report, “News Corp. announced Tuesday it will not be submitting a bid for the Texas Rangers.”