westwoodone/metro commentary 9-20

#855

THE MONTREAL EXPOS ARE IN NEW YORK THIS WEEKEND AND WHILE THE SERIES WILL NOT GENERATE ANY NEWS, EXPO MANAGEMENT WILL AT LEAST BE ABLE TO MEET FACE TO FACE WITH ITS OPERATORS. I'M EVAN WEINER WITH THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS.

ONE YEAR OF HAVING 29 CLUBS OWNING THE EXPOS SHOULD BE COMING TO AN END AND THE TEAM SHOULD BE ON THE SELLING BLOCK. THAT WOULD BE THE NORMAL COURSE OF BUSINESS, BUT IN BASEBALL ABNORMAL IS NORMAL, SO IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT THE PEOPLEWHO RUN THE EXPOS DAY TO DAY OPERATION WILL GET ANYTHING MORE THAN AN UPDATE FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN NEW YORK.

BUD SELIG HAS ALREADY RULED OUT LAS VEGAS AND CHARLOTTE AS POSSIBLE DESTINATIONS FOR THE TEAM LEAVING MONTREAL, WASHINGTON AND PORTLAND IN THE MIX. MONTREAL MAY HAVE A LEG UP BECAUSE THE TEAM IS THERE AND THERE IS A RACKETEERING LAWSUIT FILED BY 14 FORMER EXPO BUSINESS PARTNERS AGAINST MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HANGING OVER THE FRANCHISE. THE CASE WILL BE HEARD IN NOVEMBER.

NEITHER WASHINGTON NOR PORTLAND HAS A STATE OF THE ART BALL PARK AND DOESN'T HELP EITHER CITY'S CAUSE FOR 2003.

BASEBALL HAS GUARANTEED THAT IT WILL HAVE 30 TEAMS THROUGH 2006,SO THE EXPOS WILL STAY IN BUSINESS. BUT JUST WHERE IS ANYONE'S GUESS.