Play Ball not Politics

sign at Phoenix Suns game last night, AP, via SBD

Defunct Lehman Bros. embedded in global warming schemes

2/6/08, Shareholders charge Lehman Bros. with using erroneous information on global warming which harmed investors. Lehman itself produced a document in 2007 making certain conclusions about global warming that were relied on as fact by others. (MLB is deeply embedded with global warming types, for example):

• “Lehman Brothers says it wants to make money from global warming, but basic
• information on which the firm relies and presents to shareholders is clearly
• erroneous,” said Steve Milloy, portfolio manager of Action Fund Management (AFM), the FEAOX’s investment adviser.

“When a $34 billion company is touting misinformation as a basis for its
actions, it makes you wonder about the soundness of its business plan,” Milloy
added.

• Lehman Brothers’ management uses the so-called “hockey stick” chart, for example, to support the notion that “the Earth’s mean temperature has risen sharply in recent decades.”(1)

But the hockey stick graph was scientifically discredited long before Lehman
issued its February 2007 report.(2)

“As shareholders, we expect that management will undertake reasonable due
diligence before undertaking action with corporate assets,” said AFM’s Tom
Borelli. “Corporate action and statements based on erroneous information may
not be ‘sustainable’ for shareholders or the environment,” Borelli added.

• “Lehman Brothers should also be concerned about potential legal liability for false and misleading statements,” said Milloy.

Based on the 2003 California case of Nike v. Kasky, citizens may sue
businesses over false or misleading statements.(3) The California Supreme
Court ruled that statements made on company websites are considered commercial
speech and therefore subjected to legal challenge.

• “We think that Lehman is in way over its head when it comes to global warming and that management is recklessly risking shareholder value,” said Milloy.

• “Shareholders will be looking for an explanation from CEO Richard Fuld”….

Mariano, Yanks v Mariners, 5/2/08

photo by Newsday

Baseball beat writers are the new “rust belt”

I don’t wish anyone to lose their job, but with the high cost of fuel, it’s impractical and too costly in this day and age. Plenty needs to be written about in baseball–that’s not the issue. But is the interviewing of managers done with the intent to provide redeeming social or intellectual value? If so, that’s not what’s happening today. The manager, in this case Joe Girardi, doesn’t owe these reporters anything. What fans need isn’t the result of trying to manipulate a manager, with the possible exception of Fantasy players who deal in the minutiae of player health. Comments to a NY Daily News article to Raissman article, 5/2/08 are common sense:

“I agree with Billy, it sounds like the writer was baiting Girardi. These writers can be very pushy. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy getting every bit of information I can from the newspapers, but it seems they lose sight of 3 things. First, they are not entitled to anything. Second, they need access to Girardi and the team to best do their job. Finally Joe doesnt need them to do his job. Lots of challenges ahead…. time will tell how well he does it. I still think he is the right guy.
Posted by LuckyAl on May 2, 2008 9:55 AM

So, many of the New York writers are beginning to realize that the “coffee klatch” with Joe T. is over and are now exuding their unhappiness with the current manager. What seems to be the crisis? Joe T. knew how to stroke the media in his grandfartherly way without giving away too many answers in the process.This seemed to be enough to satisfy the media in past years. When Joe G. is presented with the same set of questions, he doesn’t “dance” with the reporters and gets to the point in a short and sweet fashion and refuses to “break” despite repeated attempts with the same questions. This is exactly what riles the media more than anything; their inability to the “scoop” on their own merits. Hey, cmon guys — what happened to the “reliable sources” we hear so much about? Keep that violin music flowing in the backround please!
Posted by Mikesunysideup on May 2, 2008 9:11 AM
reply Report Offensive Post

What is the story- the team or these overpaid, gossipy, buffet-eating sports reporters? Report on the game – not on how much you like the manager for giving you failed, frustrated jocks access.
Posted by badtom on May 2, 2008 9:13 AM

Joe Castiglione=Good Cop, Dave O’Brien=Bad Cop

Hank said ESPN is full of Red Sox fans, and he’s painted as a buffoon, There are enough Red Sox fans in visible or influential positions in broadcasting and executive offices that Hank’s statement is obviously true. The point is control of information, the way information is presented in numerous matters–as quixotic as that might sound. Wasn’t George Mitchell the tobacco lobbyist recently connected with them? Say what’s right in front of everyone’s face you’re called a buffoon, etc.

*****Dave O’Brien is a long-time ESPN employee and in his 2nd year doing Red Sox play by play with Joe Castiglione. He’s a native of Quincy, Mass. Right.

****Mr. O’Brien just sounded overly invested in the details of Chien-Ming Wang’s stats.
At around 10:42 PM Joe Castiglione notes the Yankees have won behind Chien-Ming Wang for his 6th Win of the Year. Fine. Then O’Brien BOOMs in his BIG television voice, “YES, BUT THE RED SOX KNOCKED HIM AROUND IN ONE OF HIS APPEARANCES THEY RAISED HIS ERA AND HE GOT A NO DECISION,” DAVE SOUNDING LIKE THIS WAS URGENT AND HAPPY INFORMATION FOR THE AUDIENCE. I think it’s good to remember a pitcher’s total performance, and I did look up the game O’Brien referenced. I had no doubt he was correct, but why was he so happy and enthused about these details? First of all, the Red Sox lost the game 15-9.

************Second, Chien-Ming Wang isn’t going to affect his life or the Red Sox’ fate one way or the other. The Yankees, Randy Levine, officials from MLB and several lawyers all made a point of humiliating Wang at his arbitration hearing recently, defining him a fringe player. So why does O’Brien care so much?

Mel Stottlemyre returns to Yankee Stadium, May 2008

. Welcome back, Mel. photo by Newsday.

Chien-Ming Wang v Mariners, 1st inning

photo by Newsday

Lowest ERA’s at Yankee Stadium past 5 years

Per Suzyn Waldman on Yankee Radio tonight, Roy Halladay has the lowest ERA at Yankee Stadium in the past 5 years, followed by Eric Bedard

Phil Hughes gets checked, needs glasses, per Suzyn Waldman

On Yankee radio, Suzyn notes Phil Hughes went to an optometrist today in Connecticut, and it turns out he is near-sighted and requires glasses. The new world of Phil Hughes begins.

Welcome back, Mel Stottlemyre

Mariners at Yankees tonight, May 2, 2008.