Texsox

But you said a the team could make a ton of money with a $30 million payroll. The team did not have to be competitive to make money. I agree with you.

Ahhh the "White Sox, Love It of Leave It" argument. If you are a fan, don't criticize. I wonder sometimes myself why I care so much about a team 1,500 miles away. With no team within 400 miles, I am a free agent of sorts. Pulling for Houston makes sense. The Yankees do have all that tradition . . .

I am lol at that thread. I am now so thouroughly confused I have no idea what anyone is really meaning.

Imagine how much fun we'll have if this becomes real southsider claims no one will go to games if the team is not competitive, he also claims (probably true) they will not be competitive in the AL East. So how many here will stop supporting the team? How many here will not go to any games? Southsider, you said no one will go if the team isn't competitive then criticize 4E for stating the same thing. I am so confused.

But MLB is the greatest show on earth. No matter who is playing.

LMAO Very nice Steff.

Crawford Newspaper endorses Kerry Obviously media bias runs deep. Bush cannot even get endorsed by his hometown newspaper. Those damn businesses get rich everytime President George W. Bush is in town. All the media, secret service, etc. in their hotels, restaurants, etc.

Your quotes I am trying to understand your theory. Winning equals profits in the Central, low payroll equals profits in the east. I think that's what you are stating. Of course the central point is that Sox fans are fair weather and will only attend if the team is winning, except if you drive the payroll low enough, the team could make a profit on the lowest possible attendance. Would they win more games? Probably not. I would say definatly not, but we couldn't beat the Tigers yet we did ok vs. the Yankees so I'll leave a little wiggle room. My point wasn't from a competitive arena. I already said three times from a competitive standpoint it is a disaster. Without a salary cap, I would guess we would never win a division. The debate was over profits. I believe they would make more money in the AL East than in the Central. When the season is over, like it has 9 of the past 10 seasons, more fans will continue to the park for season ending series against the Yankees, Red Sox, and about the same to see the Bucs and Blue Jays and the Tigers and Twins. Overall attendance would increase. Merchandising would increase, tv ratings would increase, national exposure would increase.

southsider is this your position? An owner wants to make a profit (or at least break even), deserves a profit, and should do what he has to do to make a profit. If a team is in the AL East they shouldn't even try and compete, just put a cheap team out there with a $30,000,000 payroll and cash the checks. If a team is in the AL Central they should field a competitive team $70,000,000 more or less, and let the attendance rule.

OK so change the numbers to anything you want. Most seasons would a $70Mil team win more games than a $30Mil team? What would the difference be? 70 vs 50? 75 vs 73? If I understand your position correctly it doesn't make a difference how many wins and loses if the team isn't competitive, field as cheap and non competitive team as you can, because doesn't make a difference in attendance. What would the Sox draw in the AL East with this team and with a $30mil payroll?

You stated a non competitive team with a $30 million payroll would make loads of money. Now you are talking about if teams are competing. Are you debating yourself Let's start over: What payroll would the Sox need in the AL East to be the most profitable? What payroll would the Sox need in the AL Central to be the most profitable?

So the same number of fans would show up without a Maggs, Thomas, Buerhle, etc.? Winning 80 games would be the same as winning 60 for attendance? I think you are typing a bit too fast bud. A $30 mil payroll would be destroyed by the Cubs and their marketing. Only the most loyal of Sox fans would remain. You would probably sell out the Yankee games, but nothing much after that. Sox fans would continue to support this team in the AL East.

But you said the Sox cannot compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. I view it as the teams that can win it all and the rest of the teams. You've placed the White Sox in the cannot compete category.

Wait, you said a $30 million team would make huge profits. So a third place team with a chance loses money, but essentially a AAA club at $30 mil makes money? What kind of attendance numbers are you thinking for the $70 mil and $30 mil teams? If the $70 mil payroll would only draw about a million fans (your guess) what would the $30 mil team draw?

I believe he said modest, but not tiny . . .

You just put forth an argument that they wouldn't make money if they were not competitive. Now, when I am about to agree with you, you flip flop and claim a non competitive team would be profitable.

southsider has presented a very nice argument that the Sox may be less profitable in the AL East based on Sox fans being fair weather and only supporting a winner. Seems like a pretty solid theory and something Sox ownership should consider.

There is a gamble in sports ownership. Each owner has more or less of a tolerance towards the risk. JR doesn't like long term pitcher contracts, other guys will stick their necks out an extra year. I set Mark Cuban a letter asking him to please buy the White Sox.

When I get some time I want to look into this a little more, I just know Bush is winning the war on terror.

Even a HoFer strikes out now and again . . .

Average of 233 million bought at $19 million. I score this round to 4E with a couple assists

Man, I hate to debunk the 200 mil but using the inlfation calculator at Link here

Would you care to adjust that 200 mil for inflation?

Not gonna go there . . .

There has to be something misleading about that stat? How many have been convicted on state charges or something else like plotting, Rico laws, etc.?