MLB: He's... NOT!!!

(Thank you to my anonymous friend and baseball historian for a correction on the ownership situation on the Marlins in 1997.)

The World Baseball Classic is about to convene, and pitchers and catchers are about to report elsewhere.

The Major League Baseball season, largely seen in predictions as a coronation for the Cubs to go back-to-back (popular opponent is Boston), may have just hit two serious roadblocks in the ownership ranks.

First, however, let us pay our respects.  Mike Ilitch, seen as a savior of sports in downtown Detroit as he was also the creator of the Little Caesar's pizza franchise, while keeping the Red Wings and Tigers downtown while the Lions fled to Pontiac and the Pistons to Auburn Hills (though Ford Field is now back downtown and the Pistons go into the Red Wings' downtown arena next year), died today at age 87.

Our sympathy to his family, and to all the Detroit people who were touched by his passion to keep sports alive in Detroit.  It will be interesting to see what happens going forward, but I would hope the team stays in the Ilitch family to continue stability for a city which badly needs it.

That pales in comparison to the other ownership story.

Do you want the good news or the bad news first??

I'll give you the good news.

Jeffrey Loria is finally selling the Marlins.

This virus on baseball killed baseball in Montreal, just when it seemed like it might be a nice parallel to the Toronto Blue Jays.  Then, he proceeded to win a World Series title (2003), then sell the players off (even the cheap bastard he was in 2003) and basically bilk the city of Miami into building a stadium.

Perhaps the nadir of his ineptitude was when Muhammad Ali came out on the first night of the new stadium -- ESPN Sunday night game -- and had to have the announcer plead for an "ALI!" chant.

Jeffrey.  Fucking.  Loria.

Selling price?  $1.6 BILLION.  For a nothing team with no fanbase because Loria has killed the team time and time again.

And that's the GOOD NEWS!!!

Here's the bad news:  The proposed new ownership group has ties to President GrabHerInThePussy.

Yep, the Oompa-Loompa in Chief is believed to be the father-in-law of one of the main players in the purchase:  Charles Kushner, New York real-estate mogul, multiple sources are indicating -- this one from Mike Oz at Yahoo! Sports' Big League Stew blog.

Father to Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka and a senior advisor in the Trump White House.

ARE

YOU

FUCKING

KIDDING

ME????

Wow.  Just...  Wow...

One impediment would be a 2005 conviction of Charles for illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering.  (HEY!  He fits in perfect with the Orange Monster in Washington.)

There is thought, though, he could aid Jared and his other son Joshua in purchasing the team.  Right now, though there does not appear to be more direct involvement, word is that if the Kushners are looking into the Marlins, it's Joshua who's doing the current heavy lifting.