Green Expectations by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Chapter 13
BASEBALL SECURITY FIRM OWNED BY INSIDERS?
SCRUB AND TEAM OWNERS TIE TO BILKO AMUSEMENTS GROUP
THE EAST VILLAGE ALTERNATIVE 9-3-13. Private security provider, Bilko Amusements Group, does not list its stockholders in public filings. However, as required, they list an attorney, Robert P.
Huff. He is reputed to have mob ties and is also the personal counsel to George Scrub III, twenty-two major league baseball franchise owners and Players Union head Alphonse Giambrone.
While we are not coming to any conclusions, we are suggesting that the interlocking attorney-ship merits further clarification and that we have a right to know who the true owners of Bilko Amusements are. This secretive corporation has been milking the funds of the Players Retirement Fund and seems to be above justifying their high cost, while stadium shooters have not been stopped and each new event has resulted in a call for increased monies for Bilko Amusements ....................................
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SCRUB REFUTES EVA CHARGES
HUFF MERELY A COMPETENT ATTORNEY
WASHINGTON TIMES 9-4-13. In a press conference called by George Scrub III, the baseball head honcho chuckled his way through a prepared speech countering the article published yesterday in The East Village Alternative. He called it; “Inference, innuendo and NOTHING.” He quoted them in saying; “we are not coming to any conclusions,” and called that another example of the poor, imprecise journalism for which EVA is known. He further mentioned that this article could be viewed as yet another demoralizing attack on the great American pastime, coming just when the playoffs will soon be underway.
He said that Robert P. Huff is known in baseball circles as an extremely competent attorney, whose services are sought by many, and that a corporation has no obligation to disclose its shareholders, a right guaranteed under the US Constitution,
“Article Six, Seven or something close to that.” He went on to say that EVA, its owners and writers have been added to Bilko Amusement’s “suspicious list,” and that the IRS has informed him that they are in the process of auditing their returns. He affably waved off any questions and left the podium smiling like a ..............................................................
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NELSON SHUTS OUT SEATTLE
GONZALEZ SLAMMER IN FIFTH ENOUGH
CROWS SWEEP DIVISION SERIES
JERSEY BULLETIN 10-11-13. Resurgent Dave Nelson was virtually unhittable, dazzling Seattle’s hapless Bigfoots with his patented cut-split-finger-fastball and allowing only two hits in going the full nine. The 7-0 win wrapped up the first round of the playoffs for the New Jersey Crows in three straight.
The Crows, with the best record in the American League at 95-67
were favored to beat the wildcard Bigfoots who finished at 90-72. Rookie Pablo Gonzalez continued his hot hitting with his second round tripper of the short series, this one coming with the bases full of Crows.
The Crows advance to the second round and will play the winner of the Detroit Machines-Los Angeles Riot contest which currently stands at two apiece. Winning pitcher, Nelson told reporters that; “I was feeling good out there and we had to be at our best to defeat a great team.” Gonzalez said; “He hung a breaker .....
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CROWS FINISH DISSASEMBLING MACHINES
WORLD SERIES NEXT FOR BASEBALL’S CINDERELLAS
JERSEY BULLETIN 10-18-13. Pablo Gonzalez’ hot bat continued to wreak havoc with post season hurlers, as he got three hits including a dinger and drove in five runs as the comeback-story-of-the-decade New Jersey Crows finished off Detroit in four straight. Coasting to an 11-2 win, the crows are yet to lose a playoff game. Hector Ortega chipped in with two hits, a yard shot and three ribbys to more than adequately support Dave Nelson’s third post season victory. He worked 7.1 innings allowing two runs and seven hits. Nelson said; “I struggled a bit today, but didn’t walk anybody and kept the ball in the ballpark. Whenever anybody hit it hard in a key situation it was right at some somebody. Our hitters make pitching easy and I think somebody’s looking out for all of us.”
The Crows have been the surprise sports story all summer. After finishing the 2012 season at 77-85, under 500 for the third consecutive year and announcing bankruptcy during the off season, the Black Birds can do no wrong in 2013. They jumped out to an early lead and were never headed, powered by the bats of rookies Hector Ortega and Pablo Gonzalez, who batted .316 and
.307, homered 40 and 42 times and drove in 119 and 128 runs respectively, during the regular season. Dave Nelson, a twelve year veteran with a 135-143 record going into this season finished at 25-3, with a 2.18 ERA. Gonzalez’ led the AL in dingers and ribbys, while Nelson led the pitchers in wins and ERA. None of the three were put on the all-star team, but if they keep it up and don’t make it next year New Jersey will certainly explode.
The newcomers have demonstrated their mettle in the post season and the question is; “Can they keep it up against the Giants-Seals victor?” The teams are strong and have extensive post season experience. Their series is currently tied at 2-2. It may have been better for the Johnny-come-latelys to have been engaged in a longer playoff. Sitting around and waiting, will it get into their heads that they have been very lucky and that things can rapidly change with one clutch crack of the bat? This writer thinks that .............................................
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WEEHAWKEN, NEW JERSEY. 10-19-13.
Dave put down the paper and thought; “Thank you, Chucky Deletrimian. If you hadn’t written that no one might have thought it. Miserable bastard. What was it that Chucky had against him and the Crows? I really have no idea. Up until this year I found the whole thing amusing and never gave it any thought, except generally being careful not to say anything in front of the writers not palatable for public consumption. Maybe it wasn’t the least bit personal. Maybe Chucky’s just another of those malcontents incapable of building anything, so he spends his life tearing other’s work down, like a legalized sniper or bomber. He’s got a sizable Garden State audience; so lots of people must like his stuff. He doesn’t knock the Giants or the Seals. He wouldn’t be able to keep any credibility. They’re proven. The Giants won the whole thing last year and the Seals the year prior. One or the other has been in the World Series the last five years with substantially the same rosters. I guess that the odds are in his favor to laud the proven and disparage that which is not. Things were easier when I didn’t give a damn.
That’s the tricky thing about baseball. If you care too much you do poorly. If you don’t care at all you do poorly. You have to find the balance. Right now I have to try not to care too much.
That’s a new challenge for me.”
He called his father to see what light he could shed on the matter.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“Callin’ to brag?”
“No, did you see what Deletrimian wrote?”
“Yeah, and I guess you did too.”
“Are you saying that I shouldn’t have?”
“Right.”
“You make it simple, except if I put on the TV or radio someone might quote him there.”
“Don’t. Play CD’s or DVD’s.”
Dave was silent as he couldn’t think of another question, but also had some undefinable aversion to such an easy solution.
Dad continued; “Guy’s a New Jersey writer. He has to provide a certain tone his audience is accustomed to hearing. So when he runs out of meaningful things to say he fills the article out with crap. Probably gets paid by the word. I don’t know why you pay any attention to what he says. When you were a little kid you always had rabbit ears.”
Dave remembered the phrase and at the time didn’t comprehend how he could not hear what someone was yelling at him, until that last miserable Little League game, when he flipped over to the other side, by not caring about anything
except the money to come. So, he was back at finding the right balance. He said; “That’s the problem. When I care I let the critics bother me. When I don’t care, I could care less what they say. I need a balance.”
“I’ve already told you. Don’t pay any attention.
Deletrimian has a defined New Jersey audience who like to feel second rate. You don’t have to become one of his readers.
Without the players he’d have no job and his audience would have nothing to read. Regard him as such. An unoriginal vampire desperate to fill space.”
“He can make you look bad.”
“To people who didn’t see the game and have no idea what it’s all about. You can drive yourself crazy trying to convince someone from Borneo that you’re a good ballplayer. Just play the game.”
“Let ‘em all go screw?”
“Pretty much. Baseball is one thing where you get paid for your own performance and not what somebody says about it. So relax, perform and make a lot of money. And let’s cut this conversation. We’ve already spent more time discussing the matter than it deserves. It’s liable to get in our heads.
Anything else?”
“No. .......... No. ...... Um, thanks Dad.”
“Just do your thing.” Dad hung up.
Dave snorted a quick laugh. He said; “Hippy,” to the dead phone. He did some quick math in his head and indeed, his father was a teenager in the sixties. He put on reared-in-Jersey, Patti Smith’s “Gung Ho” CD and tried to think of nothing except her uplifting and brave voice and words. He drew all the blinds, allowing in only thin slivers of un-revealing light. He contentedly sat on the couch with his head back listening to
“Gone Pie.”
Dad put on the television and tuned to game six of the National finals. The San Francisco Seals were hosting the New York Giants and the announcer spoke; “Though he is capable of playing any position except pitcher and catcher Frenchy Godard plays third base for the Seals, we are told, because he seems to like hanging around the area.” Mild chuckles commenced. “Here he is leading off the bottom of the fourth. There’s a line shot to left center, one hop off the wall. It must have hit something protruding from it as the carom is away from the fielders. Tim Rice runs it down and throws it into Pablo Sandoval at short.
Godard coasts into third standing up.”
Godard thought; “With no out I know I’ll eventually score, but I’m in no rush to get there. I know the stated object of the game is to score, but I like the feeling that I can get there whenever I choose to. I love to prolong this vibrant sensation.”
The announcer continued; “Drew Skoken takes it for ball one. Bordagary comes way down the line and draws a throw from overly anxious Giant catcher Grant Loisa. Though he could have easily gotten back standing up, he slides in head first. What a hot dog!
And the pitch. Skoken lines it over short and Godard walks home and jumps on the plate with two feet.”
Later that day Harry Manuel called Dave and told him to go see the team owner in Manhattan. After he gave him the address Harry added; “I don’t know anyone who has seen this guy. I get my orders, which I don’t always follow, through an intermediary.
Must be some sort of a recluse. All that money drives ‘em crazy, like Howard Hughes. Be a little careful.”