If the offered price to buy them out increases, they might ultimately say yes. By the time the Diamondbacks played their first game at Bank One Ballpark, metropolitan Phoenix was home to teams in all four major professional leagues. Garagiola followed Colangelo out the door in 2005.
Arizona Diamondbacks - Larry Brown Sports Pro-sales-tax Supervisor Ed King lost his bid for re-election in 1996 in a campaign that focused heavily on his support for the tax.17, More than three years after the vote, in August 1997, Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox, the lone Democrat on the Board of Supervisors, who voted to impose the tax, was shot in the lower back after a Supervisors meeting by a man described as mentally deranged. 0:04. As a result, Kendrick is a figure of some note in both the MLB and beyond. The partners also satisfied requirements found in their Diamondbacks agreements. During the 1997-98 baseball offseason, the Diamondbacks acquired high-profile, high-priced free agent shortstop Jay Bell and traded for third baseman Matt Williams.22, The Diamondbacks doubled down on the win-now approach in their early years, signing pitching aces Randy Johnson in 1999 and Curt Schilling in 2000 to long-term deals that deferred the big payments until the latter years of their contracts. Something that is perhaps unsurprising when the English earl came from the same roots as the Scandinavian jarl. Regardless, Earl received a significant boost to its popularity centuries and centuries ago because the servants of earls started it as a name. Jensen is the co-founder of Information Technology, which develops software for the banking industry. Im not sure what the ulterior motive is for such a decision, but it definitely comes off as nefarious. In subsequent seasons Showalter clashed with Garagiola over the direction of the club. ", The attorney for the minority owners, Roger Cohen, said his clients weren't legally required to increase their investment and believed Kendrick's leveraging "had to do with consolidating and increasing the ownership stake of the remaining owners.
pic.twitter.com/SWoG5wrsRa, Alek Thomas hits an RBI double down the left-field line to put the D-backs on the board in the top of the 3rd inning, Corbin Carroll lines a triple to right-center field, showing off his speed in the top of the 5th inning, Alek Thomas hits a bloop single to center field and two runs score, cutting the D-backs' deficit to 5-3 in the top of the 7th inning, Emmanuel Rivera ropes a double down the left-field line and two runs score, tying the game at 5 in the top of the 7th inning, Jake McCarthy sprints to the right-field corner and leaps into the wall to make an impressive catch for the first out in the 2nd inning, Ryne Nelson fans J.D. The Diamondbacks won the NL West in 2007 and 2011, but more often than not have finished well out of contention, including at least three last-place finishes since 2009. Molina became a limited partner in 2004, when he invested $3 million. 18 Mike McCloy, Supervisor Is Shot, Arizona Republic, August 14, 1997, A1, A12; William Hermann, Susie Steckner, and Mike McCloy, Suspect: Tax Spurred Shooting, Arizona Republic, August 14, 1997, A1, A12; Mike McCloy, Wilcox Snags 50 Tickets for Opening, Arizona Republic, March 31, 1998, A1; Mike McCloy, Guy has a Gun: Guard Acted Fast, Arizona Republic, August 15, 1997, A1; Frank Fitzpatrick, Stadium Issues Can Explode: Take Phoenix, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 13, 1999, E1. These dollar figures, Cohen maintains, are artificially low. Cohen asserts the calculations incorporate unreasonable discounts and fail to consider, among other things, how the legalization of sports betting in many states and the potential legalization of sports betting in Arizona is poised to substantially enhance the value of a Diamondbacks ownership stake. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. 9. In early 1993, Maricopa County Supervisor and longtime baseball supporter Jim Bruner began discussing the idea of putting together a bid for a forthcoming new round of expansion with a friend, Phoenix sports attorney Joe Garagiola Jr., the son of the baseball personality, player, and commentator. One is declaratory judgment. 'Get all the hitters out', Notes: Nelson's outing; new facility paying dividends, Flexing: Each team's top power-hitting prospect, Pipeline Podcast: Druw Jones talks shoulder rehab, making pro debut and more, Pfaadt 'fantastic' in debut -- and he made sure to have fun. pic.twitter.com/mdZE3bNqBO, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. gives the D-backs their first run of the game with an RBI double to right field, bringing in Josh Rojas in the 5th, Proof anything can be an album cover. It is interesting to note that Kendrick was born in a place called Princeton, which can be found in West Virginia. It was no secret that Bill Bidwill, owner of the NFLs St. Louis Cardinals, intended to move to Phoenix. This directive goes to the meaning of the term buy-up/buy-out: a limited partner with less than 1% would need to buy up to at least 1%, or he or she would experience a buy out of their interest.
10 Things You Didn't Know about Arizona Diamondbacks Owner Ken Kendrick Managing General Partner Years/Date; Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner: 2004-Present: Mike Chipman, General Partner: 2004-Present: Jeff Royer, General Partner: 2004-Present: Jerry Colangelo, Managing General Partner: He and his wife, Randy, have long been conservative political activists. Stones decision to withdraw his Arizona bid brought a de-facto end to Phoenixs chances to get a team during that expansion cycle, when franchises were awarded to Denver and Miami.7. Arizonas significant public investment in spring-training baseball helped lure a number of franchises to the Cactus League.
Diamondbacks considering selling minority share of franchise That netted him the equivalent of a .5% interest in the partnership. Inject this straight into our veins. Thompson, A History of the Cactus League., , May 23, 1976, B3; Lee Shappell, Jerry Colangelo,, https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/ChaseField-2015.png, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, Arizona Diamondbacks team ownership history, springtrainingmagazine.com/history4.html#cactus, http://ballparkdigest.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/OriginalDbacksletterforChairmanSupervisors03242016.pdf, http://foxsports.com/arizona/story/cactus-league-stadium-guide-salt-river-fields-arizona-diamondbacks-colorado-rockies-022416, http://azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2015/02/25/cactus-league-stadium-guide-salt-river-fields-at-talking-stick/24009267/. Colangelo, the public face of the stadium project, skipped the meeting. Weber, meanwhile, was told he would need to invest another $6.1 million to meet 1%, or he could sell his share for $1.6 million. Colangelos insider status made Arizonas bid an immediate frontrunner in the expansion chase. New Phoenix Suns talent Kevin Durant owns 5%. Under Kendricks leadership, the Diamondbacks have enjoyed significantly less success on the field. Both are diehard Diamondbacks fans and season-ticket holders. 1:51. Kendrick is the managing general. Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 1, 2023 Drey Jameson K's two D-backs No. However, they might begin to feel less fondly about the club as they battle Kendrick in court. All Rights Reserved. Colangelo persuaded the other partners in Arizona Baseball Inc. to call the team the Arizona Diamondbacks rather than the Phoenix Diamondbacks to cultivate a statewide sense of pride and ownership. In fact, the target was reached four months earlier than expected, in November 1997, two years after construction began on the 48,500-seat domed stadium and four months before the first pitch.14, But even with the taxpayer-friendly amendments to the deal, widespread opposition emerged almost immediately to the public financing of a ballpark without voter input. Martin Stone, the owner of the Phoenix Firebirds, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, was the driving force behind the push. This refers to the majority of a partnership pressuring those with minority interests to sell upon threat of termination. 9 Robert Logan, Colangelo Quits Bulls to Take Phoenix Post, Chicago Tribune, February 29, 1968, C1; Bob Logan, Colangelo Has Suns Climbing for Summit, Chicago Tribune , May 23, 1976, B3; Lee Shappell, Jerry Colangelo, Arizona Republic, March 12, 1995, BB2; Colangelo Took Bait All the Way to Finals; Kevin Simpson, The Place to Be, The Sporting News, November 7, 1994, S3; Jack McCallum, Desert Heat, Sports Illustrated, May 28, 1990, 50-51; Joe Gilmartin, Suns Colangelo NBA Executive of the Year, The Sporting News, May 16, 1981, 46. Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. Finally, the plaintiffs are suing to force Kendrick and the Diamondbacks to provide the documentation they have requested, and they are suing for a Preliminary and Permanent Injunction to prevent the team from forcing them to relinquish their ownership stakes, although none of the three have received payment yet and, with the shutdown of sports from the coronavirus, its not clear that anything has transpired that has yet deprived them of any rights or privileges as team owners. They were to begin playing in the 1998 season. Among the Diamondbacks limited partners are Alfredo Molina and Jim Weber. Besides that, the place has a reputation for being the so-called Jewel of the South.. For those who are unfamiliar, said team started up in 1995. A native of West Virginia, Kendrick made his fortune in the software business as the founder of Datatel Inc., a Virginia-based company that provided high-tech services and software to colleges and universities. Besides his role as the founder of Datatel, Kendrick has spent some time as a banking executive as well. [1] managing general partner Ken Kendrick, per, According to that report, they are claiming Kendrick and the Diamondbacks ownership group ", The attorney for the minority owners, Roger Cohen, said his clients weren't legally required to increase their investment and believed Kendrick's leveraging ", had to do with consolidating and increasing the ownership stake of the remaining owners. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The arrival of major-league baseball in metropolitan Phoenix in 1998 was preceded by a half-century of close ties between the Valley of the Sun, as Phoenix and 9,200-square-mile Maricopa County are widely known, and the big leagues. However, according to the complaint, a club attorney later clarified that Kendrick had misspoken and that a second valuation would not be possible. As of 2016 Jeffrey Royer, Michael Chipman, and Dale Jensen remained the other general partners. 7 Martin Stone; Bob Cohn, Race for Big Leagues Begins, Arizona Republic, June 15, 1990, A1; Eric Miller, Valley Strikes Out, Arizona Republic, December 19, 1990, A1. Metropolitan Phoenixs Path to the Major Leagues. A trio of Diamondbacks minority owners have filed a lawsuit against the franchise's managing general partner Ken Kendrick, according to a report from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Via Zach Buchanan of The Athletic, three of the team's minority owners have filed suit against managing general partner Ken Kendrick. As reported by Zach Buchanan of The Athletic, three Diamondbacks minority owners are suing general . Colangelo also negotiated a financing deal for a new arena to be built primarily with private money raised through JDMs limited partners and corporate sponsorship deals. But the status of being an owner still attracts. More than just a known commodity, Colangelo had the added advantage of being close personal friends with Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who actively championed Arizonas bid. Cohen and Sandweiss authored the plaintiffs complaint and filed it in Maricopa County superior court on March 31. Its possible that MLB could help Kendrick. Datatel no longer exists in the present, seeing as how it combined with a competitor to form Elucian in 2012. The attacker told the press, I shot Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox to try to put a stop to the political dictatorship of Jerry Colangelo in pushing the baseball stadium tax. Wilcox survived the attack, which she blamed on the harsh opposition to the tax that remained a fixture of Phoenix talk radio.18. All Rights Reserved. He realized that if he alienated an ally like Bruner, the political pressure that other county supervisors would face from a public that less than five years earlier had turned down a stadium financing referendum would likely push their votes into the no column.13, Maricopa County tax assessors projected that revenue from the 0.25 percent sales tax would reach its $238 million target in approximately 2 years, and the tax would end around the time the ballpark was slated to open in March 1998. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). The lawsuit claims Kendrick acted illegally when coercing them into either increasing their investment in the team or relinquish their ownership stakes at $60 per unit, a number that the plaintiffs call unfairly discounted. A list of all owners in the history of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The general partner is the person whom MLB generally considers the official voice of a franchise. ", "Each of those investors was given the opportunity to remain as part of the group by purchasing additional partnership units at a rate determined by a highly respected, independent appraiser. [Buchanan] BREAKING: Three Diamondbacks minority owners are suing the team and managing general partner Ken Kendrick over forced buyouts.
Diamondbacks minority owners sue over alleged forced buyouts Montreal was less than a two-hour drive from his home in Lake Placid, New York.) Ken Kendrick, who had been a managing partner since the franchises origins, took over as managing general partner. He emphasized the booming population of metropolitan Phoenix, the regions history of enthusiastic support for collegiate, spring-training, and Fall League baseball, and his history of managerial success with the Suns.19 A few days later the owners awarded Arizona Baseball Inc. an expansion franchise. Very few succeed. During his 35 years as a Suns executive, the team was a fixture in the Western Conference playoffs and played to large, boisterous crowds, first at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum on the State Fairgrounds and then at the downtown America West Arena. In 1990 the Arizona Legislature passed legislation that created a Maricopa County stadium district governed by the county Board of Supervisors. Short listed for "Leaders in Luxury" Featured in Cover Story Top 30 Marketing Executives in America To illustrate, five years ago the Diamondbacks entered into a contract with Fox Sports Net Arizona for the sale of broadcasting rights. Molina, Weber and Carlisle Investments have something else in common: they are plaintiffs in a new lawsuit brought against the Diamondbacks partnership and its general partner, Ken Kendrick. The first is Declaratory Judgment, or a request for the court to state their rights under the Partnership Agreement now and in the future. Although there are a number of methods that see use in 3D, Read More The Limitless Possibilities of 3D PrintingContinue. Three Arizona Diamondbacks' minority owners are suing the team's managing partner in what they say is an attempt to get them to sell their stakes. Long the darling of the Phoenix media, Colangelo had never experienced citizens referring to him in letters to the editor or public meetings as a thief or claiming that he was trying to rape the taxpayers. In March 2016 Kendrick made public his belief that the Diamondbacks needed a new ballpark, and presented a preliminary proposal to county officials. In 2016 Kendrick and the Diamondbacks organization were engaged in contentious negotiations with the Maricopa County Stadium Authority over the future of Chase Field. In response, the plaintiffs have demanded, in writing, that Kendrick and the Diamondbacks provide evidence that corroborates the buy-up/buy-out ultimatum. Over the past two decades, hes founded numerous startups, most of which have been subsequently acquired by the likes of Facebook, Google,, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Yuri GurskiContinue, John Foley, the founder, and CEO of Peloton, a fitness company, worked so hard to get his company off the ground that at one time, his son asked him if he loved the business more, Read More The History of and Story Behind the Peloton LogoContinue, As stated by its name, 3D printing is a process that creates a three-dimensional object using the information stored in a digital file. A slightly more achievable goal, at least among the very affluent, is to buy a minority stake in a team. . The company helps connect suppliers and seafood buyers throughout Europe.
Ken Kendrick - MLB Trade Rumors More than two dozen limited partners bought into Arizona Baseball Inc., including executives at Bank of America, Circle K, and Phoenix radio station KTAR, trucking magnate and future Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes, comedian Billy Crystal, and Phoenix Suns All-Star Danny Manning.11, Colangelo set to work negotiating a financing deal for a downtown ballpark. A high-school basketball star, Colangelo gained an athletic scholarship to the University of Illinois, where he captained the basketball team and earned All Big-Ten status. Accessed June 10, 2016: http://bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/03/31/story7.html. Also in contention is whether Major League Baseball pushed the Diamondbacks to reduce the number of minority owners with less than a one percent stake in the team or whetherthe team took the idea to. Moreover, he believed that unless the Diamondbacks fielded an immediately competitive team, they would not gain a foothold in the increasingly tight market for Arizona sports fans dollars.
Three minority owners sue Arizona Diamondbacks' managing partner in (They also awarded a franchise to a Tampa-St. Petersburg-based ownership group led by businessman Vincent J. He was also playing a central role in negotiating the deal that led to the relocation of the National Hockey Leagues Winnipeg Jets to Phoenixs America West Arena, where they were rechristened the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996.8.
Arizona Diamondbacks minority owners sue, say they're being forced out The company specializes in providing web solutions for the staff management of restaurants. In 2004, Kendrick became the Managing General Partner for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Moreover, the Arizona branding of the Diamondbacks was in keeping with the previous round of baseball expansion, which brought the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies into existence.20, As general manager the Diamondbacks in June 1995 hired Joe Garagiola Jr., one of the founding fathers of big-league baseball in Phoenix. Bruner and Garagiola persuaded Colangelo to spearhead the effort to bring in a baseball team. Stoneham placed his clubs spring-training camp in Phoenix. The same rate was utilized to purchase back existing units from those who declined the offer to purchase new units. Showalter preferred a steady player-development program through a farm system while Garagiola adopted the win-now (meaning sign free agents) approach favored by Colangelo. More than 800 residents, split roughly evenly between supporters and opponents, attended the February 1994 meeting at which the Board of Supervisors voted amid a heavy police presence on the stadium deal.15, After a contentious six-hour meeting, the Supervisors voted 3 to 1 with one recusal to impose the sales tax. In the complaint, Cohen claims that Kendrick initially offered to let the limited partners hire their own valuation firm. Arizona Diamondbacks: Ken Kendrick - Year acquired: 1995 Ken Kendrick was part of an ownership group that brought an expansion team to Arizona, and he became the Diamondbacks' Managing General Partner in 2004. In the summer of 2016 the Diamondbacks asked Maricopa County for help in subsidizing $65 million worth of renovations to Chase Field, which county officials have also rejected.30. 9 prospect Drey Jameson strikes out two batters in two hitless innings during his spring outing against the Giants, D-backs catcher Carson Kelly lifts a solo home run over the left-center-field wall to give Arizona a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, World Baseball Classic tickets on sale now, Watch the Hot Stove every weekday at 9 a.m.
Prospective partners must prove their mettle with different constituencies. If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. To that end, limited partners with less than 1% have been warned that the Diamondbacks could terminate their partnership interests. Initially, the BOB proved to be its own draw with an unprecedented array of amenities that appealed to spectators who were not especially interested in baseball: several playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, a day spa, and a swimming-pool party area (which could be rented for a group of up to 30 for $4,000 per game) were among the most popular attractions. 5 Martin Van Der Werf, Martin Stone, Arizona Republic, March 12, 1995, BB2; Stadium Developer Quits Deal; Martin Stone Quits Pact for Dome; Plan in Peril; Agreement Reached on Stadium.. The Diamondbacks fielded their first affiliated minor-league teams in 1996. Kendrick has been one of the part-owners of the Arizona Diamondbacks since the start of the franchise. Three minority owners of the Diamondbacks claim that the club and managing general partner Ken Kendrick is illegally trying to force them to either increase their investment in the team or. An MLB spokesperson told Buchanan that the league preferred smaller minority owner pools and that the Diamondbacks had a larger pool than other teams. If Molina, Webster and Carlisle Investments prevail on a breach claim, they would be awarded monetary damages. This is a straightforward claim.
List of Arizona Diamondbacks owners and executives Under Colangelo and Garagiola, the Diamondbacks won division titles in 1999 and 2001 as well as the pennant and World Series in 2001. Three minority owners of the Arizona Diamondbacks Alfredo Molina, Jim Weber and limited liability company Carlise Investmentsare suing managing general partner Ken Kendrick, per Zach. The more persuasively Kendricks attorneys can show that the team has adhered to established procedures and did so with sufficient transparency and accountability, the better the odds for Kendrick. Phoenix, AZ 85004 The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Druw Jones with the second overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft in mid-July, but the team may not get to see Jones play for the Ex-Cy Young winner joins .
Through Kendrick, the club retained the consulting firm Bases Loaded. 22 Ken Rosenthal, All Arizona Has to Do Now, Right Now, Is Win, The Sporting News, March 12, 2001, 49; Peter Schmuck, In Hurry, a Trading Flurry After Draft, Baltimore Sun, November 19, 1997. As an NBA executive, he ran in similar circles with MLB executives. The three plaintiffs are businessman Alfredo Molina, former pitcher Jim Weber and an LLC called Carlise Investments. In addition, partners can be called upon to contribute toward fees in a transaction. He made it clear to Colangelo that there would be no increase in the 0.25 percent sales tax unless Maricopa County residents received a good deal on the facility. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 The Arizona Diamondbacks have had two owners and five general managers in their 20-year history. Born the son of Italian immigrants in a hardscrabble section of Chicago Heights, Illinois, Colangelo Colangelo made use of his athletic and intellectual abilities as well as his unparalleled work ethic to become a great success. Three minority owners of the Arizona DiamondbacksAlfredo Molina, Jim Weber and limited liability company Carlise Investmentsare suingmanaging general partner Ken Kendrick, per Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. A general partner, sometimes referred to as the clubs principal owner, runs day-to-day operations, sets policies and oversees the hiring and firing of baseball operations and business services. In April 1987 the city agreed to secure $150 million in bonding to build a 70,000-seat domed stadium on a 66-acre parcel of land in the southern section of downtown Phoenix. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about Ken Kendrick: Ken isnt Kendricks personal name. Such a judgment is issued by a judge and reflects a clarification of the rights and obligations of the parties. Metropolitan Phoenixs most significant historical connection to the majors has been as the primary host of the Cactus League. Get ready for plenty of action and exciting matchups all season long.
Why Three Diamondbacks Minority Owners Are Suing Team's Majority Owner The stadium was to serve as the springboard to a $500 million downtown redevelopment plan that would include public and private investments in commercial and retail space, hotels, and housing. In October 1989, nearly 60 percent of Phoenix voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have allowed the issuance of $100 million of the previously authorized bonds for a domed ballpark. After graduating in 1962 he eventually found work with the NBAs Chicago Bulls and rose quickly through front-office positions. Downtown May Fully Awaken, Arizona Republic, March 12, 1995, BB7. Minority owners Molina and Weber initially invested in the Diamondbacks in 2004, while Carlisle Investments has been involved in team ownership since 1998. 20 Cities with the Worst Weather in the U.S. How Eiza Gonzalez Achieved a Net Worth of $5 Million. Per Buchanan, the team released the following statement: "The Managing General Partner of the D-backs, with the support of Major League Baseball and on advice of independent legal counsel, has chosen to streamline the ownership group and reduce the number of partners with very minimal equity stakes in the partnership. The revenue from the tax helped revitalize existing spring-training facilities and build several new complexes, including one for the Indians, who chose to stay in Arizona, moving to the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear in 1993. He served as the Coyotes' Majority Owner, Chairman and . Weber is a retired minor league pitcher who is. Kendrick is interesting in that it has two potential meanings in two languages. Defending champs USA, Canada, Mexico, Colombia and Great Britain will square off in round-robin action. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. After the draft they traded several of the prospects they had selected for veterans like Detroit Tigers third baseman Travis Fryman and Florida Marlins center fielder Devon White. He did so through a transaction with retired Diamondbacks third baseman Matt Williams, who at the time owned a .5% interest. They've been told to increase their investment or be bought out, which they say is an unlawful ultimatum. Attorneys for Kendrick are also poised to assert that the teams buy-up/buy-out requirement is fully compliant with partnership agreements.
Diamondbacks Considering Selling Minority Share Of Franchise Accessed June 10, 2016: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1997-11-19/sports/1997323118_1_red-sox-pedro-martinez-rosters. Showalter came aboard just days after the New York Yankees fired him in the wake of the teams playoff loss in its first postseason appearance in 14 years. Cohen speculates that Kendricks potential motive is to consolidate and increase the stakes of the remaining owners who werent bought out. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Learn how your comment data is processed. America West Arena, the Suns new downtown home, opened in June 1992. As of 2016, 15 of the 30 major-league teams belonged to the geographically compact (every team but one is in Maricopa County) and virtually rainout-free Cactus League.3. 29 Cactus League Stadium Guide: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, FoxSports.com, February 24, 2016. Kendrick has the legal responsibility to engage in fair dealing and act ethically. Register now to join us on March 10-12, 2023, in Phoenix, AZ. 26 All Arizona Has to Do Now, Right Now, Is Win; Nick Piecoro, Jerry Colangelos Shadow Remains Prominent Over Diamondbacks, azcentral.com, September 27, 2014. A trio of Diamondbacks minority owners have filed a lawsuit against the franchise's managing general partner Ken Kendrick, according to a report from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. See our ethics statement. 13 David Schwartz and Eric Miller, County Close to Deal on Ballpark, Arizona Republic, January 9, 1994, A1; Frank Fitzpatrick, Stadium Issues Can Explode: Take Phoenix, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 13, 1999, E1; Decision Cost Jim Bruner His Dream of Serving as U.S. Congressman; 14 Decision Cost Jim Bruner His Dream of Serving as U.S. Congressman., 15 County Close to Deal on Ballpark. Decision Cost Jim Bruner His Dream of Serving as U.S. Congressman..