The Outsider Positions to Get Back In – The Post
Indianapolis businessman Jeffrey Smulyan is profiled, focusing mostly on his tenure as owner of the Seattle Mariners. He threatened to move the M’s to the Tampa Bay area, but that may have just been leverage to get a new stadium and was a tactic used by next ownership group (it worked). The article also indicates that Smulyan was ahead of his time with player introductions, flashy scoreboards and more.

Also, a number of people speculated that his pursuit of the Nats was really just an attempt to buy the Reds. It turns out that is a moot point, as the Reds were sold yesterday (The Cincinnati Enqurier).

The real problem with Smulyan is not that he would try to move the team, but that he is undercaptialized (the bid relies on funding from Emmis Broadcasting, which Smulyan is CEO of) and was not a good owner in Seattle.

---

MLB, District close to lease – The Wash. Times
Jerry Reinsdorf and other with MLB are going to be having face to face talks wtih the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission and other city officials over the lease for the proposed ballpark today. The article seems confident that it will get done soon.

Also, Marion Barry (D, Ward 8) is on board with plans to build a soccer stadium across the Anacostia River from the ballpark. The D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission is also planning on renovating the armory for indoor lacrosse and NBDL.