O'MALLEY MUM ABOUT HIS FUTURE : DODGERS OWNER COULD PURSUE SEVERAL VENTURES, INCLUDING NFL.Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer Peter O'Malley
The Dodgers president, who announced Monday that his team is for sale, was asked Monday at a news conference at Dodger Stadium • • [ what challenges might lie ahead but he declined to offer an enlightening en·light·en tr.v. en·light·ened, en·light·en·ing, en·light·ens 1. To give spiritual or intellectual insight to: glimpse into his long-term Long-term Three or more years. In the context of accounting, more than 1 year. long-term 1. Of or relating to a gain or loss in the value of a security that has been held over a specific length of time. Compare short-term. future. For now, he has enough on his mind. ``I've got a few challenges right here,'' he said emphatically em·phat·ic adj. 1. Expressed or performed with emphasis: responded with an emphatic "no." 2. Forceful and definite in expression or action. 3. , ``finding a quality buyer, getting the team ready as long as I'm here. ``I may be here a long time.'' The first order of business is the search for a new owner. He expects to field offers the next several months and make a decision within about six months, although there's no hurry, he said. ``There's no pressure. The result is more important than the timing,'' he said. He might even stick around after the sale if the new owner or owners feel he could help in the transition. Anything for the Dodgers. ``I would be happy to cooperate and stay on as long as the new owner wanted me to,'' he said. ``But I don't want to put (the new owner or owners) on the spot. He may have a new and better idea which I would respect completely.'' Some wonder whether his future might be in the NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga . O'Malley was looking into the possibility of bringing a team to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. and building a football stadium next to Dodger Stadium until he was asked by city officials to support the Coliseum Coliseum: see Colosseum. as an NFL site. And if it's determined the Coliseum is the wrong answer? O'Malley wouldn't say. ``It would be unfair for those who are trying in good faith to see if the Coliseum is the right location for me to say we're waiting in the wings,'' he said. ``We have to let the Coliseum play out its course and not interfere.'' It seems more likely O'Malley will keep a hand in baseball when he leaves the Dodgers. When he was asked at the news conference whether he would like to use his influence to help solve some of baseball's problems, such as finding an independent commissioner, he expressed enthusiastic interest. ``As you all know, I was born into this game,'' he said. ``And I've loved every minute of it. If I were asked to contribute in a meaningful, specific way to try to solve some of the issues out there it would be very difficult to turn that request down.'' His enthusiasm to help probably would not extend to becoming commissioner. When that prospect was mentioned, O'Malley could only laugh. ``We have a very creative group here,'' he said. ``I haven't thought about that.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Peter O'Malley, right, talks with executive vice president Fred Claire Fred Claire (b. October 5, 1935 in Jamestown, OH) is a former major league baseball executive who served in numerous roles for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1969-1998 including the role of general manager from 1987-1998. on Monday. O'Malley said his first priority is to begin searching for a new owner. Tina Gerson/Daily News |
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