What's Going On? (Payne: II)

I don't know what's happening with the Milwaukee Brewers' administration, but it isn't good. Can we get a winner without having to go through all of the disappointing malarky that's involved? What's Going On is what we've decided to call this column, because no one knows what exactly is happening, and no one can get a straight answer when they ask questions.

We've heard that President and CEO, Ulice Payne, may be forced into stepping down, or he may step down on his own. We've heard that the payroll is headed for a horrible low. We've heard that we'll most likely have to get rid of one of the best players on the Brewers. What I want to hear now, is how we're going to deal with all of this in a timely fashion before it's once again time to play baseball in 2004.

It's unfortunate that the Milwaukee Brewers' most honest man made the horrible and irreplacable mistake of voicing his opinion after he signed off on the proposed payroll plan for the team in 2004. Now he's going to have to pay for that mistake by the forced resignation that could possibly be given to him by the Board of Directors. Because of this mistake, the team and fans could have to suffer through a new President with new ideas which ironically colaborate with Wendy Selig-Prieb, Chairman of the Board, a.k.a. the woman who uses executives as puppets to get what she wants.

I'll give you another question to ponder: Why have a board that is supposed to make decisions when the Chairman is just going to fire you when you make a decision contary to her opinion?

I'd like to vent on one more subject while I rant and rave on about the stupidity that is being shoved down our throats by the Board of Directors. If you look at the Milwaukee Brewers' Mission Statement (you can find this located in Miller Park and in the Milwaukee Brewers 2003 Media Guide) you'll see the passage that states, "The Milwaukee Brewers are committed to fielding a competitive team both on and off the field...respect for the game and the loyalty to our fans..." What kind of loyalty to the fans do they have when they haven't even upheld their end of the bargain to build the team a world class stadium? If you recall the Milwaukee Brewers said that if the taxpayers would build them a new stadium, they would field a competitive team.

WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN? I truly wish that I could answer that question, but it's almost impossible when you've got an administration dedicated to lining their pockets with the money that is supposed to be going into paying players to build the competitive team that we all strive for. If you don't get the players, at least take the money out of your pockets and pay off the team's $110 million debt.

My Letter:

I have sent this letter to every Milwaukee Brewers Board of Director and Bud Selig.

November 14th, 2003

To whom it may concern,

I am very worried about the Milwaukee Brewers, the team me and my friends have grown to love over the years. It is almost sickening to think that as fans, we have been watching sub-par baseball for eleven seasons in Milwaukee. What is even more sickening is there seems to be no end in sight. We have went through men like Sal Bando and Dean Taylor without any success. In the 2003 season, we see a twelve game improvement over the franchises worst season in 2002. Two men that should be partly credited with the improvements are GM Doug Melvin and President & CEO Ulice Payne Jr.

Fourteen months into his five year contract, it is decided that Payne is to be ousted? Now, I do not agree with how he handled his mouth, I understand he criticized the board after he signed off on the payroll, but that is the reason for letting him go? Ulice may not be a “god“, as Harris Turer stated to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but he is as close to one as Milwaukee has according to every Brewer fan that you could possibly talk to. So, I think Mr. Turer should probably refrain from trying to put down one of the most respected men in the City of Milwaukee.

I would like to remind you of what the Brewers Mission Statement says, “The Milwaukee Brewers are committed to fielding a competitive team both on and off the field that exemplifies a strong work ethic, respect for the game and loyalty to our fans. We deliver an affordable fan friendly, high quality entertainment experience in a world-class facility.”

When are you going to field a competitive team? What fan loyalty? Aside from Mr. Payne and Mr. Melvin, we never know what is going on with OUR team. We never heard from Bando or Taylor at Fan Forums, we never hear an educated response about the baseball team from Wendy, Rick, Harris, Mitch, John, or any other Brewers Front Office personnel.

We never hear exactly why our team is $110 Million in debt. Our team is going to be subjected to an audit from Madison to figure out exactly where all of our money is going. We built the Milwaukee Brewers a stadium to prevent them from relocating, so, the Milwaukee Brewers & Miller Park have become the peoples team and stadium.

Where do you see an end to the losing? Ticket sales will remain down, throwing the team further in debt. John Norquist said it best, "Today, sports franchises need owners wealthy enough to own the team." Let’s face it, Brewers’ owners are not wealthy enough. Taxpayers will invest $562.9 Million for a stadium that only cost around $350 Million after rebuilding of one whole side of the stadium due to the fatal “Big Blue” accident. The least the Brewers could do, is honor their word of putting a competitive team on the field that was made over a decade ago.

Rick Schlesinger wants the Brewers to be the Twins and A’s of the future. What is going to happen with the next fire-sale of the franchise? We’ve given away a number of quality players in the past, what happens three years down the line when we are still in financial trouble? We’ll lose Fielder, Weeks, Parra, Nelson, Hardy, etc.?

Quit playing the games, and put a winner on the field. The games got old in the beginning of the Dean Taylor tenure, and Brewer fans are growing more and more impatient. We are sick and tired of our team being the laughing stock of Major League Baseball fans. The Milwaukee Brewers Board of Directors, owners, front office people, anyone responsible for the Brewers breaking their promise need to step down, sell the team, and be replaced. Brewers fans are no longer worried about relocation under another owner, we are worried about further embarrassment to the City of Milwaukee.

Next season, 2004, will be the toughest year of them all. I promise you, two months into the off season, Brewers fans are in an uproar. This uproar will not disappear until the team changes hands, or we become a contender. If you are not physically able to make us a contender, please, please, get away from our team and our city.

Respectfully Yours,
Gordon Lee

If you have any questions, comments, ideas, or concerns on this column or any other column you've read by Gordon Lee or John Jacobson, contact us at glee@fantasyinfocentral.com or jnjacobson@brewersmvp.com

Thank you all for your support, and we look forward to trying to figure out what's going through these people's heads!