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Eugene Church · 12-09-2016, 05:10 PM

The Islandian Times
Monday, November 26, 2001

IPA Expansion Teams Rumored To Go The Rich And Mighty
BNN reported yesterday that rumors are abound that a "deal" is in the making where the current IPA owners will award a few expansion franchises to several of the wealthiest applicants and put an end for widespread expansion throughout Islandia. Anonymous sources close to the expansion committee confided to BNN that several billionaires would be offered franchises for the coming 2002 season. However, it would be just four franchises, not the 40 that had been requested by Gates Billingham and his expansion group.

One of the small town owners, Bob Catlin of Beechwood, was blunt. He told BNN that this sounded like something some of the current owners would try to do to keep from sharing pro baseball with all the towns of Islandia. Catlin was quoted as saying, "This stinks to high heaven. That's the way that Ewing bunch likes to operate. But Gates Billingham and Andrus Valk don't do business that way. They are billionaires, but they would never sell out their friends for a pro baseball franchise. They have too much class for that type of chicanery."

The Islandian Times contacted Jock Ewing to see if any decision has been made by the Islandian Pro Alliance expansion committee. Ewing said, "The committee is looking at all aspects of expanding the league, the pros and cons. It will be studied thoroughly and could take some time. The committee will not be rushed to make a quick decision."

Asked if he had heard the rumor of expanding to four teams for the coming year, Ewing replied, "I don't know where BNN got their story. But the expansion committee is still doing our due diligence. It is a little too early in the process for us to be doling out franchises."

12-09-2016, 05:10 PM	#5317
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,939	The Islandian Times Monday, November 26, 2001 IPA Expansion Teams Rumored To Go The Rich And Mighty BNN reported yesterday that rumors are abound that a "deal" is in the making where the current IPA owners will award a few expansion franchises to several of the wealthiest applicants and put an end for widespread expansion throughout Islandia. Anonymous sources close to the expansion committee confided to BNN that several billionaires would be offered franchises for the coming 2002 season. However, it would be just four franchises, not the 40 that had been requested by Gates Billingham and his expansion group. One of the small town owners, Bob Catlin of Beechwood, was blunt. He told BNN that this sounded like something some of the current owners would try to do to keep from sharing pro baseball with all the towns of Islandia. Catlin was quoted as saying, "This stinks to high heaven. That's the way that Ewing bunch likes to operate. But Gates Billingham and Andrus Valk don't do business that way. They are billionaires, but they would never sell out their friends for a pro baseball franchise. They have too much class for that type of chicanery." The Islandian Times contacted Jock Ewing to see if any decision has been made by the Islandian Pro Alliance expansion committee. Ewing said, "The committee is looking at all aspects of expanding the league, the pros and cons. It will be studied thoroughly and could take some time. The committee will not be rushed to make a quick decision." Asked if he had heard the rumor of expanding to four teams for the coming year, Ewing replied, "I don't know where BNN got their story. But the expansion committee is still doing our due diligence. It is a little too early in the process for us to be doling out franchises."