Regarding MLS games, especially for newer teams, the crowd is nuts, when Orlando City launched the pure insanity that followed was incredible, once the "newness" wore off and the teams performance wasn't stellar it died down a good bit, hell it was local broadcast tv for every game initially but finding a game now, only apple TV (maybe it's an MLS thing I dunno) but once a team loses local tv markets you know the enthusiasm died down.
As far as Payne goes, I'm a mixed bag on the tag, I don't like the idea of him walking for nothing and I also don't like the idea of a long term mega deal based off one season where he actually performed to expectations. I'm with Neo on this that his behavior about the $$$ irks me, bothers me, makes me think of too many past DL failure signings going back to Stubblefield. If he plays one year on the tag and bolts, well he'll have either proven us wrong that he is worth the truck load of cash he wants or he'll move back to the mean and be a "solid" but not star player where he can move on and we'll enjoy our comp 3rd round pick. If we were offered a 2nd and 4th, I move him yesterday. I don't see us getting a first based off one good season, I think the league has gotten wiser to one year money motivated wonders. I understand Chris's point that we'd be letting what "we know" go for draft picks that we "hope" turn out well but Payne wasn't playing at the level his draft position would dictate until last season either.
New owner - I've reached the point where I don't care if it's announced that an actual business bought the team (ala the Angels and Ducks) years ago as long as it gets done. I have my concerns with all the potential owners some might not be able to infuse as much cash as we'd like, some I think are just dick hole human beings, not excrement like Snyder, just dick holes. I initially thought we wouldn't see a new owner announcement until June, then revised it to some time in March I believe, my gut is now thinking I might've been right the first time.
As always well done, what a different atmosphere without CH hogging all the mic time.
Also, we keep discussing Worth/Wealth for new owners, the real question is cash liquidity - Bezos has stock options to sell so on top of the cash cost he'll have capital gains out the ass to pay (not that he can't). The other contenders we know of also own stakes in sports teams which helps inflate their Worth/Wealth which muddies the waters (a point Neo brought up). Also, part of me thinks the NFL doesn't want an owner who also owns the local paper but then again Dan bought radio stations so what do I know and rumor has it that Bezos has the compost on the chopping block as soon as he gets an offer. I think regardless there's debt borrowing involved in the transaction no matter who owns it.
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