He’s back: In naming Mike Dee as their new president/CEO, the Padres brought back a member of the team’s 1990s front office. Dee previously left the organization for the Boston Red Sox with then-President/CEO Larry Lucchino. Most recently the CEO of the Miami Dolphins, Dee will reportedly have “unquestioned power” as the head of business and baseball operations for the Padres.
It sounds like Dee can, and probably will, change an awful lot about the San Diego baseball club in the next few years. Fans better hope that he’s good at his job, because he’s wielding a rather large sledgehammer and could end up leaving a lot of destruction behind if things don’t work out.
With that news this week, the mystery surrounding his predecessor’s resignation has mostly been lifted. It was a difference in philosophies that lead to Tom Garfinkel’s exit, said Padres Chairman Ron Fowler, who is usually the one representing the team’s ownership group. Reading in between the lines of the rest of the comments, it sounds like Garfinkel wanted to wait for the team’s strong farm system to develop a strong team at the MLB level, whereas Fowler and the other owners believe prospects should be traded for the benefit of the MLB team.
You’re reading the Sports Report, our weekly compilation of news and information for the San Diego sports fan.
Why You Should Get Into Roller Derby
I arrived at a roller derby match in Oceanside almost by accident last weekend. I went strictly with the intentions of supporting a friend of a friend, and enjoying the outdoors on a warm Saturday evening. By the end of the night, I was on the edge of my seat and cheering like my life depended on it. It left me wondering if there was a rougher, or more fun, sport being played in San Diego.
I can’t imagine a lot of San Diego sports fans have been to the roller derby, but I would recommend it to all of them. There’s a certain charm that came from athletes competing for something besides money or fame, and it was enriching to see the female players embrace each other as contemporaries after the match. For a city that doesn’t offer much in the way of women’s athletics, we should do what we can to put a spotlight on a sport as fun as this one.
Professional Football Is Less Than A Week Away
When it comes to American sports, the NFL is king. So as we look ahead to the kickoff of the Chargers’ training camp on July 25, the NFL news-cycle’s kicked into high gear and fans are eagerly anticipating their first glimpse of the 2013 team.
- The Chargers are the 38th most valuable pro sports franchise, says Forbes in their annual ranking. The team is valued at $936 million.
- Nobody is still quite sure how to pay for a new Chargers stadium, or where it will go. But owner Dean Spanos could supply $100 million toward a project that could cost $1 billion, said Ken Derrett, the Chargers’ chief marketing officer. Derrett also admitted to a funding gap for a new stadium. Looks like the Bolts are stuck in Qualcomm Stadium for now.
- In an attempt to show that the first reaction isn’t always the best, Bolts from the Blue’s Patrick Green went back through Twitter to find out what people were saying when the Chargers signed safety Eric Weddle to a contract extension before the 2011 season. Weddle is certainly the best defensive player on the Chargers this season, and might be the best player on the entire team. He is generally thought of as one of the league’s best safeties, making the contract look like a steal in retrospect.
Stories You May Have Missed
- Jon Bois from SB Nation took some time to remember Dante Hall, maybe the greatest returner in the history of the NFL and one of the most fun to watch. Watching his return against the Broncos, with all the Chiefs removed from the shot, is worth the price of admission on this one.
- GIF of the Week: Two GIFs this week, both from the MLB All-Star Game. The game itself saw plenty of good pitching and great defense, including this throw by Manny Machado and this barehanded catch-and-throw by Brandon Phillips.
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I’m John Gennaro, contributor to Active Voice and managing editor of Bolts from the Blue. You can tweet me @jmglion or e-mail me directly at boltsfromtheblue@gmail.com.
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