It would seem that Oneonta Tigers owners Sam Nader and Sid Levine are in fairly serious negotiations to sell the Single-A New York-Penn League baseball team.
That news, revealed in this newspaper last week, immediately evoked from us three strong reactions.
No. 1: We hope the talks fail, and that Nader and Levine continue their community-minded ownership for many years to come.
No. 2: We hope that if the sale does happen the new owners will keep the team in Oneonta, where it has been in one form of another since 1966.
No. 3: Nader and Levine have more than earned the right to do whatever they want with the team after so many years of stalwart refusal to sell the club to anyone who would move it from Oneonta.
Both gentlemen are old-school owners who have placed a premium on providing affordable family entertainment for their neighbors.
They could make a lot more money if they allowed beer to be sold during their games at Damaschke Field, but they want to avoid dealing with unruly fans who have had one-too-many beers.
Unfortunately, not only are they old-school, they are also _well _ getting old. Nader is 88, and Levine just turned 95. With no apparent interest from their families to run the team, it makes perfect sense to consider selling the franchise they purchased for $10,000 in 1966.
"Am I saying would we sell the ballclub? At my age, hey, how long am I going to live? Whatever I'm going to do, I've got to take care of my estate," said Nader, whose son is Oneonta Mayor John Nader.
Meanwhile, Nader and Levine refuse to name the prospective buyers.
"We're talking," Nader said last week. "It's not a done deal by any stretch of the imagination."
The owners have had several chances through the years to take sizeable offers and not have to worry about running the ballclub. In 2001, AlliedSignal tried to buy the team for more than $2.5 million, according to Nader, but the deal was scotched because it would have meant that the team would leave Oneonta.
Damaschke Field underwent a multimillion-dollar upgrade recently. If there is no franchise, the city will be left owning a stadium with no team to play in it. But Nader said that no matter what, the franchise will stay in Oneonta through the 2010 season _ its last under a five-year contract with its parent club, the Detroit Tigers.
"Take my word for it _ and my word is damn good; I pride myself on my word _ there will be baseball in Oneonta through 2010," Nader said.
Nader's word and that of Levine have always been good. Moreover, both have been very good to our community. No matter what ultimately happens to the franchise, both gentlemen deserve our sincere thanks.
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