Guess Which Raunchy Comedian Now Owns a Minority Share of the NY Mets
- Posted on June 4, 2012 at 10:49am by
Billy Hallowell
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NEW YORK (AP) — No joke: Bill Maher owns a stake in the New York Mets.
The stand-up comic and political satirist was at Citi Field on Sunday and revealed that he bought a minority share of the team months ago. Mets senior vice president of marketing and communications David Newman confirmed the deal is done and that Maher is a new limited partner.
(Related: Bill Maher Starts Fake Romney ‘Wifer’ Movement to Counter Birtherism)
“That‘s what’s great about baseball,” Maher said. “I finally found something I can be a-political about.”
Maher, who grew up nearby in New Jersey and said he has been a Mets fan his whole life, would not disclose how much he spent or how large a stake he owns.
The Mets’ owners sought to raise cash after they were sued by the trustee seeking to recover money for victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme. Hedge fund manager David Einhorn agreed in May 2011 to purchase a minority stake in the team for $200 million, but the Mets said Sept. 1 they were calling off that deal and instead wanted to sell limited partner shares for $20 million each.
Maher said he read about the opportunity in the newspaper in December and thought it would be a great investment.
“Especially after I’ve seen some of the ways money can disappear in recent years. I had my money in Lehman Brothers in 2008, so this looked pretty good,” Maher said, drawing laughs. “I‘m really happy that it’s turned out that this team is good this year, because nobody picked them to be good.”
In March, Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz reached an agreement with the trustee for Madoff’s fraud victims, averting a high-profile civil trial. The settlement makes it likely that Wilpon and Katz will pay much less than the agreed-upon $162 million, if any at all. It also guarantees they will owe nothing until the end of four years.
That same day, a person familiar with the team’s finances said the Mets had closed on the sales of 12 limited partner shares for $20 million each. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity at that time because no public statement was authorized.
It was unclear if Maher was among that original group of 12 shares – five of which were bought by newcomers and the rest by the current ownership group and its partners in the SNY cable network.
Maher wore a Mets cap as he strolled onto the field during batting practice with chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon. The talk-show host said it was the first time he had been in New York since the deal was completed.
Outside the Mets’ clubhouse, Maher shook hands and chatted with outfielder Mike Baxter, injured Friday night while making an outstanding catch that preserved Johan Santana’s no-hitter.
“I’ve never been back here — it’s awesome. I’ve never been by a batting cage, really,” Maher said.
He added that it was his first trip to Citi Field and the first time he had met Fred Wilpon, Jeff’s father.
“I definitely want to come back for the All-Star game” next year,’ Maher said.
Does he plan to be a hands-on owner?
“Look, I have enough stress in my real job. I don’t need to worry about that. I’m just a fan,” Maher said with a chuckle. “I think my role is to bring luck to the team, like I did this weekend. I mean, let’s be honest: They did not have a no-hitter for 50 years, I buy in and I come to town and there’s a no-hitter. Draw your own conclusions.”
Maher said he has early memories of New York being granted a National League expansion franchise, and the team’s first season in 1962. He said he vividly remembers the Miracle Mets championship of 1969, and watching Game 6 of the 1986 World Series at The Improv in Los Angeles with fellow comedian Jerry Seinfeld and others.
Asked if he will try to persuade Seinfeld, a longtime Mets fan, to buy a share as well, Maher said: “Why he didn’t, I have no idea. He’s sure got more money than I do.”
Maher hosts an HBO talk show called “Real Time With Bill Maher.”
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Comments (60)
suz
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:48amuh…maybe you should stick to politics ’cause your not that funny.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:10pmIf I was Rush Limbaugh I would sue for Discrimination. If this turkey can invest Limbaugh, should be able to.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:36amThey deserve each other. They both suck.
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 11:56amYes ..even more reason to hate the Mets. I didn’t really need one but this secures the dislike for good.
Report Post »mtorres20
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 2:20amI am burning my Old Met’s Baseball Cap.
Report Post »sillyfreshness
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:37amBill “Bourgeois Jewish Bolshevik” Maher. He is now an owner of the means of production. He is a 1%’er that he complains about. Total hypocrite. I for sure don’t like the Mets now if this dirtbag is part owner. Limousine latte drinking liberal.
Report Post »dawg71
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:24amSo this should finally confirm that the Met’s do indeed suck.
Report Post »ghostsouls
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 1:18amIndeed! By allowing this to go thru, they are condoning and promoting misogyny. I remember when Rush was going to buy a team and they stopped it. So what’s the difference here. The Mets are now in the same platoon with maher in the war against women.
Report Post »LetsBeSmartAboutThis
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 9:33pmWhy is this Bill Maher post being hidden here??? This morning (Monday) it was on the main page? But halfway through the day it was moved. That’s why there are so few posts.
?????
Report Post »LetsBeSmartAboutThis
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 5:49amOkay, yesterday this post was moved from the front page, but today it’s back where it belongs. Whatever.
Hey, I‘m a Mets’ fan so I’m a little obsessive about this recent Maher/Mets news. Obsessive and saddened. Maher has a VARIETY of rude and insensitive quotes about the Catholic Church, 9/11, Sarah Palin, and those mentally challenged. He’s not a nice person. But the Mets‘ front office is so greedy they’ll take whatever money they can get their hands on. They proved that with Bernie Madoff. : (
Report Post »LetsBeSmartAboutThis
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 5:28pm(Bill Maher quote regarding the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks) “We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That’s cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it’s not cowardly.” – this quote is why Maher was fired from Channel 7 several years ago.
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:03amSo now that we are sitting at the equivalent of video game consoles and not even risking lives by having them in the plane…why no outcry from that great humanitarian Maher.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:41pmMay lightning strike every member of the NY Mets team and put them all out of commission for a few years. . As long as this trashy worthless piece of maure owns a peice of them, may they never win another game. May their bats turn to rubber and their pitchers blow out their shoulders. May the sell the team to tehran, iran.
Report Post »???too much????
Kisses6350
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:08amDo you kiss with that mouth? Love with that heart? Strike them down? Wow! Such hate filled words! Bet you wouldn’t turn down seats behind the dogout if Bill offered them to you! And Bill is a Obama supporter also! Made your day, huh? ****Smirks****
Report Post »marybethelizabeth
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:17pmThey are right, Mr. Morningzoo.
Mr. Limbaugh‘s racism isn’t limited to NLF players.
His frequent bigoted comments refer to all blacks.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:51pmpoor little mabetheliz…..another liar and a attention hog.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 7:26amLimbaugh is not racist, he just refuses to be PC and a lot of people on the left just can’t stand it.
Report Post »Machine7
Posted on June 6, 2012 at 8:04amI‘ll bet you haven’t listened to Limbaugh….You‘re liberal idiot allies tell you he’s racist so he must be…think for yourself and maybe you’ll grow intellectually
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:06pmwell as i allways have said….fluke the mets…and fluke maher
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 3:58pmThe Mets truly suck and now even New Yorkers know its true!
Report Post »Akbarjonnie Shaheed
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 2:21pmTwo bottom feeders
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 2:18pmthat vile degenerate maher’s just hoping one of those Mets he “owns” now will drop the soap while he is in the locker room. wonder if they appreciate having his kind “owning” them.
Report Post »vehoae
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:34amWell, well. Guess the policies for the baseball league are vastly different from those of the NFL (just thinking back to the scandal when the NFL refused Rush based on his political persuasions).
Lord, come quickly.
Report Post »morningzoo
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:55amRush Limbaugh made racist comments about NFL players, Maher has never made such mistakes. You might want to drink from Rush’s man teets but Real Americans do not
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:11pmRush never made any racists comments about anyone. You don‘t know what you’re talking about. Stay off Media Matters and try listening to him yourself sheep.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:12pmZOO: What a gross comment. And you complain about Limbaugh’s comments.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:37pmZoo…Show us when Rush made a racist comment. You cannot find one! You are an absolute fool.
Report Post »txjb
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 1:10pmmorningzoo at one time was the name of a talk show full of libs , and didn’t have a clue what they were talking about .
Report Post »Inlightofthings
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 8:12amZOO is probably talking about the time Rush compared the NFL to the Bloods and the Crips gangs…
Here’s the full story…last sentence is the quote. He talks about the cultural issues and it may be hard to disagree. He certainly is not PC about it.
http://michaelinmi.wordpress.com/2009/10/14/rush-limbaughs-nfl-bloods-vs-crips-quote-in-full-context/
Report Post »LetsBeSmartAboutThis
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:30amThe Mets‘ front office just doesn’t get it !
• They build Ebbets Field in tribute to the Brooklyn Dodgers… and the sight lines suck.
• They make the stadium’s rotunda a tribute to Jackie Robinson who was never a Met.
• They make enemies with their veteran players… there’s no sense of loyalty!
• And now they have a low-life “comedian” who degrades women (called Sarah Palin both a ‘t**t‘ and a ’c**t’) as a co-owner???
You’ve lost me as a fan. You guys don’t know how to run a baseball business ! ! !
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:26amMaybe they’ll let him MC (or whatever you call the announcer) a game or two….
Report Post »Jackie Rogers, Jr.
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:15pmI can hear it now, ” Leading off the Mets half of the 4th inning is third baseman David Wright. Wright came into the game with a .363 batting average, which really isn’t fair considering the team batting average is only .261.”
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:22amSo that is why the stink. I just thought it was the players. I guess instead of running the Pick and Roll, they run the Pick your Nose. Of course overpaid basketball players who treat all women like prostitutes should be owned by a guy who treats all woman like second class citizens that if they don’t spew the liberal agenda, they must be Dumb B@tches.
Report Post »BOstinks
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:20amWhat goes around, comes around. If I were a Met player I wouldn’t stand near Maher during storm delays.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:12pmNice.
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:19amWill he demand that strippers and porn stars grace the fans with their presence? I’m just saying, ya know? Gutter does what gutter does best….
Report Post »Deckle
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:13amThey get what New Yorkers deserve! Us poor stupid regular folk wouldn’t appreciate his humor anyway according to most New Yorkers. It is way above our intellectual ability! Yeah Right!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:07am“it’s awesome. I’ve never been by a batting cage, really,” He was the kid that never got picked to play, maybe that‘s why he’s mean as a snake today. One more reason to dislike NYC.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:17amWow, being a communist ***** must pay very well.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:06amLOL – What Would Ayn Rand Do?
This means no bankruptcy for the Mets and more taxes for us!
TEA
Report Post »Optimist4now
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 10:58amMaher, one more reason to boycott professional sports!
Report Post »neiman1
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 10:55amSticking up for the 1% by buying a $20 million dollar share of the Mets after gifting $1 million to the President for reelection. How can the masses buy into this hypocrisy?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 10:53amOf course Rush is WAY too controvercial to have a stake in an NFL team.
Report Post »USACommoner
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:03amMy thoughts exactly. They have no shame.
Report Post »morningzoo
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:05am1. Learn to spell.
Report Post »2. Rush has made a ton of racist comments, including racist comments regarding NFL players.
3. Maher is a Real American
Gonzo
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:12am4. Blow me
Report Post »Athinkerinaseaoflibs
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:20am@ the MorningZoo
Report Post »Are you out of your mind? The way that ALL liberals treat people of color is the ultimate racism. By telling any group of people that they are not good enough and that the only way for them to be “raised up” to live in squalor is for the government to enslave them in government programs is the ultimate racism. Don’t forget for this to all work these liberal pieces of work had to do to destroy the family unit in the black community. Bill Maher’s initials say it all he is one big gigantic BM!
realistic_01
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:20am@morningzoo
1. How many racist comments are in a ton? You criticize someone for their spelling and then you use a measure of weight to enumerate a weightless quantity.
Report Post »2. You’re either a troll or a complete idiot
3. Maher is about as American as Putin.