Bob Simpson

Is Nolan Ryan Leaving the Rangers?

It was only fitting that Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher whose name is more or less synonymous with the Texas Rangers, would swoop in to help save the club from Tom HIcks two-and-a-half years ago. But his tenure in the team's front office may be coming to an end. The Rangers announced late Fri ... More >>

Exploring Texas Rangers' Options as Wheelin' and Dealin' Begins at Hilton Anatole

Photo by Sam MertenThe scene yesterday afternoon in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole.​Likely bracing for the departure of free-agent hurler C.J. Wilson, the Texas Rangers have already inked former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $14.5 million contract and announced Neftali Feli ... More >>

Breaking Down the Texas Rangers Offseason Plans in the Wake of Coming So Close

Photos courtesy Texas RangersNo need to place all of the blame on Nellie. There are plenty of other folks at fault for losing the World Series.​No matter how hard you try to find a scapegoat, the story of the 2011 World Series doesn't have a chapter about its version of Bill Buckner, nor shoul ... More >>

Deion Sanders Collaborates With Snoop? Merle Haggard's Got Song About Wash? Yes and Yes.

The Old School Brother.​It's been a weird, surprisingly musical week in Dallas sports, y'all. For starters, recent Hall of Fame inductee Willie Beamen Deion Sanders is back in action on the hip-hop front. Sanders, you may recall, released a Dallas Austin-produced hip-hop album called Prime Time in ... More >>

That's the Way Downloads Go: Now You Can Own Merle Haggard's Ron Washington Song

​I listen to something from this recording of Merle Haggard at the Longhorn Ballroom back in 1982, oh, probably once a week; never do get tired of "Mama Tried" or "Tulare Dust." And I still have that whole series of "That's the Way Baseball Go" T-shirts dating back to the glorious fall of 2010. Ju ... More >>

Texas Rangers, Tom Hicks Settle Dispute Over Ballpark Parking. For This Season, Anyway.

Photo by Sam Merten​Two weeks back it came to light that the current owners of the Texas Rangers were feuding with the former owner of the Texas Rangers over some 12,000 parking spots around the Ballpark in Arlington. To recap, quickly: Ray Davis and Bob Simpson's Rangers Baseball Express, LLC too ... More >>

You Didn't Forget About That Glorypark Lawsuit, Did You? These Guys Haven't.

​One day, perhaps later than sooner, there will be a resolution over how much, if anything, Tom Hicks or the present owners of the Texas Rangers owe over that failed Glorypark development that was to have been built next to the Ballpark in Arlington. But for now, that case remains in limbo -- some ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

"With a Heavy Heart," Chuck Greenberg On Why He's No Longer a Texas Ranger: He and Nolan Ryan Have "Somewhat Different Styles."

Sam MertenChuck Greenberg at a press conference at the ballpark last August​Odd news to wake up to this morning: After being the man leading the charge to take control of the Texas Rangers last summer, and having been very much the public face of the franchise in the months since, Chuck Greenberg' ... More >>

Whitt's Merten's End 3.11.11

Photo by Sam MertenChuck Greenberg and Texas Rangers co-chair Bob Simpson celebrate after outbidding Mark Cuban in an auction to own the club​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's Merten's End: *Well, that was quick. Chuck Greenberg formed ... More >>

Is Fort Worth's Star-Telegram Now a Newspaper Without a Home?

Flickr user: QuesterMark​Just got off the phone with Jim Witt, executive editor of the Star-Telegram, who pointedly did not deny this morning's hot rumor -- that the Fort Worth newspaper's building, which has been on the market since September 2008, has been sold and the staff told to work from ho ... More >>

Cliff Lee Shuns Rangers, Shocks Yankees and Signs With Phillies

The Phillies?! Now Rangers fans don't even get a chance to boo him.​The good news: Your Texas Rangers didn't lose Cliff Lee to the New York Yankees. The bad/horrible/devastating news: Your Texas Rangers lost Cliff Lee. To the Philadelphia Phillies?! We heard persistent whispers all through ... More >>

Do the Rangers' New Owners Have the Money and Will to Build on a Winning Formula?

New York Times Gets Its Hands on Closed-Door Meeting in Rangers Bankruptcy Case. So ...?

Sam Merten Chuck Greenberg takes a swig of celebratory champagne next to co-owner Bob Simpson outside the Fort Worth courthouse after winning the August auction.​On September 17, we noted: The New York Times, for whatever reason, really wanted to get its hands on a tape made in Fort Worth b ... More >>

"The Old Rangers Are Gone."

​That quote, from Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, is the theme of this morning's World Series round-up.It comes from an interview in USA Today concerning the prospects of keeping Cliff Lee, which doesn't sound like the impossibility others have made it out to be; says Lee, beating the San Fra ... More >>

In Other Rangers News, Mark Cuban and Jim Crane Still Fighting to Get Their Bid Refund

Sam Merten​A few weeks back we noticed that Mark Cuban and Jim Crane wanted their millions back for trying to buy the Texas Rangers out from under Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan (and Ray Davis and Bob Simpson). Long story short: Cuban and Crane, as Radical Pitch LLC, figured they're owed a refund ... More >>

Greenberg and Ryan's First Order of Business: Slash Prices at Ballpark! Yes, Even Beer!

​Sam's out at the Ballpark in Arlington at this very moment, where Chuck Greenberg's holding his first press conference as The Owner of Your Texas Rangers. (Nolan Ryan was called out of town at the last second.) As they mentioned yesterday, the newsome twosome called today's meet-and-greet to intr ... More >>

It's Official (Finally!): Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan Now Own Your Texas Rangers

Sam Merten​In a few minutes I'll be hopping on a conference call with Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan, who, moments ago, received the unanimous okee-doke from Major League Baseball's owners to take control of Your Texas Rangers as long last. But till then, here's an excerpt from MLB's freshly shipp ... More >>

Rangers to Debut Fan-Friendly Initatives Tomorrow. But Nolan Says, "This Heat Situation's Blown Way Out of Proportion."

Sam MertenChuck Greenberg takes a swig of celebratory champagne in Fort Worth courthouse parking lot after last week's marathon auction​Nolan Ryan says it's still "hard to comprehend" that the torturous journey to taking control of the Texas Rangers is over."It dominated our lives so much, and the ... More >>

Clearly, Tom Hicks and Family Having a Hard Time Saying Goodbye to the Texas Rangers

​About this time one week ago today, we received what I thought had to be The Last Word from Tom Hicks. Not so much: Moments ago yet another tear-stained adios arrived in the Unfair Park in-box, as Hicks chimes in to commemorate the for-real end of his 12-year tenure as owner of the Texas Rangers, ... More >>

The Texas Rangers Thrive while Owner Tom Hicks' Sports Empire Crumbles.