Chuck Greenberg

Why We Love Sports in America: 2011

​Since I'm out on vacation next week let me get to this Fourth of July tradition a little early: Happy Birthday, America. Our country turns the ripe old age of 235 on Monday. Between burgers and beers and bikinis, I'll make time this weekend remembering how friggin' fortunate we are to have a ... More >>

Past, Present Texas Rangers Owner In Legal Spat Over Use of 11,679 Ballpark Parking Spots

Photo by Sam MertenNo doubt the very same look Hicks gave Greenberg when he let him know he was terminating the land use agreement​Speaking of disputes between Texas Rangers ownership past and present ...Courthouse News has the lengthy lawsuit filed Monday in Tarrant County District Court, in whic ... More >>

My Top 5 Worries About the Texas Rangers at Spring Training

​I know that stats are usually meaningless during baseball's spring training. But trends and feels aren't. The San Francisco Giants won the Cactus League in 2010 with an 23-12 record, but their opponent in the World Series - your Texas Rangers - went a last-place 10-19. Pitchers are usua ... More >>

Whitt's End: 3.18.11

​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Couple weeks ago I circled tonight's Mavs-Spurs game at American Airlines Center in anticipation. Now? No biggie. After dropping games it should've won to Memphis, New Orleans and Portland, ... More >>

Michael Young: Still Here. Still Hitting.

​Don't know what else to call it, I'm just getting a weird vibe here in Surprise, Arizona. The defending American League champion Texas Rangers somehow only have two starters (C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis) inked into the rotation. Their elite closer (Neftali Feliz) might be a starter but ... More >>

At Rangers Ballpark, Nolan Ryan Puts A Little Spit Polish on Chuck Greenberg's Departure

James A. KeithNolan Ryan addresses reporters this afternoon at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.​In a crowded room deep within the substratum of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, team president-turned-CEO Nolan Ryan tried to cast Chuck Greenberg's surprising departure this morning in a positive light he ... More >>

Well, If It's Good Enough for the Jonas Brothers

​Big high-five for Westlake this morning: That tiny town in Tarrant (and Denton) County, once the playground of Nelson Bunker Hunt, has been named by Forbes as The Most Affluent Neighborhood in America, based upon the recently released U.S. Census Bureau Community Survey. The annual median income ... More >>

It's Official: John Rhadigan Is The New Play-by-Play Voice of Your Texas Rangers

Flickr user: HooverStreetStudios​The rumor's been circulating for days that John Rhadigan would replace ousted-in-October Josh Lewin as the teevee play-by-play man for the Texas Rangers, pairing him with analyst Tom Grieve. The team just made it official in a release that follows in full. But long ... More >>

Whitt's Merten's End: 12.31.10

One of Sports Pickle's best photos of 2010​It's been a fun two weeks, sports fans. Richie's back on Monday, but before I give him back his blog, here are some week-end thoughts before I go. *Sunday's Cowboys-Eagles game looks like it might be the first NFL start for Stephen McGee as Jon Kitna ... More >>

Rest in Peace, Tom Vandergriff

At left, City of Arlington; at right, James William Dunlop via UTA LibraryAt right is a photo of the first cars to come off the GM assembly line in Arlington. Standing at center is Tom Vandergriff.​Victor Vandergriff tells the Star-Telegram: His father, former Arlington mayor Tom Vandergriff, died ... More >>

Closing the Book on Cliff Lee, Who Would Have Loved Texas For the Right Price

Sam MertenAdios, Cliff. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.​I know. I know. You're tired of hearing about Cliff Lee. He's a goner, and it's not like the Rangers didn't do their best to keep him here. Actually, I'd say Jon Daniels, Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg did too much in their attemp ... More >>

Cliff Notes: Rangers Should Be in Seventh Heaven

​Let me just say this one last thing about Cliff Lee and then we'll move on. Maybe. Sorta. OK, probably not. Check that, definitely uh-uh. Don't tell me the Texas Rangers tried hard. Don't tell me we should be proud of sitting at the big boys table. Don't tell me the Rangers did everything po ... More >>

Rangers: Beginning Next Season, Games'll Be Broadcast on 103.3 ESPN (and KSKY)

​Richie hinted at this earlier, but the Texas Rangers just made it official: Beginning next season, Eric Nadel and Dave Barnett will be heard on ESPN's local radio affiliate, which I believe is located at 103.3 on your FM dial. The official release follows, but note: Some games will actually wind ... More >>

Rangers Announce "Significant" Upgrades to Sound Vision at Ballpark in Arlington

​On the other side is the announcement that just landed in the Unfair Park in-box, in which the Texas Rangers detail " a series of significant improvements in the video, technology, and audio systems at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington for the 2011 season." (None of which involve Cliff Lee.) The comp ... More >>

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 >>

Greenberg Asks Rangers Fans to "Believe"

Sam Merten​Win or lose, tonight's the final home game of the 2010 Texas Rangers season. And, yes, even the die-hards must admit at this late date (November 1, itself a remarkable achievement) that the Rangers' chances of winning the World Series look slim. But Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg, postin ... 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 >>

Before First Pitch, An "Ode to the Texas Rangers"

An old Friend of Unfair Park will be skipping work this afternoon to watch Rangers Playoff Baseball -- he's got the note from Chuck Greenberg to prove he, like John Reed, has come down with Red Fever. (It's after the jump for those likewise inflicted. It's cute enough.) We were talking the other nig ... More >>

After Driving Up Price of Rangers at Auction, Cuban and Crane Want a Few Mil Back

Sam Merten​For a long while during the auction of Your Texas Rangers on August 4 -- and into the wee small hours of August 5 -- it looked as though Mark Cuban and Jim Crane's Radical Pitch LLC might indeed take possession of the team. Every time Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan's Rangers Baseball Ex ... More >>

Seeing Stars, Seeing Red: The Tom Hicks Tee!

Tom Hicks, this shirt's referring to you.​For those wondering why's it taking so damned long for Tom Hicks to part with the Dallas Stars, Mike Heika has the answer: The lenders are in control now (wuh-oh). That, coupled with Chuck Greenberg's landing a something-point-something billion-dollar teev ... More >>

NY Times Really Wants Tapes from Closed-Door Hearing in Texas Rangers' Chapter 11 Case

​On July 9 Your Texas Rangers acquired Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners. Which was great. Very exciting. But, just maybe, something just as interesting was taking place in the chambers of Judge Michael Lynn, the Fort Worth bankruptcy judge who, on July 9, gathered behind closed doors several of ... More >>

Rangers 4, Twins 3: My Top 10 Observations

​Live from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington ... 10. News of Vladimir Guerrero's imminent demise were, in retrospect, premature. His sixth-inning homer to left gave the Rangers their fourth consecutive win - another playoff-esque, 4-3 triumph over the Minnesota Twins - and dwindled thei ... 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 >>

Whitt's End: 8.6.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Since you guys salivate over local radio news, here's a zesty taste: Starting August 16 the new program director at 105.3 The Fan will be Bruce Gilbert. Yep, the same Bruce Gilbert who helped buil ... More >>

Auction Update, or: How Much Does Mark Cuban Want to Own the Texas Rangers?

Sam Merten​This much, per Sam's latest series of tweets from the Fort Worth courtroom where the Texas Rangers auction drags on ... and on ... and on. After Mark Cuban and Jim Crane submitted the highest bid earlier this afternoon, Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan counter-offered. Which is where we p ... More >>

This Morning, Questions About Whether Bud Selig's Balls Will Strike Out Rangers Sale

​What was it Tom Hicks said Tom Hicks said Saturday night? Ah, yes: The sale of Your Texas Rangers -- to Chuck Greenberg, Jim Crane, Mark Cuban or The Still-Living Ghost of Brad Corbett -- is a "complex proceeding." (What's wrong with the family-friendly "clusterfudge"?) But those needing some sum ... More >>

Your Texas Rangers, With Its Weird Winning Record Into July, Is Hardly The Baseball Team We Recognize.

It Would Appear Rangers, Stars Bound Together Even After Tom Hicks is Out of the Picture

​Well, well, well -- the Texas Rangers Baseball Partners have filed a "revised" Chapter 11 plan, and Maury Brown, so far, seems to be the one guy who thinks this might could maybe be the redo that gets this sale over the hump. Or not. Which may not be the most interesting development in a case I h ... More >>

Greenberg and Ryan Say Delaying Rangers Sale "Jeopardizes This Case and Risks Its Failure"

Rangers Baseball Express attorney Robert A. Simon​'Round this time yesterday, Judge Michael Lynn all but postponed the Texas Rangers' hopes of getting a sale done by the July 31 trade deadline by ordering most of the parties involved in the bankruptcy case into mediation on July 16. The one major ... More >>

Apparently, Judge's Ruling in Rangers Chapter 11 Case is the Rorschach Inkblot of Sports

​Yesterday afternoon, after U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Lynn delayed the sale of the Texas Rangers to Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan's Rangers Baseball Express pending some changes, both the Texas Rangers Baseball Partners and the first lien lendors had their reps send press releases huzzah-ing ... More >>

Breaking News: Federal Bankruptcy Judge's Ruling Puts Texas Rangers' Sale on Hold

Back when Chuck Greenberg, Tom Hicks and Nolan Ryan thought a prepackaged Chapter 11 would expedite the Rangers' sale​U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Lynn's memorandum of opinion in the Texas Rangers' Chapter 11 case just appeared on PACER, oh, 15 minutes ago? And it's below, all 28 pages. And: It w ... More >>

On Eve of Judge's Decision Concerning Rangers' Sale, a Debate Over the Consequences

Sam MertenChuck Greenberg, Tom Hicks and Nolan Ryan on the day the Rangers announced a prepackaged Chapter 11 plan​Tomorrow in a Fort Worth courtroom, should all go according to plan, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Lynn will rule on whether Hicks Sports Group can move ahead with its sale of the fir ... More >>

In-N-Out With Some High-N-Tight End-of-the-Day Follow-Ups to Which We Plead Guilty

​Where to begin? Let's go with Your Texas Rangers, who were back in bankruptcy court in Fort Worth for the second day of "first day" proceedings following Monday's voluntary Chapter 11 filing. Reports the Associated Press, U.S. District Judge D. Michael Lynn finally decided after a bidding war bet ... More >>

Your Texas Rangers Unveil Plan to Complete Sale of Team to Chuck Greenberg, Nolan Ryan

​Moments ago, John Blake, exec veep of communication for Your Texas Rangers, sent word that there is, at long last, a plan in place that will finally give Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan's Rangers Baseball Express control of the team. And, yes, it does involve "a voluntary, 'prepackaged,' court-sup ... More >>

Listen Up, Texans Rangers Fans: This Right Here Is How You Get Shi ... Um, Stuff Done

See, Rangers fans, we shoulda taken out billboards along I-30.​It's very possible, if not downright likely, that at any second now word will come down that Major League Baseball has seized ownership of the Texas Rangers in order to wrap up the sale of the team to Chuck Greenberg -- after which tim ... More >>

Major League Baseball to Tom Hicks: Do Not Eff Up Rangers Deal ... or Else

MLB commish Bud Selig​Before I left the office last night, I tried to get a comment from Major League Baseball concerning Tom Hicks's admission that the deal with Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan's Rangers Baseball Express is falling apart. Earlier in the day, when I'd gotten wind that this seemingl ... More >>

Tom Hicks, Say It Ain't So. Uh-Oh, It's So.

​Because of Tom Hicks and some rich dudes at Monarch Alternative Capital, Nolan Ryan may no longer be a vital part of your Texas Rangers. As I hinted at earlier this week, there are last-minute problems with the sale of the team from Hicks to prospective new owner Chuck Greenberg. Big problem ... More >>

U.K. Reports Say Hicks Passed on Taking Money, Giving Up Control in Liverpool

​It's been three weeks since New York-based Rhone Group offered to take 40 percent Liverppool FC off Tom Hicks's hands for a lousy £100-million investment, which would have been enough to satisfy the Royal Bank of Scotland's demand for a pay-down on that huge hunk o' debt. Which means the 20-day ... More >>

BREAKING NEWS: Wayne Gretzky Interested in Buying Your Dallas Stars

​The greatest hockey player ever is teaming with two of the sport's most iconic local faces in an attempt to buy the Dallas Stars, according to two sources familiar with the organization's current business landscape. With long-time owner Tom Hicks intent on selling the team, a group led by Wa ... More >>

Everything Old is New Again in Arlington, On the Brink of a New Rangers Season

Patrick MichelsMichael Young takes a few cuts before Friday night's exhibition.​For the first time since fall, the smell of hot dogs on the grills overtook the Ballpark in Arlington Friday afternoon, as the stadium came rumbled back to life for an evening exhibition against the Royals -- ... More >>

Would-Be Owner Chuck Greenberg has the Money and Moxie to Lead the Texas Rangers Back to Relevancy and into the Playoffs

U.K. Reports: Hicks Rejecting Offer for Liverpool, Bank Threatens to Repo Club

George Gillett and Tom Hicks​Word out of the U.K. has Tom Hicks refusing Rhone Group's offer of a £100 million for a majority piece of Liverpool FC, the exact amount he and George Gillett owe the Royal Bank of Scotland come July. I've asked Hicks's local spokesperson, Lisa LeMaster, wot the wot, ... More >>

96 Wins? It's Up to You, Josh Hamilton

​Last year, in the midst of camouflaging a late-night plunge from the wagon, Texas Rangers' outfielder Josh Hamilton arrived at spring training and predicted his team would win 90 games. Despite his shocking, anemic year of inproductivity, the Rangers managed 87 wins and held our interest in ... More >>

U.K. Papers Full of Reports That Tom Hicks Might Have to Sell Liverpool FC By Summer

George Gillett and Tom Hicks​Word out of Major League Baseball HQ is that yesterday's meeting among the creditors concerned about Tom Hicks's deal to sell the Texas Rangers to Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan yielded little of note. In short: "no deal killer," says here, which means the $530-$570 mi ... More >>

Did Tom Hicks Strike Out By Turning Down a Better Deal for the Texas Rangers?

​Perhaps I missed this elsewhere, but in the wake of Saturday night's announcement concerning Tom Hicks's having hammered out a deal with Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan -- otherwise known as the Rangers Baseball Express -- there's news that the deal's anything but done. It come ... More >>

All About the Rangers Baseball Express as Hicks, Greenberg and Ryan Hash Out Deal

​No need to ask Lisa LeMaster for any further comment this time around -- the press release below, just sent out by Texas Rangers spokesman John Blake, is all we're going to get about the consummation of the "complex business deal" that's one step closer to putting Tom Hicks's ball club in the mit ... More >>

Your Texas Rangers Have Money! And Vladimir Guerrero!!

​If you can't beat 'em, sign 'em? For years Vladimir Guerrero tormented the Texas Rangers. Now, in a sign that new owner Chuck Greenberg has money and moxy and motivation, the Rangers will this week sign the free-agent slugger to a one-year contract. While Tom Hicks, Jr. has some fun wit ... More >>

Thomas O. Hicks: In Memoriam

​With his decision to sell the Texas Rangers to Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg, long-time owner Tom Hicks will willingly, yet grudgingly step into the shadows of Metroplex baseball. But how will he be perceived? While Greenberg, 48, and his group seek approval from Major League Ba ... More >>

Would-Be Owners of Your Texas Rangers Have Been Parading Through Arlington This Week

​Reuters was right: Last week, the news service reported that the three parties interested in taking the Texas Rangers off Tom Hicks's hands would be in Arlington this week to meet and greet with team bigwigs. And, so far, so good: According to Official Statements from the LeMaster Group, which ha ... More >>

The Rangers May Be Out But They Are Not Down--Not Come Next April