Mets’ fans are used to disappointing offseasons, always hopeful the team will compete for high-priced free-agents, but realistic in recognizing its unlikeliness.
Surprisingly, Wednesday may have started the process in giving Mets’ fans the best acquisition they could have asked for, a new owner. Even more surprising, is who reported the news first, CBS Sports Radio’s Tiki Barber. The former NFL running back co-hosts CBS Sports Radio’s afternoon show, Tiki and Tierney.
On Tuesday, Brandon Tierney said his radio partner Tiki Barber was walking through the halls saying the Mets were going to be sold. A shocking statement, Tierney pressed Tiki for more information, attempting to get clarity on the potentially major news story.
“I heard that it was happening,” Tiki told Tierney, somewhat reluctantly. “I heard from someone, who knows somebody, who knows somebody, who knows somebody”
Tierney asked if somebody of importance, with deep pockets was involved in the possible sale.
“Very important,” Tiki said, adding “I think it could be happening.”
Less than 24 hours later, reports from baseball Insiders started pouring in, many of them crediting Ken Rosenthal as being the first to break the news. Sterling Partners, the Wilpon’s investment business is in negotiations to sell 80 percent of the Mets to billionaire Steve Cohen for the price of $2.6 billion according to Bloomberg.
Mets fans have been waiting for this unlikely day for decades, to hear the Wilpon’s are selling the team. Ownership has a lot to do with how a franchise performs and the Mets might soon have the single richest owner in Major League Baseball. Tiki may not have offered the intricate details of who, when and how much, but he offered Mets’ fans the news they wanted to hear for years.
It is unknown if the Mets regional sports network SNY is included in the current sale negotiations.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.
