Where are the Women?

I may be wrong but it seems to me that Major League Baseball is about to miss out on an incredible opportunity! At some point in the near future the 29 team owners will select a group to buy the Washington Nationals for $450 million dollars. No women are heading the three groups believed to be among the finalists vying for the right to own the Nationals! It appears that while all three groups have included minority partners—none of those minorities are women! Talk about striking out!

It’s bothered me since Mayor Tony Williams first announced his support for the Washington baseball group headed by Fred Malek, former owner of the Texas Rangers and close associate of President Bush. Malek’s team includes Colin Powel and Vernon Jordan; but no women! It’s bothered me since Jeff Smulyan, the rich Indianapolis media conglomerate owner unveiled his ownership team that includes former Redskins players Charles Mann and Art Monk; but no women! We don’t know everyone on Ted Lerner’s team; the shopping Center builder reportedly signed minority partner and former Clinton cabinet member Rodney Slater, but apparently no women!

Here are but four rich women who should have been approached -- Oprah! She’s got the bucks and what a PR coup for baseball! If not Oprah, how about her best friend Gayle King! She’s also rich and Gayle is from the area; she’s a University of Maryland graduate and former intern at W*USA-9. Want a local woman with experience owning a professional sports team? How about billionaire Sheila Johnson, owner of the Washington Mystics? Debra Lee, the CEO of BET also comes to mind and that’s without much thought! Baseball and the DC political establishment are showing us again when it comes to baseball it’s still the “Good Old Boys” club. Wake up!