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!

Washington Teachers Union Scandal-Unfinished Business!

There is still more news to report in the Washington Teacher’s Union scandal. The US Attorney’s office says that sentencing dates have been set for the remaining two Union Officials who helped WTU President Barbara Bullock embezzle over two million dollars from DC public school teachers. Gwen Hemphill, Bullocks former executive assistant and James Baxter, the former Secretary-Treasurer are each facing 17 to 21 years in prison following their convictions last August. That’s a lot more than the 9 years Bullock got after co-operating with Prosecutors and testifying against her colleagues. Hemphill, a former Co-Chair of Mayor Tony Williams re-election campaign had managed to delay sentencing claiming through her attorneys that she is mentally Ill with severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Government attorneys have examined her; their medical report is sealed. Judge Richard Leon has now set Hemphill’s sentencing for 10:a.m. May 22^nd.

Prosecutors say James Baxter will be sentenced at 11: AM on June 5^th. Sources close to the case tell me Baxter and his trial attorney Michelle Roberts have had their own disagreements stemming from his not paying his legal bills. Judge Leon has refused to release Roberts from the case even though Baxter has hired a new lawyer.

There are other smaller players including Hemphill’s son in law who helped turn the WTU into their personal bank; these parties like Bullock took plea bargains and testified against Hemphill and Baxter. They’ll also be sentenced in coming weeks.

You may recall that the WTU thefts included large sums of cash, thousands of selfless expenditures; including a $20,000 mink coat, nearly $500,000 in custom made clothing from a single Baltimore designer; $11,000 in shoes, $5,000 for bedding and a desk pad, $60,000 for antiques from New Orleans, $57,000 for a Tiffany Sterling Silver set, more than $150,000 spent at Neiman Marcus, $50,000 at Nordstrom’s; more than $25,000 for dry cleaning services, $20,000 for African Art, $12,999 for a 50” plasma flat screen TV. There were catered political events, private parties, Washington Redskins and Wizards tickets; and a wedding reception. Just part of what was paid for using money skimmed from the dues paid by DC teachers.

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