I’ve by no means understood individuals who blow it — that’s, individuals who seem to get pleasure from nice success and have many causes to be completely happy however burn up their bliss on irrational decisions and petty grievances.
I’ve by no means understood the man who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, then used it to dig himself right into a gap.
Or, to deploy a baseball metaphor — as a result of I’m addressing the Angelos household feud right now — contemplate the man who was born on third base and thought he hit a triple, and even then, takes too huge of a lead off the bag and will get picked off. He blew it!
I’m not saying you must by no means take dangers. Lots of people are financially profitable as a result of they do precisely that. I’m simply baffled by individuals who, by way of arduous work or privilege, attain a sure standing — wealth, profession accomplishments, the excessive opinion of their friends — after which lose one or all of these issues as a result of they let anger, greed or self-importance devour them.
Why on Earth are the Angelos brothers, John and Lou, having an unsightly struggle in public when the Baltimore Orioles, owned by their 93-year-old father, could possibly be on the cusp of a brand new period of success?
And why would you wish to promote the group when there’s a risk you would be sitting giant within the proprietor’s field through the World Series within the not too distant future? Where’s the enjoyment?
Let me say that I’ve no private expertise with both of those guys. I solely know what I’ve learn in The Sun’s reporting, based mostly on paperwork within the Baltimore County Circuit Court, and from what a few insiders have shared. I’ve heard sufficient — and skilled sufficient of life — to say this: The cut up between Lou and John is the worst half. It’s why individuals use the time period “tragic” to explain the escalating litigation.
I do know: You can choose your folks, however not household, and feuds get away between siblings on a regular basis, born in rivalries that return to the earliest years. There’s a library stuffed with scholarly work and tremendous literature dedicated to that deep, darkish topic.
But life is valuable and shorter than we predict. To proceed your journey whereas feuding with a brother or sister, not talking to them — that’s a horrible burden to hold by way of life.
There are these of us who’ve misplaced a beloved sibling — to not a feud, however to dying — and take a look at the Angelos brothers and say, lads, if this goes on, you’re going to hate how you’re feeling for the remainder of your lives.
A sibling feud doesn’t should fester. There’s a factor known as mediation, and although it’s been tried within the Angelos feud earlier than, it must be tried once more.
John and Lou may comply with name, say, lawyer and grasp negotiator Ron Shapiro and attempt to work issues out. Once a sports activities agent, Shapiro represented Cal Ripken and different Hall of Famers. He’s written books on how, in enterprise or life, opposing events can get to win-win. One of his titles is, “Bullies, Tyrants and Impossible People: How to Beat Them Without Joining Them.”
Shapiro is actually certified to finish the Angelos feud. If he’s not out there, there are others round to assist: Oprah possibly, or Gordon Ramsay!
Of course, to interrupt the deadlock, one of many Angelos fratelli wants to supply detente, finish this chilly battle and push the reset button.
Georgia Angelos, spouse of Peter and mom of Lou and John, has come down on John’s aspect in all this, making Lou seem like the unhealthy man and instigator.
I don’t know who’s telling the reality, although I admit a bias in believing the mother. But I’ll say this to Lou: You’re not profitable the general public relations battle to date; you may wish to contemplate asking for peace talks.
And then, on behalf of the various Baltimoreans who wish to benefit from the 2022 Orioles with out this cleaning soap opera, I ask all three events: Could you please work this out in a yurt someplace?
And as for my query about promoting the group: It’s none of my enterprise what the spouse and sons of Peter Angelos resolve to do, however, for the lifetime of me, I can’t perceive why, moreover getting high greenback — Forbes values the Orioles group at $1.37 billion — you’d wish to let another proprietor have all the long run enjoyable.
Don’t the Angeloses like proudly owning a Major League group? It’s a really small membership of Americans who ever get to try this. Don’t they take delight in having employed sharp baseball executives to rebuild the group?
I perceive from one of many unlucky lawsuits that it’s Peter Angelos’ want that the Orioles “should be sold on his death so Georgia could enjoy the great wealth they had amassed together.” But doesn’t Mrs. Angelos already get pleasure from nice wealth? What’s she going to do, rocket to Venus?
George Steinbrenner’s household managed to work issues out to keep up possession and administration of the New York Yankees after his dying in 2010. Why can’t the Angelos brothers try this right here?
They have a possibility to be huge males in Baltimore, actual civic leaders. To let the feud go on, ending with the sale of the franchise simply because the group could possibly be coming into an period of profitable seasons and playoff runs — that’s what I name blowing it.
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