Maury Brown has a lengthy story up, recapping where we are with the Rangers sales process, MLB's ability to call shenanigans on Hicks and take over the process if it wishes, Monarch's role in playing hardball on the issue, the threat of bankruptcy, and other things.
One of the highlights:
And, Tom Hicks, unable to see that at this stage he would be better off seen than heard in this saga (after all, he created the mess, see How Tom Hicks Became the Most Hated Man in Baseball), jumped into the fray Weds. night:
"I think the lenders feel that [the Greenberg-Ryan] group may not be the highest option," Hicks said. "It's something that has to be worked out between MLB, the lenders and the Greenberg group. When we agreed to this sale in January, we said it was a complicated deal and it's only getting more complicated. At the end of the day, the lenders have the final say."
MLB released a statement shortly after that shows they’ve just about had enough of Hicks, Monarch… the whole damn mess; time to play hardball:
"As part of the Texas Rangers sale process, Tom Hicks selected the Chuck Greenberg/Nolan Ryan group as the chosen bidder on December 15, 2009 and entered into an exclusive agreement with that group. Major League Baseball is currently in control of the sale process and will use all efforts to achieve a closing with the chosen bidder. Any deviation from or interference with the agreed upon sale process by Mr. Hicks or any other party, or any actions in violation of MLB rules or directives will be dealt with appropriately by the Commissioner."
So much for Crane. Tom, time to go sit in the corner.
Brown uses some music metaphors, but personally, I think MLB is ready to pull a Marcellus Wallace and go medieval on the situation. Bud Selig seems to be real close to call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' fellas, who'll go to work on the homes with a pair of pliers and a blow torch.
Or maybe he'll call The Wolf.
In any case, one thing that is crystal clear, in light of MLB's rapid response, is that Tom Hicks still, after all this time, hasn't learned to keep his piehole shut.
Some people just don't learn.