CONFLICT OF INTEREST

Reputable businesses go to great lengths to prevent even the appearance of a conflict of interest.  Needless to say, MLB doesn’t worry about conflicts of interest—big or small.  John Fisher’s ownership of the A’s is a fox-guarding-the-henhouse conflict of interest.  And the hens aren’t thriving.

Fisher grew up a San Francisco Giants fan, following the lead of his grandparents who went to every game after the Giants’ arrival in 1958.[1]  In 1992, the specter of his beloved boyhood team leaving town put a rare pep in his step; he joined with the group of businessmen who bought the Giants to keep them in San Francisco.[2]  It isn’t necessarily a problem that the Giants are Fisher’s first love.  It becomes a problem, however, when he shows no love toward the franchise across the Bay—the one he owns.  Sometimes things are what they appear to be, and sadly, Fisher’s ownership of the A’s is one such case.  An antisocial billionaire from San Francisco—the enemy, if you will—is behind Oakland’s lines and destroying its great baseball heritage from within.  It’s little wonder his interest in the wellbeing of the Oakland A’s took flight instead of root.       

When Fisher took ownership of the franchise, the Oakland A’s had four World Series titles under their belt.  Under his penny-pinching stewardship, the A’s haven’t won squat.  Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants have won three World Series titles.  That the A’s were left at the mercy of a lifelong Giants fan is especially galling when you realize they should’ve been in the caring hands of a proudly East Bay ownership at the time.  Did Fisher care whether or not the Oakland A’s won another World Series?  Given his San Francisco pedigree, did he just as soon they didn’t?

Who was Fisher rooting for when the A’s and Giants squared off in the 1989 World Series?  How did he feel when Rickey Henderson stole bases at will against San Francisco?  How did he feel when Dave Stewart shut down the San Francisco bats?  It must’ve been upsetting for the San Francisco lad to witness two Oakland dudes manhandle his beloved San Francisco team.  Not to worry.  If you can’t beat the Oakland A’s, just buy them.  And run them into the ground.  And when they get within range of winning another championship, trade their all-stars for scrap.  Rinse and repeat.

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[1] Steve Kettmann, “’Now, pitching for San Jose…,’” San Francisco (December 2009), 52-53.

[2] Todd Wallack, “A’s NEW ERA / JOHN FISHER / Son of Gap founder is the money behind the deal,” sfgate.com, 31 March 2005 A’s NEW ERA / JOHN FISHER / Son of Gap founder is the money behind the deal (sfgate.com).