http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2013/11/astros-owner-sues-drayton-mclane-comcast-and-nbc-claiming-fraud/?cmpid=bna

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The suit accuses McLane, who sold the Astros and his CSN Houston share to Crane in 2011 for $615 million, of selling “an asset (the network) they knew at the time to be overpriced and broken.” It also says Crane was “duped” when he bought McLane’s network interest based on what have been proved to be “knowing misrepresentations” and “falsely inflated subscription rates.”

“Ultimately, fans of the Houston Astros have been injured because defendants’ misrepresentations leave (Crane) with an impossible choice: either accept the broken network as is and deprive thousands of fans the ability to watch Houston Astros games on their televisions, or distribute the game at market rates and take massive losses out of the Houston Astros player payroll – thereby dooming the franchise for years to come,” the suit adds.

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so, crane is suing because he is dumb?

quote:

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or distribute the game at market rates and take massive losses out of the Houston Astros player payroll – thereby dooming the franchise for years to come,” the suit adds.

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The Astros were the most profitable team last year and the entire payroll is less than the Top 5 or 6 PLAYERS in the league. He hasn't spent a gdamn dime towards buying talent.

[This message has been edited by Ag in Jax (edited 11/22/2013 9:42a).]

its not like he has a team that is worthy to be on TV to begin with

Posted this on the other thread but the language saying the Astros fans have been injured due to the network not being picked up totally pisses me off.

It's all about money and greed. As someone else alluded to he penny pinched the payroll in 2013. Sure, he's building for the future and I get that but he could have spent some more money in 2013 and still been profitable while putting at least an entertaining team on the field.

And let's not forget FSN Southwest was offering right around $100 million per year for 10 years I believe. Somewhere in that neighborhood. The Astros fans got injured when the owners of the Astros got greedy wanting more. And they clearly mis-calculated.

Still can't believe they act like this network is the worst thing to happen to Astros fans. If anything it's helped Astros fans from watching a crap product and allowed them to enjoy something else.

Maybe call his buddy in the white house.

Pure money grab by Crane. This POS should have never been allowed to buy the Astros. He has no spine.

Les Alexander is talking about buying the Astros share in the network

quote:

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Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said today he is interested in buying all of Houston Regional Sports Network, the parent company of Comcast SportsNet Houston, and Astros owner Jim Crane said “the ball’s in his (Alexander’s) court” if he wants to make an offer.

Alexander’s comments came during a brief status conference hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Marvin Isgur concerning Crane’s progress in crafting a new business plan for CSN Houston, the struggling regional sports network owned by the Rockets, Astros and Comcast/NBC Sports Group.

The hearing lasted less than an hour, including Alexander’s statement to the court about his interest in buying the network and a statement by Crane’s attorney, Harry Perrin, that “some traction has been made” in Crane’s efforts to develop a new business plan.

The two owners conferred briefly outside the courtroom, and Crane said he hopes to hear from Alexander about his bid to buy the 68 percent of CSN Houston that Alexander does not own.

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[This message has been edited by CFTXAG10 (edited 11/22/2013 10:32a).]

Ya, that's yesterday's news.

^ Really? I hadnt heard anything about that until today. That would be huge if it happened.

yup http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/11/leslie-alexander-interested-in-buying-all-of-houston-regional-sports-network/

790 was talking about it all yesterday.

I just want the channel to continue. Outside of the Astros being crap, CSN Houston is a really great channel with great production values (way better than FSN). I also enjoy the sports talk live show they have on every day with featuring local sports writers and radio personalities.

Bun B did an exclusive interview with Casspi for it.

It would be exciting if they work out a deal but something tells me Crane is gonna try to rob Les and it won't work out. Holding out hope....

Those saying he should have spent some money in 2013 are just not seeing the big picture. Why spend more money on a team that wasn't making the playoffs and wins at most 70 games? I honestly don't see the point of spending just to spend money. As far as I am concerned they are on the right path as it relates to the actual baseball side of things.

I'm fine with him not spending but don't use the fans as a basis for a lawsuit saying we were damaged. Its simple supply and demand. Put a crap product on the field while demanding high carriage fees is foolish.

I love the Astros but I love capitalism more. Screw Crane and his greedy ass. Stop acting like his decisions are in the best interest of the fans. His decisions are about the money in his pocket which the market begs to differ with.

At least call like it is.