Jeff Bezos ‘in talks with Washington Football Team minority homeowners’ as they push Dan Snyder to promote
The Washington Football Team could possibly be in Jeff Bezos’s crosshairs after the billionaire’s lawyer reportedly contacted a sports activities funding agency employed by the membership’s minority companions to discover a purchaser.
However, majority proprietor Daniel Snyder has no real interest in promoting the staff, a supply accustomed to the scenario has advised DailyMail.com.
Talk of a possible sale was revived this week when FrontOfficeSports.com obtained court docket paperwork from India stating that Bezos’s lawyer was involved with the Baltimore-based Moag & Co. – a agency employed by the minority companions to discover a purchaser for the staff. Snyder is suing an Indian media firm, MEA Worldwide, that he has claimed in court docket paperwork is concerned in a scheme orchestrated by his minority accomplice, Dwight Schar, in an try for power a sale of the staff.
Bezos, who not too long ago introduced his choice to step down as Amazon’s CEO later this yr, has lengthy been rumored to be inquisitive about shopping for an NFL franchise, in accordance with a number of stories. However, it is unclear if he has any path to proudly owning the Washington Football Team outright, even when he does purchase the 40 p.c at the moment managed by FedEx CEO Fred Smith, Black Diamond Capital chairman Robert Rothman and Schar, an actual property developer and building government.
Snyder has steadfastly resisted calls to promote the membership he purchased in 1999 for $800 million. And with out Snyder on board, Smith, Rothman, and Schar’s shares are successfully an overpriced sports activities collectible: there’s theoretical worth, however you’ll be able to’t take it out of the field.
By buying a minority stake, Bezos would simply grow to be a silent accomplice, which can not attraction to somebody reportedly value $192 billion.
A staff spokeswoman has not responded to the DailyMail.com’s request for remark. Likewise, Moag & Co. executives and staff didn’t instantly reply to an electronic mail request for affirmation. A spokesman at NVR, Schar’s building agency, mentioned that he was unavailable and unlikely to touch upon the report.
The Washington Football Team could possibly be within the crosshairs of Jeff Bezos (left) after the billionaire’s lawyer reportedly contacted a sports activities funding agency that’s identified to be pushing embattled proprietor Daniel Snyder (proper) to promote his stake. Bezos, who not too long ago introduced his choice to step down as Amazon’s CEO later this yr, has lengthy been rumored to be inquisitive about shopping for an NFL franchise, in accordance with a number of stories. Snyder has by no means publicly expressed an curiosity in unloading the membership he purchased in 1999 for $800 million
Bezos’s reported curiosity within the staff is the most recent chapter within the inner struggle between Snyder and his minority companions, which reportedly started when he refused to pay them dividends because the pandemic slashed earnings throughout the league. Since then, the staff dropped its nickname, the Redskins, amid stress from Native American teams and confronted hostile office accusations from feminine staff and staff cheerleaders, who declare they have been subjected to sexual harassment. Snyder privately settled one sexual harassment allegation, in accordance with The New York Times and Washington Post, and the league is conducting an investigation of the staff. Amid the turmoil, the staff’s minority homeowners continued to push for a sale
Schar, Smith, and Rothman personal 40 p.c of the membership that Forbes values at $3.4 billion.
Bezos’s reported curiosity within the staff is the most recent chapter within the inner struggle between Snyder and his minority companions, which reportedly started when he refused to pay them dividends because the pandemic slashed earnings throughout the league.
Since then, the staff dropped its nickname, the Redskins, amid stress from Native American teams and confronted hostile office accusations from feminine staff and staff cheerleaders, who declare they have been subjected to sexual harassment. Snyder privately settled one sexual harassment allegation, in accordance with The New York Times and Washington Post, and the league is at the moment conducting an investigation of the staff.
Amid the turmoil, the staff’s minority homeowners continued to push for a sale.
Smith thought he discovered a purchaser at the very least as soon as within the final yr, in accordance with the Wall Street Journal, however Snyder was gradual to approve the deal and the client ultimately purchased a stake in one other staff.
Rothman and Schar then determined to promote their shares with the assistance of funding financial institution Moag & Co.
Since then, Snyder accused Schar of extortion in a federal submitting, obtained by Front Office Sports in December.
‘This is way from the one occasion by which I’ve been extorted by Mr. Schar and others related to him about this meritless allegation,’ Snyder reportedly rote within the submitting. ‘For the previous 5 months, there have been repeated threats by Mr. Schar and others related to him.’
FedEx Corp. CEO Fred Smith (pictured) thought he discovered a purchaser at the very least as soon as within the final yr, in accordance with the Wall Street Journal, however Snyder was gradual to approve the deal and the client ultimately purchased a stake in one other staff
The staff’s minority homeowners include FedEx Corp. CEO Fred Smith, Black Diamond Capital chairman Robert Rothman (proper) and NVR Inc. board chairman Dwight Schar (left), who management a mixed 40 p.c stake value roughly $1.4billion, in accordance with Forbes’ $3.4billion valuation in 2019
Here, Redskins homeowners, from left to proper: Robert Rothman, Dwight Schar and Dan Snyder are all smiles within the closing minutes of a win over the Vikings. Now Rothman and Schar are reportedly looking for to promote their shares over displeasure with Snyder, the bulk proprietor
Snyder and his attorneys declare that Schar helped orchestrate a smear marketing campaign with the India media firm, MEA WorldWide.
In 2020, Snyder filed a lawsuit in India in opposition to MEA Worldwide, which he claims slandered him in a number of articles final month that allegedly tried to attach him with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Snyder and Epstein haven’t any identified hyperlinks.
To help in that lawsuit, Snyder filed a petition in Federal District Court in Alexandria, Virginia in August of 2020 to compel a former staff worker, Mary-Ellen Blair, to supply discovery proof to be used within the continuing in India. Snyder is trying to determine ‘Blair’s motive for looking for to defame’ him, in accordance with the submitting obtained by DailyMail.com.
Snyder has claimed in court docket paperwork each within the US and India that Blair is a part of Schar’s bigger scheme.
Despite his claims of an orchestrated smear marketing campaign, Snyder was apologetic following hostile office accusations in opposition to the staff.
‘Let’s be actually clear: This is a human concern,’ Snyder advised The Wall Street Journal in November. ‘I’m sorry that anybody was harm, however we will change.
‘We are apologetic,’ added Snyder, who has changed the staff’s controversial identify, its President, and the pinnacle coach since early summer season.
Former staff Emily Applegate (pictured) accused the staff of making a hostile office again in July, saying one government regularly commented on her bodily look
One membership government instructed staff to create a lewd behind-the-scenes video of partially nude cheerleaders at a 2008 calendar shoot, in accordance with the most recent wave of accusations in opposition to the embattled NFL franchise
Redskins cheerleaders seen dancing as a part of a 2004 occasion, the place Scourby claims Snyder recommended she spend a while with an in depth pal of his in a close-by resort room
In two separate Washington Post stories over the summer season, no fewer than 15 ladies made sexual harassment or different hostile office claims in opposition to membership staff, almost all of whom departed earlier than or instantly after the accusations have been revealed.
The ladies say they endured unwelcome sexual advances, feedback about their bodily look, and verbal abuse from co-workers or male supervisors. One feminine worker mentioned she was referred to as ‘f***ing silly’ and requested to put on a good costume in a consumer assembly ‘so the boys within the room have one thing to have a look at.
In July, Snyder employed Washington regulation agency Wilkinson Walsh LLP to evaluate the staff’s tradition, insurance policies and allegations of office misconduct. Attorney Beth Wilkinson is now reporting on to the league workplace, and in accordance with the Journal, her findings will likely be launched quickly
The Post report cited former worker Emily Applegate and 14 largely nameless ladies, a lot of whom claimed they have been left unsupported by an understaffed human assets division.
Snyder, himself, was accused of telling a staff cheerleader named Tiffany Bacon Scourby in 2004 that she ought to go to a resort room with a private pal of his so the 2 may ‘get to know one another.’
He was additionally accused of warning the staff’s cheerleading director to make sure the dancers are ‘skinny with massive tits’ or he would ‘f***ing kill him.’
Snyder has denied each of those claims.
In July, Snyder employed Washington regulation agency Wilkinson Walsh LLP to evaluate the staff’s tradition, insurance policies and allegations of office misconduct. Attorney Beth Wilkinson is now reporting on to the league workplace, and in accordance with the Journal, her findings will likely be launched quickly.
Snyder additionally employed a brand new boss earlier than the season: former NFL operating again Jason Wright, who turned the NFL’s first African-American staff president.
As Snyder and Wright mentioned in separate interviews with the Journal, the staff’s atmosphere suffered as a result of issues have been by no means addressed. Both cited new, various personnel to clarify how they’re addressing the issue, however in accordance with Wright, the staff nonetheless has an extended technique to go.
Snyder (left) employed a brand new boss earlier than the season: former NFL operating again Jason Wright (proper), who turned the NFL’s first African-American staff president
WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM EMPLOYEES ACCUSED OF MISCONDUCT OR NEGLIGENCE:
Former Washington Redskins director of professional personnel Alex Santos
Director of professional personnel Alex Santos: Six former staff and two reporters who lined the staff advised the Washington Post that Santos made inappropriate remarks to them about their appearances. He additionally requested them in the event that they have been inquisitive about him romantically. In 2019, he allegedly pinched Rhiannon Walker, a reporter for The Athletic, and advised her she had ‘an ass like a wagon.’ This resulted in an inner investigation. Another reporter, the Ringer’s Nora Princiotti, additionally accused Santos of harassing her. Santos, who declined to talk with The Post, was fired in July.
Team radio play-by-play announcer Larry Michael: Seven former staff advised The Post that ‘the voice of the Washington Redskins’ regularly talked brazenly about feminine co-workers appears, typically making sexually disparaging remarks. He was as soon as caught on a ‘scorching mic’ in 2018 discussing the appears of 1 intern, six sources advised The Post. He can be accused of ordering staff to edit collectively a video of lewd behind-the-scenes outtakes from a 2008 calendar shoot. Michael, who declined to talk with The Post, retired after 16 seasons in July.
Former radio announcer Larry Michael (left) and former assistant director of professional personnel Richard Mann II (proper)
Assistant director of professional personnel Richard Mann II: In a textual content message obtained by The Post, Mann advised a feminine colleague that he and different males within the workplace debated whether or not she had cosmetic surgery on her breasts. He additionally warned one other feminine coworker to anticipate an ‘inappropriate hug’ from him, including, ‘don’t be concerned that will likely be a stapler in my pocket, nothing else.’ Mann declined to talk with The Post after being fired in July.
Former president of enterprise operations Dennis Greene
President of enterprise operations Dennis Greene: Five former staff advised The Post that Greene requested feminine gross sales staffers to put on revealing outfits and flirt with rich season ticket holders and suite holders. Greene labored for the membership for 17 years till 2018, when it was revealed that he had bought entry to staff cheerleaders at a bikini photograph shoot in Costa Rica as a part of a ticket package deal. According to a New York Times investigation, the 2013 calendar shoot didn’t contain any intercourse, however staff officers did fear the cheerleaders by taking their passports. Some cheerleaders say they have been required to be topless, though the shoot didn’t embody any nudity. After a 14-hour shoot at some point, 9 of the 36 cheerleaders have been reportedly requested to escort suite holders to an area nightclub. Several of the ladies started to cry, in accordance with the Times. Greene declined to remark and has not labored for the staff since he resigned in 2018.
Chief working officer Mitch Gershman: Former staff worker Emily Applegate mentioned he would typically praise her physique whereas additionally repeatedly berating her for insignificant issues, like printer malfunctions. Her allegations have been supported by two different feminine former staff. When contacted, Gershman advised The Post, ‘I barely even keep in mind who she is,’ including that he ‘would apologize to anybody who thought I used to be verbally abusive.’ Gershman left the staff in 2015.
Team president Bruce Allen: Although he isn’t accused of any misconduct, Applegate claims Allen should have identified in regards to the abuse she was receiving as a result of ‘he sat 30 ft away from me… and noticed me sobbing at my desk a number of occasions per week.’ The brother of former Virginia Governor and US Senator George Allen, Bruce Allen was fired after the 2019 season.
Majority proprietor Dan Snyder: A former cheerleader named Tiffany Bacon Scourby advised the Washington Post Snyder recommended that she be a part of his ‘shut pal’ in a resort room in 2004 in order that they ‘may get to know one another.’ The 55-year-old billionaire can be accused of belittling executives, in accordance with three members of the manager workers. Specifically, he mocked Dennis Greene for being a university cheerleader, as soon as allegedly ordering him to do cartwheels for his amusement. He’s reportedly quarreling with the staff’s minority companions, who want to unload their shares, however may possible get extra if he have been keen to promote too. Snyder has privately settled one sexual harassment allegation, in accordance with The New York Times and Washington Post, and the league is at the moment conducting an investigation of the staff. Snyder stays the staff’s majority proprietor.
Neither staff proprietor Dan Snyder (left) or not too long ago fired staff president Bruce Allen (proper) are accused of any misconduct, however sources did inform The Post that they need to have been conscious in regards to the office tradition, and neither did sufficient to cease it
