In a smarmy speech before a group of Miami business leaders, Miami Marlins team president David Samson gloated about his success in wrangling taxpayer money in a sweetheart deal to build his team's new stadium. Then he turned around and called the very people who footed the bill, Miamians, stupid.
"I don't have to hold back now that the stadium is built -- not that I ever have," Samson said while addressing Miami's Beacon Council yesterday according to Miami Today.
"We're not the smartest people in Miami. If you're in this room, you're instantly in the top 1 percent," said Samson to a room of people who are likely in Miami's economic top 1 percent as well.
Yes, the man just called Miamians stupid. Hell, Miami Dolphins General Manager Jeff Ireland may have no problem with asking a prospective player if his mom was a whore, but even he knows not to call your fans stupid. In fact, we're pretty sure most Miamians wouldn't be stupid enough to make that remark.
He also said that local politicians are "not the intellectual cream of the crop," which we'll give him a pass on based on the grounds of truth.
Samson also told the crowd about his early negotiations to move the Marlins to either San Antonio or Las Vegas while stadium discussions had stalled in Dade.
He says he took a meeting with Las Vegas's former mayor Oscar Goodman in a room full of four showgirls, and suggested that casinos would buy out all of team's tickets to ensure that no one left the strip to catch a ball game.
"We don't care if nobody comes," Samson said (Miami Today reports he had a smile on his face at the time). "We'll play in front of nobody, and we'll have all the money."
Think about that for a minute. That's basically an admission that the management of the team cares more about making money that having actual fans. To a degree, sure, that's true of all sports executives, but come on Samson, you're not actually supposed to come out and say it.
Samson also had harsh words for billionaire auto-magnate Norman Braman, who publicly opposed the stadium deal at every step and lead the recall effort against former county mayor Carlos Alvarez.
"I don't see Norman Braman trying to fix anything," Mr. Samson said. "If he has the time and money, let's see [him] run [for office] ...He should stop saying how bad it is, and start trying to make a difference."
[Miami Today: Miami Marlins president Samson criticizes elected officials, Miamians, press]
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