Let's go to our ring announcer ...

In an earlier post on this blog, I told you about how the Frontier League's London Rippers are not permitted to sell beer at their home games at, of all places, Labatt Park. The reason is a law that restricts liquor licenses to only one per address, and the one for Labatt Park is held by the London Majors, an amateur team that also plays at the park. This must be a London law because I can't imagine the Toronto Blue Jays are selling beer at the Rogers Center and the CFL's Toronto Argonauts are not.

In a move straight out of 1970s pro wrestling, Rippers manager David Martin has come up with a solution, albeit a ill-advised one, to settle the liquor-license debate. He has challenged the Majors to a best-of-three series with the winners gaining control of the liquor license and the loser having to leave town.

To use wrestling terms, the Rippers are playing the role of the heels and the Majors are the faces. The only thing missing is Mean Gene Okerlund as the ring announcer.

If Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee heard about this idea during morning, then it surely brought up his eggs. Thuis is one problem the league doesn't need.

"Obviously, this park isn’t big enough for the two of us," Martin told the London Free-Press. "They’ve been doing everything they can to block us and now this has become a manipulative thing. They’re trying to make bad business for us, so I’ve got nothing to do but fight for my ballclub."

Majors co-owner Scott Dart, not wanting to get involved in a "Battle for Labatt" made the right move and declined the offer.

“Bottom line? No," he said.

Here are links to two stories about this issue:

http://www.lfpress.com/sports/baseball/2012/06/26/19923246.html

http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201206265095/independent-baseball/news/no-beer-for-rippers-fans-owner-seeks-unique-solution

Minor-league baseball has a history of whacky and strange promotions, but this one is simply a bad idea. As I said previously, the Frontier League really doesn't need London or all the hassles that have come with putting a team in the city (not to mention all the bad press the Rippers are getting). And the Rippers have more important problems. Maybe they should be focusing more on trying to get work visas for three of their players who can only play in road games than beer.

This entire issue smells of an incident in the independent Pecos League last year:

http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=84

Tap runs dry

Here's a story from the London Community News about the London Rippers not being able to acquire a liquor license to sell beer at Labatt Park. Yes, there's no beer available during Rippers games at Labatt (the beer company) Park.

The Rippers can't get a beer license because only one can be issued per address and the London Majors, an amateur team (in other words, a beer league team) holds the license. The Majors have been playing at Labatt Park since the 1920s.

If you've followed the Rippers' story in London, the Majors weren't happy about the Frontier League moving in on their territory. An attorney for the Majors said the Rippers can use their liquor license, but it will cost the Frontier League team a mere $500 per game. That's $24,000 for the remainder of the season.

 “(Our liquor licence) is something we don’t want to lose just for the sake of playing nice with another team that’s here in the city with us," Majors owner Scott Dart said.

There comes a time, when the Rippers and the Frontier League have to ask themselves, "Is it really worth playing baseball in London, Ontario?"

The legaue has had one franchise (the Werewolves) fail in the city. The ballpark is old. Judging by the attendance and what we've been reading out of London, the majority of the people in the city don't care about the Rippers or want them out of town. Traveling across the border is a pain. Getting passports for players on short notice, is troublesome.

“They said London was open for business. I brought mine down and all I’ve found is doors closed,” said Rippers manager David Martin, who also runs the day-to-day operations of the organization.

Sometimes, you need to admit you've made a mistake and move on, in this case, to another city.

http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/2012/06/rippers-come-out-swinging-against-city-london-majors/

Blackkkkkkkkkkwell

Here are two clips from the Wild Things game Monday in London. Both are of Washington pitcher Eric Blackwell striking out hitters.

Labatt Memorial Park

Here are some photos taken by WJPA Radio's Randy Gore of the London Rippers' Labatt Memorial Park.

Labatt Park is the "oldest continually operating baseball grounds in the world," with a history dating back to 1877. It seats 5,200. Among those who have played at Labatt Park are Satchel Paige, Denny McClain, Ferguson Jenkins, Albert Belle, Jeff Bagwell, Bernie Williams and Travis Fryman.

You should be able to click on the photo and get a larger image.