Dollars and Sense: Don't Cry for Me, David Samson

If General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner (the man who arrived in Washington DC last month on private jet, only to cry poverty) needs a new golfing buddy, let me recommend Florida Marlins President David Samson.

Earlier this year, Miami-Dade County executives agreed to provide Samson's Marlins with $347 million in public funding toward building a new stadium. However, even after receiving this handout, Samson was still refusing to spend money in the free agent market. When questioned about the Marlins' lack of free agent signings, Samson was quoted by the Palm Beach Post as saying the following:

I very much feel like the producer of an independent film trying to compete with a big-budget studio blockbuster. ... That's hard. The only way to do it is to have a low-budget film that is actually good that people will watch. We are very much like Juno going up against The Dark Knight.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think Juno (or any other independent film) was given a $347 million government handout. Right?

Related Posts by Subject