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Tag: manager

  • Nicolas Cage Money Problems: Balling Without a Budget

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    I grow weary of the fact that whenever the media presents an entertainer going broke, we almost always see a black man. Well, the tables do turn, even on the best of them. Actor Nicolas Cage is allegedly having major financial problems, having his property foreclosed and admitting in court that his former business manager may have milked him of millions of dollars.

    In a major court battle, the actor lost two of his homes worth a combined total of $6.8 million dollars. Cage owes over $5 million in mortgage payments and more than $150,000 to the city of New Orleans in real estate taxes. Cage is also suing Samuel Levin, his former business manager, claiming that Levin was responsible for his financial demise.

    Here are some quick and dirty thoughts on the plight of Nicolas Cage:
    1) Is there a change in the language? I noticed that a CNN article about Cage mentions the recession as one of the reasons that Cage is struggling financially. However, most commentary about the financial problems of NBA star Antoine Walker attributed his woes to financial irresponsibility. Not to accuse anyone of racism, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were difficult for the world to imagine the great Nicolas Cage as being financially irresponsible.

    2) Hollywood money is not what it seems to be: By having five major projects slated for 2010, it’s tempting to believe that Nicolas Cage is going to be financially free by the end of next year. Not so fast. After actors finish paying the agents, lawyers, managers, and the IRS, they may only get 30 – 40% of their total pay package. That means that if Cage gets $10 million for his film, he is only going to see three or four million dollars of that money.

    Whatever the case may be, it does appear that Nicolas Cage was certainly living it up. Few A-list actors are as blockbuster-worthy as Cage, so there is no excuse for him to ever go broke. But given that Cage has purchased personal islands, castles, and other extravagant items, he put himself in a situation where he needed a lot of money in order to simply stay afloat. Michael Jackson had the same problem during his life, as he was easily spending five to ten million dollars per month. No matter how much money you have, you can always go broke. We should all live beneath our means.

    Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

     

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  • Ramirez returning to Dodgers next season (AP)

    Manny Ramirez is coming back to the Dodgers next season. The team said Friday that the slugger exercised his $20 million contract option for 2010. His agent Scott Boras informed general manager Ned Colletti of the decision, which Ramirez had until this month to make. He could have exercised an out clause in the two-year, $45 million deal he signed in March.

  • Girardi aids motorist after Series win (AP)

    Yankees manager Joe Girardi capped off a victorious evening by helping a car crash victim in suburban New York. Police said Girardi pulled over to help after a woman lost control on a Westchester County parkway and crashed into a wall around 2:30 a.m. Thursday. That was just hours after Girardi's team claimed a World Series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • Phils’ Victorino questionable for Game 6 (AP)

    Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino was examined by doctors Tuesday and manager Charlie Manuel said he isn't sure if he'll be able to play in Game 6 of the World Series on Wednesday night. Victorino was struck on his right index finger by an A.J. Burnett fastball in the first inning of Philadelphia's 8-6 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday night.

  • GM Kokinis leaves 1-7 Browns (AP)

    FILE - In this April 25, 2009, file photo, Cleveland Browns general manager George Kokinis answers questions about the NFL draft, in Berea, Ohio. Kokinis has left the club under unexplained circumstances. The team issued a statement Monday night, Nov. 2, 2009, saying the GM "is no longer actively involved with the organization."

    The Cleveland Browns invisible general manager has disappeared. George Kokinis, the hand-picked GM of first-year coach Eric Mangini who was rarely seen or heard in Cleveland, left the team Monday under unexplained circumstances after less than one year on the job. After reports surfaced that Kokinis was fired, the team issued an awkwardly worded statement saying Kokinis "is no longer actively…

  • McGwire to be coach for La Russa’s Cards (AP)

    Mark McGwire is back in baseball, reunited with Tony La Russa as the St. Louis Cardinals' hitting coach. La Russa agreed to return for a 15th year as manager Monday with a one-year contract, the first time he hasn't had a multiyear deal with the team. All of his coaches will return except for Hal McRae, who will be replaced by the former star.

  • McGwire to be LaRussa’s hitting coach? (AP)

    FILE -- This is an Aug. 7, 2009, file photo showing St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa during a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, in Pittsburgh. Nearly two weeks after his team was swept in the first round of the playoffs, Tony La Russa is still trying to decide whether he wants to return for a 15th season as St. Louis Cardinals manager.

    Cardinals manager Tony La Russa took a flight from his West Coast home to St. Louis on Sunday for further talks about his future. There was a report, too, Mark McGwire might join him as a coach. La Russa told the Associated Press in a telephone interview before boarding a plane that discussions were ongoing, and that he was planning to attend a Bruce Springsteen concert later that evening.

  • Padres hire Red Sox’s Hoyer as GM (AP)

    Jed Hoyer was once co-general manager of the Boston Red Sox for 44 days after Theo Epstein walked away from the job. Now Hoyer has a GM gig of his own. The San Diego Padres have hired Hoyer as their new general manager, a person with knowledge of the situation said Saturday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement won't be until Monday.

  • Dodgers, GM Colletti agree on extension (AP)

    Ned Colletti agreed to a long-term extension Tuesday to stay on as general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Under him, the team has reached the postseason in three of his four seasons, the first time a Dodgers GM has accomplished that feat. Colletti joins New York's Brian Cashman and Boston's Theo Epstein in doing so among active GMs.

  • Angels’ Lackey to start Game 1 of ALCS (AP)

    John Lackey will start Friday night's Game 1 of the AL championship series against CC Sabathia and the Yankees, getting the nod from manager Mike Scioscia before the Angels traveled to New York on Wednesday. Lackey pitched 7 1-3 innings to lead Los Angeles to a 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the division series.

  • Torre not anticipating new contract (AP)

    In this Sept. 25, 2009, photo, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh. The Dodgers won their second consecutive NL West title for the first time since 1977-78. Both have come under manager Torre. He is never too high, never too low and rarely meddles in his players' business, even when Manny Ramirez(notes) was suspended 50 games for violating baseball's drug policy.

    Joe Torre says he doesn't plan to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers after his contract expires. "I have one year on my contract and I don't anticipate it being more than that," he said Tuesday, two days before the Dodgers open the NLCS against Philadelphia. However, he noted, "I've said that before and my wife doesn't believe me at all." The 69-year-old manager is…

  • Yankees might try 3-man ALCS rotation (AP)

    The Yankees might go with a three-man rotation against the Los Angeles Angels in the AL championship series. CC Sabathia is scheduled to start Friday night's opener, with A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte as New York's other two primary starters. The shortened rotation would allow manager Joe Girardi to keep Joba Chamberlain and Chad Gaudin in the bullpen.

  • Garner among 10 to interview with Astros (AP)

    The Astros will interview 10 candidates over the next week to become the team's next manager, including former skipper Phil Garner. Houston fired manager Cecil Cooper on Sept. 21. Third base coach Dave Clark was promoted to interim manager for the final two weeks and the team said Monday that Clark will be the first man interviewed for the full-time position.

  • New-look Magic begin training camp (AP)

    Orlando general manager Otis Smith only had to look at the Eastern Conference championship banner that hangs above the team's practice facility if had any regrets about overhauling a roster that got the Magic to the NBA finals last season. Just another sign that Orlando wasn't good enough. Smith had a summer full of bold moves for a team fresh off a finals appearance — moves that will…

  • Phillies consider replacements for Lidge (AP)

    The Philadelphia Phillies suddenly are auditioning potential replacements for struggling closer Brad Lidge and juggling their rotation with Pedro Martinez still bothered by a stiff neck. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Friday that the World Series champions will consider other options for closing games, adding that manager Charlie Manuel could keep Lidge in the mix.

  • Tigers send Tribe to 11th straight loss (AP)

    Detroit Tigers closer Fernando Rodney(notes) watches the ball during a two-run home run by Cleveland Indians' Shin-Soo Choo(notes) in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

    Although Justin Verlander and Tigers manager Jim Leyland don't always agree on pitching philosophy, they were both pleased with his latest effort. Verlander (17-9) struck out 11 in seven innings and Carlos Guillen had three hits and an RBI in Detroit's 6-5 win over Cleveland on Thursday, pushing the Indians within one loss of matching a franchise record for futility.

  • Braves’ Cox to retire after next season (AP)

    Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox stands in the dugout during the first inning of the Braves' baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. Earlier Wednesday, Cox revealed his plans to retire as manager after the 2010 season.

    After 50 years in baseball, Bobby Cox figured the only way he would ever give up managing was to pick a specific time and announce it publicly. So that's what he did Wednesday, revealing his plans to retire as manager of the Atlanta Braves after next season. Now comes the hard part: sticking to it.

  • Yanks clinch playoff spot as Texas loses (AP)

    The New York Yankees are headed back to the playoffs, clinching their 14th appearance in 15 seasons with the Texas Rangers' loss at Oakland. New York missed the postseason for the first time since 1994 last fall in manager Joe Girardi's debut campaign. The Yankees won 17 playoff series and four World Series in that 13-year span.

  • Sinking Astros fire manager Cooper (AP)

    Houston Astros left fielder Carlos Lee(notes) (45) talks with interim manager Dave Clark during batting practice Monday, Sept. 21, 2009 in Houston. The Astros, who failed to make any sort of serious run at the postseason this year, fired manager Cecil Cooper on Monday with 13 games left in the season and promoted Clark from thrid base coach.

    The Houston Astros fired manager Cecil Cooper on Monday with 13 games left in another disappointing season. Third-base coach Dave Clark was named interim manager and things didn't change much Monday night as the Astros lost their eighth straight, 7-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals, to drop to 70-80. General manager Ed Wade said the change couldn't wait until the end of the season.

  • Halladay’s 1-hitter ends Yanks’ run at 7 (AP)

    New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi (27) walks to the mound to take the ball from relief pitcher Michael Dunn(notes), third from left, after Dunn loaded the bases in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. The Yankees lost to the Blue Jays 6-0.

    After three straight subpar starts, Roy Halladay was back to being dominant Friday. Halladay pitched a one-hitter to snap a three-start losing streak and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Yankees 6-0, ending New York's winning streak at seven games. "If we gave up one (run), we wouldn't have won tonight," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, whose team was shut out for the fifth time…

  • Grizzlies won’t confirm offer to Iverson (AP)

    FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2009, file photo, Detroit Pistons guard Allen Iverson(notes) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game in Auburn Hills, Mich. The Memphis Grizzlies general manager refuses to confirm whether the team has made a formal offer to Allen Iverson. Iverson tweeted Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, that Memphis had made him an offer, and ESPN.com reported general manager Chris Wallace confirmed the Grizzlies had made a formal offer. But Wallace Thursday through a team spokesman would only say he did not confirm an offer to ESPN.com.

    The Memphis Grizzlies general manager refuses to confirm whether the team has made a formal offer to Allen Iverson. Iverson tweeted Wednesday that Memphis had made him an offer, and ESPN.com reported general manager Chris Wallace confirmed the Grizzlies had made a formal offer. But Wallace Thursday through a team spokesman would only say he did not confirm an offer to ESPN.com.

  • Lincecum helps SF gain ground on Rockies (AP)

    Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Ianetta throws out San Francisco Giants' Eli Whiteside(notes) at second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, in San Francisco.

    Tim Lincecum had reached 127 pitches through eight innings and would gladly have gone back out for the ninth if only manager Bruce Bochy had let him. The San Francisco Giants ace still did more than his part in one of the team's biggest games yet of 2009. Lincecum struck out eight in eight innings to end a four-start winless stretch, Pablo Sandoval homered and the Giants gained ground on the…