Sports Biz

AP Scottie Pippen

Matthew Lesko would be proud.  NBA great Scottie Pippen is apparently a farmer. From 2003-2005, Pippen earned $78,945 in government checks for land he controls in Arkansas. That's according to information that will be available tomorrow from the Environmental Working Group, a public interest group that is seeking a better distribution of farm subsidies.

Pippen made about $110 million throughout his NBA career, but let us remind you why he needs this. He lost $27 million in bad investments and, as of February, he owed $5 million to a bank for a dispute with a private jet company. And he just sold a 2.28-acre property with 18,700-square foot mansion sitting on it for $2.95 million. He and his wife paid $4 million for it in 2000.

Auction Company No Longer Wants Bonds Ball:
Heritage Auction Galleries announced that it is withdrawing its offer of $1 million for Barry Bonds home run ball No. 756. While the company said it was due to concerns of fan safety, you have to wonder if the company got cold feet that all the Bonds backlash wouldn't generate $1 million for the ball.

If they did pull out because of perceived lack of interest, they certainly went a long way to construct an alibi. "After personally traveling to San Francisco and meeting with a senior Security Department official at AT&T Park about the potential for a melee in the stands, and discussing potential liability with our attorneys, we have reluctantly, but we feel prudently, withdrawn the $1 million bounty for the baseball. We didn't hear of any way to prevent possible public safety problems, and we don't want a fan or a child injured or killed," said Greg Rohan, president of the auction company.

What is interesting is that the company says that while they won't buy the ball, they would be interested in consigning it. Call me a skeptic, but that stinks to me. Consigning it means you're willing to get the business, but without the responsibility. All you lawyers out there -- could the auction company be held responsible if someone injured themselves trying to get No. 756?

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