Hartford Whalers decline offer to "beg, steal or borrow" October 27, 1998
Hartford, CT (AP)- In a surprising and unprecedented move today, the Hartford
Whalers announced that they will not be participating in the Free Agent Plan
that is scheduled to immediately follow the World Series between Washington and
Galena this week. Whalers owner Jeremy Chrabascz emphatically stated that, "We
do not consider ourselves to be one of the worst 8 teams in PVBL. In fact, we
think we have some of the best young talent around. We consider it
proposterous and an insult to even be offered the opportunity to beg, steal or
borrow from other organizations in the hopes of winning our second
World Championship." New full-time Manager Kevin Kennedy supported Chrabascz's
decision later, stating, "We're not a charity case. We're doing the right
thing. If another team wants to take our place and steal away others' top
talent let them go right ahead--it's not our style." Reitterating the
administration's stance were the players who seem to have found a heightened
sense of team unity. Veteran Joe Carter commented, "I've been around baseball
for quite some time and I've never seen a classier organization than the one
right here in Hartford's front office. They're committed to winning and they
deserve all of our (the players') respect." Rookie pitching sensation Kevin
Millwood agreed, saying, "Wow. To go out on a limb like that for us is really
something. They really seem to believe in us. I wouldn't want to be anywhere
else than right here, sink or swim." But the Whalers appear to have no
intention of "sinking" with 7 draft picks in the top 2 rounds of the upcoming
free agent draft and with a sensational core of solid, young talent (especially
on the mound). So far, no one else around the league has been reached for
comment on these developments. However, its seems many Chicago and Thunder Bay
fans hope that their teams don't follow suit. "We need the help. I hope
we're not as stupid as the Whale," said one disgruntled Hoersts fan we caught
up with on the street this afternonon.
Only time will tell if the Whalers have done the best thing for their ballclub
but in their own eyes they already have done the "right" thing.
