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Originally posted by ozzy6900
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Originally posted by bbump82
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Originally posted by Rich Ives
They get about 1.6M per year for the TV rights. It allowed them to build a second stadium, double the size of the international grove, and double the number of teams they bring to Williamsport for the LLWS. LL pays all the transportation, lodging, and food costs for the teams in Williamsport. The teams get dorms and meals at regionals too.
That stuff isn't cheap.
LL is a not-for profit. They have to file financial reports that are available to the public. There aren't any stockholders, let alone stockholders getting rich. The "boss" gets about $150K per year - chump change in the CEO world. LL has about 100 paid employees world-wide. The rest of the work is done by volunteers.
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[Edited by Rich Ives on Aug 15th, 2005 at 11:57 AM]
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Rich, if LL is paying for all of the travel expenses, then why do I keep hearing on all of my local news casts that a local bank is taking donations to help send the team from my area to PA?
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Because LL is a rip-off. They want volounteers, donations, sell-a-thons and what have you. But there isn't even enough money to get their volounteer umpires to Williamsport.
But I am not allowed to tell you that because people like Rich think that LL is the greatest thing since sliced bread!
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There are a lot of rip-offs in this world. $2.50 for a gallon of gas is a rip-off when oil companies show record profits. $30+ for an NFL Preseason game is a rip-off to see guys who won't be playing in 4 weeks. $500+ for a season of travel ball + anywhere from $100 to $500 per player for tourneys with no expenses picked up is a rip-off. It all depends on what you want or need out of the program or product.
For my kid with marginal baseball talent, LL is the way to go because it is very economical, it is organized baseball, it teaches certain values to the kids (including the dark side of politics that he will have to be able to deal with later in life), and most of all...he has FUN playing LL. Whatever the arguments against the program, Fun for the kids is the primary goal of the organization, and they succeed overwhelmingly in that aspect. Yes, they have issues, but ultimately fun and participation is what LL is designed for. The All-Star tourney is designed to attract the more talented kids, so my marginally talented kid has the opportunity to play to a higher level than he would in a crappy instructional league.
Of the bashers, I believe Tee has an informed opinion (because I know he researches various things), and the rest tend to just jump on the bandwagon and say "Yeah, what he said...LL Sucks".