Schott Relinquishes Control Through ’98

Facing suspension for a similar period and unwilling to wage a costly legal fight, Cincinnati Red owner Marge Schott agreed Wednesday to give up daily control of the team through 1998.

“We have dealt with a situation that absolutely had to be dealt with,” acting Commissioner Bud Selig said in reference to Schott’s latest ethnic and gender slurs.

Said National League President Leonard Coleman: “We can not and will not condone ethnic insensitivity. We must have tolerance, not intolerance.”

Under terms of an agreement reached between league attorney Robert Kheel and Schott’s lawyer, Robert Martin, Schott will retain her equity position in the Reds but will not participate in the day-to-day operation of the team, will not be the team spokeswoman and will not be permitted to attend league or major league meetings.

John Allen, the team’s controller, will become the chief executive for up to 60 days while Schott, in conjunction with Coleman, selects a mutually agreeable chief executive.

Schott will be permitted normal access to all areas of Riverfront Stadium, will be permitted to approve the annual budget and will be allowed to participate in discussions and decisions affecting a new Cincinnati ballpark.

Schott can return at the end of the 1998 season, but her replacement cannot be discharged without Coleman’s approval.

“In no way is this a sham,” Selig said, referring to the possibility Schott will continue to run the team from behind the scene. “Len Coleman will be monitoring the situation very closely. Any violation will lead to something far more serious than what we have tonight.”

Coleman described the Reds as one of the league’s flagship franchises and said “with a new park in the works this is a critical time.” He said he will seek a CEO with experience and stature to replace Allen by Aug. 12.

There has been speculation regarding former Angel president Richard Brown and Pittsburgh Pirate executive Mark Sauer, but Coleman said it would be premature to delve into names and personalities.

Jim Bowden will remain as the Reds’ general manager, but there has been concern among players that Allen, who has replaced Bowden as Schott’s closest advisor, will try to dump salaries on her behalf before that August date. Pitchers John Smiley, Pete Schourek and Mark Portugal are considered to be on the bubble in that regard, but Coleman said that is another situation he will be watching closely.

Nevertheless, shortstop Barry Larkin, with the Reds in San Diego, said: “There’s been a lot of speculation. We’ve heard everyone could get traded to cut payroll.”

Larkin shook his head and added: “I don’t know if there ever will be a finality to the black eyes that this organization continues to produce. Major league baseball was looking for some way to silence Marge, get her to be more responsible. Whether it was fair or not, I don’t know.

“I think we all realized it was coming. It would be irresponsible for anyone to make those comments when you’re in the public eye. Now she has to pay for it. No one forced her to say what she said. Now she has to deal with the consequences.”

Manager Ray Knight said he has no relationship with Allen. Of Schott, he said: “I feel good that she is going to be able to come to the ballpark. That was the thing I was most concerned about was her joy for the game and love of the fans.”

Schott, who could not be reached, was suspended for the 1993 season for ethnic and racial slurs that brought “disrepute and embarrassment to the game.” She was warned that any repetition would be dealt with sternly. Selig said it was the opinion of the executive council that Schott had failed to heed that warning.

In a recent ESPN interview she had praised Adolf Hitler’s early years as German chancellor. Then, in a Sports Illustrated article, she made new gender and ethnic slurs.

The executive council met last Wednesday in Philadelphia and basically gave Schott a week to give up daily control of the Reds or face a suspension. Selig reiterated that the council’s disciplinary decision did not stem from her often controversial and embarrassing operation of the Reds but evolved strictly from the lack of “social responsibility” reflected by her recent series of remarks.

“This is not a happy occasion,” Selig said.

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Staff writer Chris Foster contributed to this story.