Report: Team Glazer Selling Manchester United
December 22nd, 2010
It seems that some dude named Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, no relation to the Iron Sheik, has made a covert deal with Team Glazer.
The extremely popular English tabloid London Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, is reporting that Manchester United will be sold to the ruling family of Qatar for more than $2 billion.
(Hey, Qatar bought the 2022 World Cup, why not a team of its own?)
Sadly, the folks at the London Sun, don’t give a pile of details. But Joe suspects that kind of money would hard for any mortal to shrug off.
Sources in the City are convinced the Glazers are ready to sell after they paid off £252m of the £752m of debt they saddled the club with.
One top city source said: “The belief is that they have already brought in extra finance from a third party in a bid to set the club up for a sale.”
A Middle East football finance expert, meanwhile, told SunSport that Qatar Holdings – the business arm of the country’s royal family – have been hovering around United waiting to strike.
Joe couldn’t blame Team Glazer for taking the massive profit with United. Throw in some Eric Cantona throwback jerseys and get the deal done, Glazers.
Things are on a high over there for them. Manchester United is undefeated after 16 games. They cleared a little debt, and it seems the angry United fans have given up on running them out of town. Games aren’t even blacked out.
Joe wonders whether a sale of that magnitude would change Team Glazer’s view of the Bucs.
UPDATE: Just to be clear, understand that the London Sun should never be confused with the Wall Street Journal. Specifically, truth for the London Sun can be, well, more obstacle than virtue. The reporter in question, Neil Custis, takes a harmless, innocent quote “It’s no secret, at some time, the family will sell,” and wildly and recklessly adds two-and-two and comes up with 35.
Of course the Glazer family would sell the team… 135 years from now perhaps when we’re all dust.
Let Joe just say there’s a reason he posted a photo of the Iron Sheik: His appearances with the King of All Media, Howard Stern, and his profession are more credible than most English tabloids.
Always remember and never forget, when reading the London Sun, it’s best to let one’s imagination run wild.
UPDATE II: The Bucs, via ProFootballTalk.com, have denied that Manchester United is for sale, reinforcing Joe’s suspicion The Sun was off the mark.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Hey maybe they can pay Derrick Brooks to play a few games he’s able to stay in his gap and help stop the run or possibly buy some tickets and donate them to fill the stadium with Buccaneers fans I heard more cheering when Detroit kicked the winning fieldgoal than I did when The Blount Object scored
December 22nd, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Are English tabloids much more reliable than their American counterparts?
December 22nd, 2010 at 6:33 pm
I hope the sandcamels enjoy the damn soccer team and the Glazer boys return to their senses before King High School starts outdrawing them.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm
come on Eric, are those comments really needed? I guess it just goes to show how educated you are.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Just do it!
The Glazers will make a huge profit and hopefully
they will be able to put dollars in the Bucs to push for a playoff team that will go to the playoffs and win.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:04 pm
“The extremely popular English tabloid London Sun”
It’s so popular that it doesn’t even exist.
It’s called The Sun you muppet, not the London Sun.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:09 pm
The last place the Glazets would invest would be the blacked out Buccaneers. Get real now.
The glazets should just go ahead with the plan and move the Bucs to another city.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:47 pm
But what will the haters do without their scapegoat???
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Nice racist remarks, eric.
You’re such a pussy.
December 22nd, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I apologe to Mr. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thaniize.
I am sure he has neither sand or camels.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:47 pm
So they bought Man U with around one billion of mostly borrowed money, the economy went to hell and now they are still selling it for two billion. One billion dollar profit without risking too much of their own money.
They bought the Bucs for what, 150 million, mostly borrowed. Got the taxpayers to build them a stadium where they get all the profit with none of the expenses, now the team is worth a billion and they make more money on USF games than USF does and the county doesn’t even get to keep a dime when the ‘public’ stadium is rented out for concerts and tractor pulls.
If you look that’s the history of the Glazers, making money by leveraging the hell out of things with other peoples money. Say what you will about the teams W/L record, the Glazers are undefeated.
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:50 pm
HGO wrote:
“Nice racist remarks, eric.
You’re such a pussy.”
Racist remarks? WTF What racist remarks??????
Do you even KNOW what racism is?????? Are you that STUPID that you parrot everything the lame stream media says?
Eric’s comment may have been a ‘slur’ but racism – hardly.
Then to top it off YOU call Eric a ‘pussy’ – talk about the pot calling the kettle black. I can tell that Hire Greg Olson is the CONSUMATE DEMOCRAT from the Saul Alinsky school of Reveille for Radical playbook.
Truely one of the most pathetic posts of the season
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:57 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hamad_Bin_Khalifa_Al-Thani_with_Obamas.jpg
You should love this then!
December 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Any truth to this report?
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:11 pm
This will be good for the Bucs and that’s all I have to say about that.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:33 pm
eric is of course a racist as is buc you. they have both now made openly racist comments and we all know that their racism is the root of their criticism of raheem morris. buc you should have already been banned for the line he crossed and eric is right on the verge after sandcamels comment. joe needs to take action and get rid of these jerks. he is setting a bad precedent letting these idiots stay . no one will miss them. suffice it to say sandcamels isnt what eric really wanted to say. no one says that. sand——- is what he wanted to say. you are a pussy eric. go ahead and have the balls to say what you really mean
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Let’s not get carried away gitarlvr. eric is no racist. Just because he doesn’t like Raheem doesn’t make him a racist any more than Joe being a racist for hating Sabby the Goat.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Any truth to this report?
Color Joe skeptical.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:43 pm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/dec/21/manchester-united-glazers-will-not-sell This article says they won’t sell for a long time…. 🙁
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Lucky you are an ignorant fool lol. The intent to be racist was clearly there, it can’t be justified. Seems to me your a bigger fool that I thought.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:46 pm
This can ONLY be good for the Bucs. With Tampa once again becoming the Glazers main source of income they will start receiving all the Glazers attention.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:47 pm
I can’t believe Joe’s going out if his way to defend him either haha. Sad
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:48 pm
I can’t believe Joe’s going out if his way to defend him either haha. Sad and unfortunate
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
How in the world do you know Eric is not a racist Joe? I’m not saying he is, but that sure as hell sounded like a racial slur to me. Typically, a racial slur is made by a racist person. Again I am not accusing him if being a racist, but based on his comment, how can you say he is not?
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:52 pm
I’m starting to have a funny feeling Eric is an advertiser with JBF, or at least a potential advertiser.
December 22nd, 2010 at 9:54 pm
You guys don’t have the slightest clue who this guy is or what he represents, do you?
Pretty sad.
Anyway, back to football, looks like this is another red herring. Too bad, would have been good for the Glazers to have more money and not a divided interest IMO.
Joe, sorry if my remark distracted anybody from a football discussion. Didnt know folks were that sensitive.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
stfu eric
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:01 pm
all hail the wise and sly eric… lol
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Whether the Glazers sell or retain Man U is irrelevant to the perception of the Glazers right now. The reality is this club has spent the least on salaries in the NFL for the last five years. Hence, the Glazers have been viewed as cheap and rightfully sl.
Whether fans like Morris or not, everyone will agree the Bucs have some nice, quality players on both sides of the ball. This offseason they must spend to bring in more quality players to supplement the current talent. Even the great teams will spend on key free agents or trades with other teams’ players to supplement their roster. Then I truly believe fans will start to return to Ray Jay.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
“The Sun” is one of the most low-brow of all the trashy tabs.
They and every other paper are going off one directors’ quote which basically said:
“Yes, they probably will sell eventually”
The Dubai royal family stuff is just internet rumour that gives some contemporary fuel. The Glazers, unfortunately, won’t be leaving United for quite some time I fear.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:32 pm
eric:
No harm no foul my friend.
December 22nd, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Joe here,
This is getting a little nuts here.
The other Joe probably didn’t realize you were all referring to Eric’s “sandcamel” line. Now this Joe has never heard the term sandcamel, so Joe can’t make any distinction that it’s racist. Sorry. Can’t be anymore honest than that.
@HawaiianBuc – It’s pretty funny that you think some anonymous poster named Eric is a potential advertiser or advertiser so he gets special treatment. Trust Joe, if he was worried about the sensitivities of advertisers or potential advertisers, this site would be different and you never would have seen that Obama post last week. …That said, Joe would be pleased to take Eric’s money.
As for Buc You, he has been warned and edited a couple of times and he’s clearly dancing a line as best he can. At some point he will cross it and Joe will click the magic button. As of now, Joe doesn’t think he’s gotten there yet.
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:10 pm
End of the line Buc You. Talk about the Bucs or its off to Pewter Report for you. –Joe
December 22nd, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Joe said: “Trust Joe, if he was worried about the sensitivities of advertisers or potential advertisers, this site would be different and you never would have seen that Obama post last week. …That said, Joe would be pleased to take Eric’s money. ”
Better be hoping eric works for Goldline or Food Insurance
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:33 am
I have to admit, I have never heard that term either. However, I think it is pretty safe to say that it is not a term of endearment. I don’t think it’s too far off base to assume that it is a negative comment in regards to his race (his political agenda still doesn’t make it okay to make a racial slur). Eric, please correct me if I am wrong. If there is something I am missing or mistaken about, I will gladly apologize. I just don’t see how Joe can say with such conviction that Eric (or anyone else on this board for that matter) is not a racist.
As for the Eric being an advertiser hunch, I just base that off of the fact that you have come to his defense on numerous occasions, much more than I can recall for anyone else on this board. You have stated such things like he is a good guy, not a racist, and a very successful lawyer, so it was just my gut feeling that you had some sort of working relationship with him. To be honest, I could care less if he is an advertiser with you and you did defend him. You are really good about letting us unleash on each other, so it makes no difference anyway. I do know that if he does ever advertise with us, you should definitely keep that a secret. If the readers on this site ever found out, that would be a complete waste of advertising dollars.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:38 am
This site is such a joke.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 am
Hawaiian Buc – you know we don’t see eye to eye all the time and that’s fine. You are very rational in your posts, well thought out and a lot less emotional that I tend to be. I respect that, even if we don’t agree.
However, your comment, “I just don’t see how Joe can say with such conviction that Eric (or anyone else on this board for that matter) is not a racist.” does ONE THING – You’re convicting someone of something horrific (racism) when it hasn’t been proved.
The term Eric used, sandcamel, is something I had never heard of. Did anyone thing that maybe, MAYBE, it was a fictious term that Eric used in an attempt at humor? I read it and assumed it was a back-handed ‘slur’ but what bothers me, REALLY FROSTS ME, is how people throw about the word racism at the drop of a hat. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT CAN’T BE PROVEN.
I recall another poster writing that Joe with his anti-NBA attitude seemed racist was shocking.
It dilutes the true meaning of racism. It belittles how truely ugly racism actually is. Then there are many people who throw out vulger terms because they disagree with a poster.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 am
Joe here,
Jackson5 – Since you’re anonymous anyway, why don’t you use the name you usually go with it?
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:58 am
Hey Jackson5 – glad you’re amused and that you appreciate our humor!
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:59 am
Joe here,
Mr.Lucky wrote: “It dilutes the true meaning of racism. It belittles how truely ugly racism actually is.”
Very cerebral, Mr. Lucky. Impressive for the wee hours.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:06 am
Joe,
So a term has to be registered as a racial slur for it to be racist?
The moronic right-wingers on this site like Lucky, eric, and Buc You are laughable…
Maybe you guys can quit your jobs and go exploring the Alaskan wilderness with Palin.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:08 am
Hawaiian Buc:
Joe has corresponded with eric before. He is not an advertiser but he is very successful in his chosen profession.
Joe believes in dialogue. If people thought their comments would be deleted just because Joe didn’t agree with them, Joe wouldn’t have had the five million pageviews he registered this year because people wouldn’t bother to show up.
Does Joe agree in everything eric writes? Of course not, nor does Joe agree with everything anyone writes.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:23 am
Lucky,
Thanks, and I have never had a problem with your posts either. Like you said, we don’t always agree, but I think you are pretty fair in most things you write. I have never considered you a “hater”, and actually think you have made some very good points. I consider a hater someone who only posts negativity, or nothing at all.
I think perhaps you misunderstood what I was trying to say, or maybe I did a poor job getting my point across. First of all, I tried to make it a point that I was not calling Eric a racist. I don’t know him, and have no idea how he feels. My point was simply that I didn’t understand how Joe could say that he was not a racist, especially after that type of comment. I think even Eric would probably admit that it was a bad choice of words, and I would imagine he regrets it (at least to a point). A racial slur can be very offensive, and you really can’t get too upset that people can now perceive him to be a racist, true or not. You definitely can’t say with certainty that he is not one. Agreed? Besides, if it wasn’t a racial slur, I’m pretty sure Eric would have already clarified the comment, which as of yet he has not.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:28 am
Joe,
Agreed, and for the record, I love the site for that reason. This site (and the people who post on this site) give someone like me who lives 5000 miles from Tampa a great idea of the pulse of the city. It’s great to hear what everyone else is feeling (good or bad). I give Eric and the haters a lot of crap, but in reality I’m glad they are on the site (kind of). They make it interesting. I spend every day – all day on the computer and this is the first site i go onto in the morning, and the last one before I go to bed. Keep up the great work!
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:37 am
Hawaiian Buc:
Thanks for the kind words Hawaiian Buc. Very big of you. Joe is humbled.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:47 am
Joe- The reason neither you nor anyone else has ever heard the term “sandcamel” is because its not a slur anyone ever uses. Eric made it up on the spot knowing that what he really wanted to say would earn him an instant ban. No one has ever heard “sandcamel”. However, I am sure plenty of people have heard a similar slur containing the name sand and a vulgar term for african americans. This other term is very clearly what Eric would have dearly loved to use. “Sandcamel” is a pathetic and thinly veiled attempt to be as racist as possible without getting himself banned. I and others know exactly what Eric meant even if you don’t. Buc You, Eric, Thomas the zero- these guys all sound like carbon copies of each other with their barely disguised bigotry. Go ahead and condone these guys if you want. Its a shame threads have to be wasted with people responding to the idiocy of these punks rather discussing the topic at hand.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:56 am
Oh and I find it hilarious that Joe can slander Trey Wingo as a “slur hurler” for his innocuous comment which may have been easily misconstrued, and so ill-advised, but was clearly not intended as an insult, while at the same time acting like Eric’s comment is no big deal and there is no proof that he is bigoted. You wrote a few articles slamming Trey Wingo for “Radio Raheem” but “sandcamel” should just be swept under the rug?
December 23rd, 2010 at 2:00 am
gitarlvr:
Is “redneck” racist?
Or how about “plowf@ck?”
Perhaps “hick” is racist?
Maybe “kraut” or “frog?”
All are derogatory terms used to describe people from a certain region of the world.
Simply put, don’t like reading eric, don’t read him.
December 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 am
Regardless of if the idiots ever get banned, I swear to God I am done responding to or even reading any post by the three stooges. I sincerely hope that other sane posters do the same so that we no longer have to see entire threads taken up with their moronic comments and the responses of posters trying to talk sense into them.
December 23rd, 2010 at 2:04 am
Nice non-response to what I said. Is “Radio Raheem” a racist slur? You certainly seem to think so from the Jesse Jackson like crusade you were on about it.
December 23rd, 2010 at 2:08 am
As I said I wont be reading Eric or the other two idiots any more. Its kind of hard when they ruin entire threads by spewing their crap and baiting people into responding to them so they can satisfy their juvenile urges. That is all they are after. If they aren’t racists they are at least guilty of being pathetic little trolls.
December 23rd, 2010 at 2:09 am
gitarlvr:
Joe has no clue what the hell a Radio Raheem is but, as Joe detailed WAY TOO MUCH, quite a few people sure know referring to a FOOTBALL COACH OF COLOR by the name of a lead character who portrays a mentally challenged young man of color IN A FOOTBALL MOVIE, played by one of Hollywood’s biggest stars , that was widely distributed and is often broadcast on popular cable channels is pretty friggin’ stupid.
Don’t like certain people’s comments? Don’t read them. It’s quite simple.
December 23rd, 2010 at 6:43 am
Some of you need to get off the labeling everyone a racist. It’s getting so bad people are afraid to even speak anymore. I guess you won’t be satisfied until no one speaks or writes anything, that way no one can be offended.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
I’m still not racist, I hate everyone equally!
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 am
My father used to say: “The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him on the nose, the second time someone calls you a horse you call him a jerk but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it’s time to go shopping for a saddle.”
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:29 am
Wow, so much to say.
First off, I actually lost respect for people defending Eric (including you Joe). Please get real. Everyone knows that was a racial slur. If you want to debate whether posting racial slurs makes you a racist or not, go ahead. Any rational human being knows who you are when you make comments like that.
And I would love to know how Eric is a “successful” lawyer with such irrational thoughts. What kind of law can you be good at while totally denying the truth thats right in front of you… oh that right, its a basic job description of every lawyer. Scumbag, I would love to see how big your balls are without the keyboard protecting you.
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 am
Hire Greg Olson,
Wake up and smell the Coffee.
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 am
Hawaiian,
Don’t bow down to these chumps! You’re too nice man. You said what you believe, there is no reason to backtrack and fake apologize. Buc You is a known racist, that is a fact. He will be banned soon enough and magically re-appear as someone else.
Eric is usually not the same as the rest of the haters, he is just always very sarcastic about any positive about the Bucs. But today was a new low for him. Calling people too “sensitive” for being offended by racial slur (notice I didnt say racist slur… you all love to draw a distinction between the 2) is laughable. So let me make up some new word that no one has ever used before that clearly has racial undertones and its ok right? Gimme a break.
These fools should just follow OAR’s dad’s advice and make a hood out of their urine stained sheets for the Klan meeting tonight. If you need advice, just ask Buc You.
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Gary,
Please take three deep breathes and try to……..lighten up and LAUGH!
BTW how can you compare a klan meeting to my dad’s JOKE comment??
It really isn’t my dad, that’s from a movie. A Rabbi said it!
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
oar,
I knew you were joking about the quote, thats why i referenced it. I’m cool man, no need to get worked up over these guys.
I just found it funny how people tried to deflect.
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
BigMacAttack,
I have no idea what you mean by, “wake up and smell the coffee”
Care to explain?
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Mazel Tov!
Can I get my sheet with Heavy Starch?
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Gary,
My bad.
BTW I too, think this is all way too funny! Some of these guys need to go back to watching the View!
December 23rd, 2010 at 12:54 pm
OAR, if you say one, just one thing bad about Joy Behar, I swear on a stack of Korans, that I will get up right now and walk out forever, well for 5 minutes anyway.
December 23rd, 2010 at 1:02 pm
BigMac,
LOL!
December 23rd, 2010 at 7:22 pm
We all know he meant “sand-*igger” which is in fact a common racist comment for Arabs. Truly sickening the justification that goes on here lol
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Exactly my point Irony. The justification apparently comes from the fact that Joe only hates racism when it comes from ESPN and not his own message boards.
December 23rd, 2010 at 10:56 pm
AL SHAHANIYYA, QATAR — How do you save an age-old tradition of the desert? With a six-pound robotic camel jockey, of course … but wait. We’re getting ahead of our story. It begins, like all things here, slowly and simply.”Years ago, before oil, we were all about camels here,” begins Sheikh Hamad Bin Kasem Bin Faisal al-Thani, president of the Qatar Camel Racing Committee. “We grew up around our camels. We drank their milk, and ate them … and we loved them.”The sheikh fiddles with his diamond-crusted cuff links and looks wistful about the not-too-distant past of this oil-rich desert on the Persian Gulf.His late father, he boasts, was one of the major camel owners here, and the family camels were known far and wide as racing champions. At weddings and other special occasions, the al-Thani brothers would mount their best beasts and go running through the sands, the wind in their headdresses and the cheers of the Bedouins in their ears.Victorious camels – usually belonging to one faction of the ruling al-Thani family or another – would be painted in red …
Who knew I was complimenting the guy?
December 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Joe here,
Irony and gitarlvr – Again, Joe never heard the sandcamel term, nor did Joe ever here this other obviously racist term you’re referencing. Does that make Joe an idiot? Where exactly should Joe have known about that?
It doesn’t matter who it is, Joe’s not going to ban someone for a comment that might be linked to a racist term Joe’s never heard.
Sorry. You can spin it any way you want. That’s the fact.
And you might want to re-read the Wingo post. Joe never called Wingo a racist. And the world “slur” has no racism in its definition, which is why Joe has referenced Wingo as slur hurling.
December 24th, 2010 at 12:01 am
It isn’t about whether it is true or not. The purpose of doing it is an attempt to marginalize or silence the person by assigning a label to him/her that many in society find offensive.
Remember, if you don’t agree with someone’s post, you can actually have a debate or skip over it. Attempting to draw the owner of the website into the fray by coercing him to ban the “evil racist poster” is pretty lame.
Joe,.. I think you should ban all those who called the guy a racist. I feel it’s hate speech and I’m offended. 😀
December 24th, 2010 at 12:17 am
That’s right joe spin it any way you want to lol.
Oh the irony….
December 24th, 2010 at 12:20 am
And I never called for a ban, don’t put words in my mouth. BUT if you wanna learn about the “linked” term you’ve never heard of you can google it there’s a plethora of knowledgeable data you can learn from.
December 24th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
We loved camels, camles loved us, we ate lots of camels.
Is that sorta like Camelot?