<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1OGpH5_0vkhhRZT00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1OGpH5_0vkhhRZT00" width="962" height="536" ></figure><p>Wednesday the Phillies clinched a bye on Fan Appreciation Night and the best owner in baseball (BOIB) was all over the stadium hanging with fans. John Middleton signed a hat with “I want our f–– trophy back!” –</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">John Middleton signed a Phillies hat for a fan with “I want our f——g trophy!”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RingTheBell?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RingTheBell</a> | (via ig/cait.mcdonnell.5) <a href="https://t.co/lPEf7L0AMa">pic.twitter.com/lPEf7L0AMa</a></p><p>— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) <a href="https://twitter.com/BarstoolPhilly/status/1839098991172067549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>Every Philadelphia team owner from now until the rest of eternity should be required to read the John Middleton playbook if they want to be successful here. Spend and interact with the fans. That’s it. Go up to the 400 level and watch some of the game. Show up on the concourse and take pictures or throw baseballs into the stands. It’s really not that hard.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/JohnKincade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JohnKincade</a><a href="https://twitter.com/asalciunas975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@asalciunas975</a><a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorThomas975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ConnorThomas975</a><a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMiss25?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MikeMiss25</a><a href="https://twitter.com/BillColarulo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillColarulo</a><a href="https://twitter.com/RayDunne975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RayDunne975</a><a href="https://twitter.com/TyJohnsonNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TyJohnsonNews</a><a href="https://twitter.com/rickybottalico?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rickybottalico</a><a href="https://twitter.com/sylvanakell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sylvanakell</a> Preview of my FanFest outfit for Saturday, with none other than the head honcho, John Middleton! We got the first round bye, now let’s get the #1 seed! <a href="https://t.co/A6DhQI9mZR">pic.twitter.com/A6DhQI9mZR</a></p><p>— Jawn Kruk™️ (@JawnKruk215) <a href="https://twitter.com/JawnKruk215/status/1839122809915658346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">It was great seeing ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/Phillies?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Phillies</a>⁩ owner John Middleton walking the concourse ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/PhilliesCBP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhilliesCBP</a>⁩ shaking hands with fans or fan appreciation night!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RingTheBell?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RingTheBell</a></p><p>Fans were lined up to take photos with him and begging him to repeat: “I want my F-ing trophy back!” <a href="https://t.co/0Y9o0Xppa0">pic.twitter.com/0Y9o0Xppa0</a></p><p>— Seth Williams (@newsethwilliams) <a href="https://twitter.com/newsethwilliams/status/1839133023729512789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; 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border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div><div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DAXIyz_u5oe/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Uncle Coggin (@thecoggintoboggan)</a></p></div><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);delay=function(){window.instgrm.Embeds.process()};setTimeout(delay,500)"></blockquote><blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div><div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; 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border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div><div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"><div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div><div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div><div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div><div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div><p></p><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAW7JOmSqLY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Jamie Pagliei (@thephillysportsguy)</a></p></div><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);delay=function(){window.instgrm.Embeds.process()};setTimeout(delay,500)"></blockquote><p>It can’t be hard to add some personality to the organization. That’s what I think has always hurt owners like Josh Harris and Comcast. Flying in on a helicopter, getting a police escort, and then leaving isn’t going to cut it when you can’t get past the second round of the playoffs. Being on TV next to the Sixers bench isn’t going to cut it for face time with the fans. You have to find different ways to connect with fans other than spending and providing facilities. That’s why people look at you crazy when you defend Harris – who has been a good owner. People can’t wrap their heads around him being a good owner because all they see is an awkward billionaire and his public awkwardness on display buying other franchises for his portfolio:</p><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-4aS06xQwa0?feature=oembed" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div><p>Comcast has done a better job with this recently when they hired Dan Hilferty and Keith Jones as some sort of liaisons to the fans outside of their day to day. Now you can go on the concourse of the Wells Fargo Center during some games and you’ll see people in a long line hoping to get a picture with one of these two.</p><p>But right now John Middleton is head and shoulders above any owner in this city. When you’re telling the team on TV you want your fucking trophy back and dropping quotes like this, it’s pretty easy to be (via Jeff Kerr at CBSNews.com) –</p><blockquote><p>“I addressed them in spring training. I told them I’m really pissed,” a smiling Middleton said during the Phillies’ division-clinching celebration. “A reporter asked me in Clearwater how do you get over 2023? I said, ‘What makes you think I’m over 2023?’ Oh, by the way, I’m not over 2009, 2010, 2011 either.”</p></blockquote><p>This guy makes it seem like he lives and dies with the team as much as the fan does. Like he’s actually one of us and not a billionaire. It’s not that hard. He’s the best owner in this town right now and the most likable… unless you’re Russ apparently:</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="cy">1. Dan Hilferty<br><br> 2. John Middleton<br><br> 3. Jeffrey Lurie<br><br> 4. Josh Harris <a href="https://t.co/vM6SlY2GOo">https://t.co/vM6SlY2GOo</a></p><p>— Russ Joy (@JoyOnBroad) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyOnBroad/status/1839306510280831311?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></p><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote><p>Dan Hilferty #1? DAN HILFERTY? Is Russ auditioning to run WIP’s social media with these rankings? Could’ve fooled me. I like Dan Hilferty and he seems like a good guy, but can we at least let him finish his cup of coffee before we name him the most likable owner in the city? He can’t be unlikable yet because he hasn’t been with Comcast-Spectacor long enough to be unlikable. And the craziest part about these rankings are that he’s not actually an owner! He’s the Governor or Chairman or whatever fancy title they gave him. The owner is Comcast and Dan Hilferty is the guy they appointed to take the hits. It would be like saying Roger Goodell is the #1 owner in the NFL. He’s just a body the real owners can stand behind when there’s another scandal. These rankings are borderline state-run propaganda. I think North Korea just released their annual rankings for the “Best Leaders of All-Time” and look, Kim Jong Un won again for the 13th year in a row. It’s like Russ has a Flyers show produced by the team or something…</p></div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

The Best Owner in Major League Baseball Had Himself a Night

Wednesday the Phillies clinched a bye on Fan Appreciation Night and the best owner in baseball (BOIB) was all over the stadium hanging with fans. John Middleton signed a hat with “I want our f–– trophy back!” – Every Philadelphia team owner from now until the...