Fragmentsofme
11-18-2003, 01:04 PM
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=atl
ATLANTA -- Stan Kasten's affiliation with the Braves has ended after 18 seasons. But Atlanta fans won't be able to look at the team's championship banners above the left-field wall at Turner Field without thinking of the man who helped bring them there.
Kasten, the first man to ever serve as the president of three different major professional sports franchises at the same time, resigned from his posts as the president of Philips Arena, the Hawks, the Thrashers and the Braves on Monday afternoon.
"This job has given me so much," Kasten said. "I have been the luckiest man in the world."
Kasten wasn't ready to discuss who his new employer is. But he did admit that his decision to resign was because of the many changes that have been made by Time Warner in the past year.
In order to improve its Wall Street position, Time Warner recently worked out a deal to sell the Hawks and the Thrashers. In addition, the parent company has asked the Braves to drastically cut their payroll for the 2004 season.
"There is so much change going on right now," Kasten said. "It just seemed like the perfect time to do it."
Kasten's decision to resign from the Braves, who are still owned by Time Warner, keeps the door open for him to be hired by the new group that recently purchased Philips Arena, the Hawks and the Thrashers. Though there is still a strong chance Kasten may return to run the Thrashers and the Hawks once their sales are finalized, his responsibilities with the Braves will now be handled by his close friend Terry McGuirk. McGuirk has overseen each of the three professional sports franchises since taking over his role as Turner Sports' CEO in 2001.
McGuirk, whom Kasten considers one of his best friends, already has an established relationship with Braves general manager John Schuerholz and is fully aware of the business issues with which the perennial division champion winners are facing.
"We will surely miss having Stan around," Schuerholz said. "But this will do nothing to change our direction. We look to make a seamless transition and continue the successful legacy this organization has enjoyed."
McGuirk was one of Ted Turner's earliest hires when he was building his empire back in the early 1970s. McGuirck's association with the Braves dates back to the 1977 season, when Turner sent him to Spring Training, posed as a player, to essentially work as a spy.
Turner met Kasten in 1976, when Kasten was touring ballparks in the weeks after graduating from Columbia University's law school. He liked Kasten and immediately hired him as the Hawks' legal counsel.
As Kasten on Monday reminisced about how important that chance meeting with Turner was, he became choked up and had trouble fighting back the tears.
"Ted has always been a constant source of inspiration," Kasten said of the man who had the vision to build a media empire, CNN, and provide regular programming for his superstation, TBS.
One of the first people Kasten met when he arrived in Atlanta was McGuirk, the only other 24-year-old single male in the office. It was the first of many friendships Kasten formed after becoming part of Turner's family.
"You know the best thing is I never had to work for a boss," Kasten said. "I've always worked for friends. Some of my best friends are my coaches and general managers. I'm truly lucky to be able to say that."
After two years of persuasion, Turner finally got Kasten -- who, in 1979, became the youngest general manager in NBA history -- to become the Braves' president in December 1986. They finished with the league's worst record and the highest payroll.
Kasten worked with then-general manager Bobby Cox on cutting costs, developing the minor league system and acquiring young arms like John Smoltz. Eighteen years later, Kasten's vision has helped the Braves turn from mere TBS programming to a blueprint of success that other professional sports teams attempt to duplicate.
"Stan is one of the smartest and funniest guys I know," said Schuerholz, a masterful Kasten hire after the 1990 season. "That's a pretty good combination to have."
So too is the trio of Cox, Schuerholz and Kasten, whose talents and abilities to work together have given Atlanta a successful era that will be tough to duplicate.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs
:cry: So when is there going to be any good news?
ATLANTA -- Stan Kasten's affiliation with the Braves has ended after 18 seasons. But Atlanta fans won't be able to look at the team's championship banners above the left-field wall at Turner Field without thinking of the man who helped bring them there.
Kasten, the first man to ever serve as the president of three different major professional sports franchises at the same time, resigned from his posts as the president of Philips Arena, the Hawks, the Thrashers and the Braves on Monday afternoon.
"This job has given me so much," Kasten said. "I have been the luckiest man in the world."
Kasten wasn't ready to discuss who his new employer is. But he did admit that his decision to resign was because of the many changes that have been made by Time Warner in the past year.
In order to improve its Wall Street position, Time Warner recently worked out a deal to sell the Hawks and the Thrashers. In addition, the parent company has asked the Braves to drastically cut their payroll for the 2004 season.
"There is so much change going on right now," Kasten said. "It just seemed like the perfect time to do it."
Kasten's decision to resign from the Braves, who are still owned by Time Warner, keeps the door open for him to be hired by the new group that recently purchased Philips Arena, the Hawks and the Thrashers. Though there is still a strong chance Kasten may return to run the Thrashers and the Hawks once their sales are finalized, his responsibilities with the Braves will now be handled by his close friend Terry McGuirk. McGuirk has overseen each of the three professional sports franchises since taking over his role as Turner Sports' CEO in 2001.
McGuirk, whom Kasten considers one of his best friends, already has an established relationship with Braves general manager John Schuerholz and is fully aware of the business issues with which the perennial division champion winners are facing.
"We will surely miss having Stan around," Schuerholz said. "But this will do nothing to change our direction. We look to make a seamless transition and continue the successful legacy this organization has enjoyed."
McGuirk was one of Ted Turner's earliest hires when he was building his empire back in the early 1970s. McGuirck's association with the Braves dates back to the 1977 season, when Turner sent him to Spring Training, posed as a player, to essentially work as a spy.
Turner met Kasten in 1976, when Kasten was touring ballparks in the weeks after graduating from Columbia University's law school. He liked Kasten and immediately hired him as the Hawks' legal counsel.
As Kasten on Monday reminisced about how important that chance meeting with Turner was, he became choked up and had trouble fighting back the tears.
"Ted has always been a constant source of inspiration," Kasten said of the man who had the vision to build a media empire, CNN, and provide regular programming for his superstation, TBS.
One of the first people Kasten met when he arrived in Atlanta was McGuirk, the only other 24-year-old single male in the office. It was the first of many friendships Kasten formed after becoming part of Turner's family.
"You know the best thing is I never had to work for a boss," Kasten said. "I've always worked for friends. Some of my best friends are my coaches and general managers. I'm truly lucky to be able to say that."
After two years of persuasion, Turner finally got Kasten -- who, in 1979, became the youngest general manager in NBA history -- to become the Braves' president in December 1986. They finished with the league's worst record and the highest payroll.
Kasten worked with then-general manager Bobby Cox on cutting costs, developing the minor league system and acquiring young arms like John Smoltz. Eighteen years later, Kasten's vision has helped the Braves turn from mere TBS programming to a blueprint of success that other professional sports teams attempt to duplicate.
"Stan is one of the smartest and funniest guys I know," said Schuerholz, a masterful Kasten hire after the 1990 season. "That's a pretty good combination to have."
So too is the trio of Cox, Schuerholz and Kasten, whose talents and abilities to work together have given Atlanta a successful era that will be tough to duplicate.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs
:cry: So when is there going to be any good news?