Last update - 00:00 18/11/2007
Israel Baseball League chief steps down amid controversy
By The Associated Press
Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Kurtzer has stepped down as
commissioner of Israel's fledgling professional baseball league, topping a flurry of resignations amid questions over the league's finances, the league's public relations firm announced Sunday.
The resignations set off rumors that the league was folding after just one year in the field, but organizers denied that.
The six-team league concluded its first season in Israel in August, drawing a following from the country's expatriate American community but failing to catch on with native-born Israelis. Israel's first ever professional hardball league featured 120 players from nine countries, split into six teams for a 45-game season over two months.
Kurtzer was part of a high-powered lineup of American executives and baseball professionals drafted by Boston-based league founder Larry Baras.
In a statement released Thursday, Kurtzer announced he was stepping down along with league advisory board members Martin Abramowitz, Marty Appel, Jeff Goldklang, Marvin Goldklang (a minority owner of the New York Yankees), Stuart Hershon, Randy Levine, Gary Rosen, Bob Ruxin and Andrew Zimbalist.
The members commended Baras for having the vision to bring pro baseball to Israel, but expressed dismay with the way the league's finances and business operations were handled.
The league's broadcasting deal with Israel's Sport5 TV cable network was canceled at midseason because the league could not live up to its financial obligations.
The resigning members also noted that the league suffered from staffing and organizational problems since its inception.
The league has vowed to return next summer for its second season with at least one new team, and has dismissed rumors that the league was folding.
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