Posted on 06/04/2012 9:53:18 AM PDT by presidio9
Funny really is money.
Bill Maher, the host of HBO's "Real Time," announced on Sunday at Citi Field that he had purchased a minority stake in the Mets earlier this year — and the sometimes controversial, always funny comedian wasn't kidding.
Maher, a lifelong Mets fan, says he thinks he made a "great investment" by purchasing a share in the team.
"I think people sometimes forget there's only one National League franchise in New York City, and they're not making anymore," he said. "I just thought it would be a great place, especially after I've seen some of the ways money can disappear in recent years. I had my money in Lehman Brothers in 2008."
Maher's presence at Citi Field on Sunday — two days after Johan Santana pitched the first no-hitter in the Mets history — was yet another reminder of how quickly things have turned around for the club in recent months.
Mets owners Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, faced with a $1 billion lawsuit filed by the trustee overseeing the Bernie Madoff bankruptcy case, announced last year that they wanted to sell a minority stake in the team. But when a deal to sell the stake in the team to hedge fund manager David Einhorn fell through, the owners decided to sell 12 shares in the club for $20 million each.
Maher's investment in the team was not publicly announced until Sunday. Maher and Mets officials did not say if the HBO star bought a full share or is part of a group that purchased a $20 million stake.
"It happened months ago," Maher said of his investment in the team. "It's the first time I'm in New York, so we didn't say anything. I read about it in the paper in December. There was an article in the newspaper saying the Mets, you know, this was available. You could buy these limited partnerships."
billmaher via Twitter
Bill Maher (c.) helps his sister celebrate her birthday with Mr. Met (l.) at Citi Field.
Maher, who grew up in New Jersey, said he remembers his dad telling him when he was 5 years old that a National League team was returning to New York.
The comic quipped that his presence in New York played a role in Johan Santana's no-hitter on Friday night.
"My role is to bring luck to the team like I did this weekend," he said. "Let's be honest, they did not have a no-hitter for 50 years, I buy in and come to town and there's a no-hitter. Draw your own conclusions."
Maher has been a lightning rod for controversy. His ABC show, "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher," was canceled in 2002 after he made a controversial on-air remark about the September 11 attacks. He's been an advocate for animal rights and gay marriage, and a critic of religion and the war on drugs.
The target that conservatives have drawn on his back got bigger earlier this year, after he donated $1 million to a SuperPAC working for President Obama's re-election.
Maher recalled watching the ball go through Bill Buckner's legs in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with fellow comedian and Mets supporter Jerry Seinfeld at the Improv in Los Angeles.
He said he didn't know why Seinfeld didn't buy a share:
"Why he didn't, I have no idea. Because he's sure got more money than I do."
They would have a lot more opportunity with Rush being an owner than that stupid fool Mahar.
The NYet Times lost me at “always funny”.
Bill Maher is funny in a child-with-AIDS joke kind of way.
Way to go Mets.
“The NYet Times lost me at “always funny”.”
Now, what would be really funny, and must see TV, would be if Todd Palin made a surprise visit to this a-hole’s show and beat him to an absolute pulp!!
.... or is that gay rights and animal marriage?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.