Wednesday, October 22, 1997
Reds deny alleged discrimination

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BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Business partners of boxing promoter Rock Newman are asking Major League Baseball and the federal government to investigate the Reds for racially discriminating against him.

The Dayton Hara Complex, of suburban Dayton, and Sports Spectrum Inc., of Chicago, allege that Marge Schott, the Reds suspended chief executive officer, and managing executive John Allen "breached a lucrative minor league baseball team territorial contract" because Newman, who was to have been the principal owner of the group's minor-league team in Dayton, is African-American.

Allen responded Tuesday that neither he nor Schott made any promises to Newman's group or any other group to back their bids to bring minor league baseball to Dayton. What the Reds did, said Allen, was to authorize a civic group - the Dayton Downtown Partnership - to choose which one of three groups of business people should be designated to go after the minor league franchise.

The Dayton Downtown Partnership did not choose Newman's group. Newman's group charged that Schott attended meetings and communicated with another group seeking to bring minor league baseball to Dayton. That is a violation of her suspension by MLB, Newman's group said. Allen countered that he is "comfortable" that Schott did not violate her suspension.

The Reds have not yet even waived their territorial rights to allow a minor league team in Dayton, Allen said. The Reds will not consider doing that until MLB makes a decision on whether to approve of the group seeking to bring minor league baseball to Dayton.

All groups seeking a Dayton baseball franchise were told by the Reds of the importance of diversity and equal opportunity, Allen said.

On Aug. 29, 1996, the New York State Athletic Commission ruled that Newman, the manager of heavyweight Riddick Bowe, would not be allowed to attend any exhibitions or bouts Bowe would have in New York before Aug. 1, 1997.

The penalty stemmed from a brawl in Madison Square Garden.

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