Shawon Dunston Attempts to Halt Cubs Sale
This little story popped up in the papers last week regarding the sale of the Cubs. Since the Cubs are trying to be placed into bankruptcy, all debtors need to be accounted for before the court will allow it. Any outstanding claims may put a stay on the proceedings, further holding up the eventual sale of the Cubs to the Ricketts family. Things like unpaid leases, credit extended to the team, and of course, Shawon Dunston’s college education:
[N]ews that Dunston sent a handwritten letter to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware objecting to the decision to place the team in bankruptcy was surprising.
Dunston, who works part time for the San Francisco Giants, wrote that he was “entitled to college scholarship funds” from the Cubs that were part of his original contract.
First of all, great thinking by the Cubs to include that in his contract as an incentive. How many of these guys will actually attend college? On the other hand, umm…that can’t possibly be enforceable, especially if he never ended up going to college. Right?
“It was just a formality,” Dunston said. “When I signed the contract [in 1982], they said they’d pay for my college tuition if I ever went. It was part of my signing bonus, but I never used it. My adviser asked me about it, and told me to send a letter by the 16th [of September], so that’s what I did. I have nothing against the Cubs.”
Dunston was among the team’s former players who received letters from Bankruptcy Court asking if they had any objections to the proceedings, initiated to help expedite the team’s sale. According to the Cubs, the contractual clause was standard for many top high school players, and amounted to around $8,000 to $10,000 worth of tuition in the early 1980s.
But because Dunston never attended college, he was not owed any tuition money.
Whew. That was a close one. I guess the book is pretty much closed on this one. I would love to see a copy of his handwritten letter to the court. I mean, without a college education, I’m sure it was filled with passive voice and improper comma usage. Boom, roasted.
h/t: Ethan
Loading ...
