MADOFF: WHO KNEW ... AND WHEN DID THEY KNOW IT?*

Back in the early months of when news broke about the Bernie Madoff scandal most of us did not think much of it at first. We all just stared at the television screen in awe at the boldness that one could have towards their fellow man, and then continued on with their lives. As the days went by and more information was released our reactions went beyond awe. When we learned that it was Billions, that's right, Billions with a capital "B", and not Millions, that were involved our reactions was like that of a Slurpee Brain Freeze. Even days later I was at first referring to Millions unable to get my head wrapped around the amount of money that was being talked about. It was then when realizing the reality of it all New York Mets fans were hit smack across the face ... The New York Mets would become part of another controversy. This one however would be the worst one for both the organization and its fans.

Besides Madoff's outlandish audacity, many in the media started with the class envy. They were quick not to think much of it as they felt that it would not effect our everyday living. Hey, it was just a bunch of rich people that got taken. They were wrong, oh, so very wrong. How the rich have all the money and we do not. How wrong they are. Many of the wealthy and well-to-do are my clients. As well as my client's clients. With Summer being my most busiest part of the year it was a slow start, then seemed to pick up. All looked right with the world. As the holidays approached the schedule for work turned bleak. Fall, Winter, and into the Spring of the new year there was not much work. It was around this time that The New York Mets organization claimed that all was right in the World of Wilpon. What? Are you kidding me? Many had lost everything, one investor committed suicide, and your telling us, the fan base, that everything was status quo. Thinking about it now, I guess they were right.

We here at MetsFanClub do not like to toot our own horn, okay, maybe we do, but it is all in jest. Here's the thing. We, along with many of our members knew that the selection of former General Manager Omar Minya was a bad one. The same goes for the two former Managers in Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel, and now there was another thing we as fans knew, the New York Mets would be effected by the Madoff Ponzi Scheme more than the organization was willing to let on.

Why not just come out and admit the truth? Why not just let us know that the team is would be effected by the Madoff situation so we would know to deal with the upcoming seasons and not invest our emotions and time with expecting success. So, two years straight of not signing anyone by the All-Star Break, while our rivals make deal after deal. Misusing players as trying to make up for the lack of talent. Thinking about it know, I guess Mr. Wilpon was correct. Everything was status quo.

What I do believe is that we all have larceny in our hearts and that most of us would never look a gift horse in the mouth, even if it is talking out of both sides. Which makes me wonder, how did Fred Wilpon actually make his money. I mean, is he really that good, or just got lucky. You know, in the right place at the right time kind of thing.

Unless there is a paper trail or someone actually comes out and states for a fact that they, Wilpon, Katz, and whoever knew, the money that was withdrawn under the Sterling Equity, New York Mets, Wilpon or Katz account stays where it is. This is not a simple case of the bank accidently depositing money in the wrong account and you know it is not yours, yet you go out and paint the town red. This is a situation where someone thinking that the money in their account is actually theirs and they are able to do with it as they please.

From reading this, you can probably figure out that I am not an attorney, and my knowledge of the law is limited, but unless there is a specific law that handles this particular situation, then there is not much that can be done. Now, should some of the money be returned? Yes, if one wants to do the right thing and help out others who were effected in this crime. Yet, should they be made to? No. There are times when living in this world that not doing the right thing, does not make one a law breaker, or for that matter should be sued. That is why we are a nation of laws and not just feel good emotions. They too could lead to calamity. But of course there are lawyers out there that maybe start with good intentions, but my experience has been that they end up on an ego trip for power and money. So this no-name that is going after the money that was in the Wilpons account should look for other avenues. It is as simple as that.

Did the Wilpons and all know anything? I think not. Should they be made accountable for what Madoff did? No. Should they be made to return all of the money withdrawn? No. Should they return some of it? Yes, that would be the moral thing to do. But again, that is up to them and not anyone else to determine to make this so.


* The body of this article was written a while back, but somehow it was deleted. I was able to save some of it as a draft and debated whether to continue with its publication. Since then I have attempted to recreate as much as I could remember, yet we all know that an article is never as good as when you first get it down. It was lingering stories that kept appearing on air that made me realize that this is still a viable topic. Especially now that the organization is seeking investors willing to invest up to 25% of the teams worth. That my friends will be a topic for another time. It is too interesting watching how that is shaping up.