Via Hardball Talk, a former Rangers employee blackmailed Ron Washington and the Texas Rangers:
Then, however, came the blackmail threats.
Somebody, you see, did know. How or why he knew, that’s unknown.
But this team employee, fired after the season, had all the details. He also had a list of demands for the club, which if not met would mean the Ron-does-dope story would suddenly become national news.
Some of his demands were met, but the club balked at personally giving this person a glowing letter of recommendation and also refused at least one other item. By January, word leaked that the former employee was bad-mouthing Washington around north Arlington.
Blackmailer was real unhappy, but all was still quiet as spring training opened in Arizona nearly four weeks ago. Then this week, Washington received a call from a national baseball writer saying he had the Ron-does-dope details.
It’s uncertain if this is how the blackmailer made good on his threat to disgrace Washington and embarrass the ballclub, but I’d definitely wager that way.
What bothers me most is that the Rangers gave into the blackmailer in the first place, rather than calling the police and announcing the scandal. That was stupid, and is a black eye against the whole management structure of the team. I could see they may not have wanted to hurt their chances of selling the team.
With the way media works today, people should know they need to get out front on these stories. I understand not releasing the information during the season, because Washington would’ve had to step down temporarily (at least) and it would’ve been a distraction. Now the management looks ugly too.
Just get out in front of it. Who even remembers that Tiny Tim got busted for marijuana last fall? There’s little interest unless a habitual use is discovered. People aren’t going to care beyond the initial media burst.