“Accountability” is a word that gets thrown around a lot in Philadelphia sports. Fans just want their teams to be responsible and give a shit about winning. Not complicated.

If you’re a player, you have to show the right effort and attitude, which would disqualify Anthony Rendon from being a Phillie. And if you’re an owner, the requirement is to put forth the best people and best product while viewing your team as more than just an investment vehicle.

Todd Zolecki wrote a story for MLB.com titled Middleton: Phils ‘accountable’ to fans, city, and this quote (in bold) from the Phillies’ managing partner and CEO encapsulates what fans are looking for:

“This is why it’s important to go out and sign people like Bryce Harper, why you pay Zack Wheeler $40-plus million a year for three years,” Middleton said. “It’s because this is how the fans react. It’s important to them. They appreciate it. They recognize it. I love that. I have other owners who look at me and say, ‘We don’t get this.’ … It’s remarkable how special this city is as a fan base.

“It’s why I keep telling everybody, it may be a privately-held business that we own, but it’s not a private organization. It’s a very public organization. It’s a stewardship. We have an obligation. We are accountable to the fans and to the city. If you don’t approach it that way, you shouldn’t be an owner in my opinion.”

Sums it up nicely, further proof that Middleton is the best owner in Philadelphia. Better than Jeffrey Lurie, in my mind, because Lurie has drifted into the shadows a bit and doesn’t speak very often these days.

Middleton does more media, walks around the stadium, brings fans up into his box, and makes it very clear that he gives a shit and wants to win trophies. The business side, highlighted by horrific IBX sleeve patches, will always be what it is, but Middleton is favored because he’s a front-facing owner who says and does the right things. It also helps when you’re in a no-cap league and throw hundreds of millions of dollars around, but that comes with the territory. Counterpoint: our baseball team could be the Pittsburgh Pirates.


Philadelphia sports ownership rankings as of 8/19/2024:

  1. John Middleton – wants to win, spends money, just “gets” it
  2. Jeffrey Lurie – pragmatic guy who has built a winning culture at NovaCare
  3. probably a tie between Comcast-Spectacor and HBSE at this point, Comcast’s new Flyers’ leadership is much better and Josh Harris takes more shit in this city than I think he deserves
  4. (tie)
  5. Jay Sugarman and company – not horrible owners, just feels like the U aren’t going to take the next step with the way things are run