Eddie DeBartolo & Carmen Policy

Originally posted by DrEll:

Originally posted by DonnieDarko:

Originally posted by amir_tn80:
Here is my recollection of where things went wrong. In late 1997 Eddie had to step aside as team owner because of his legal issues with the governor of Louisiana. He handed the team over to his sister with Carmen still as the president and running the club. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement until Eddie had his legal issues resolved. While he was away, for some reason he felt Carmen is conspiring with Denise to take over the franchise permanently. Even though he was not officially the owner, Eddie was still running the franchise from behind the scenes. He fired Carmen and Dwight Clark and brought Bill Walsh back as the GM. Then in 1999 Paul Tagliabue stepped in and suspended permanently. Carmen and Dwight went to Cleveland to run the expansion Browns franchise.

I have no idea if Eddie and Carmen ever made up. Eddie is mostly out of the spotlight now. I think he lives in Tampa.

he didnt have to hand over the team, he did it voluntarily, no one forced him to

He handed the team over to Denise voluntarily with the intent of taking it back after he dealt with his legal woes. Denise didn't give the team back though and that caused a rift in the family.

It was Eddie's baby. He brought the team out of the ashes and hoisted 5 SB trophies. The Yorks, who had no clue on how to run the franchise, basically stole his puppy and decided not to give it back.

Thats why there is so much animosity for the Yorks. It wasn't until Jed grew up and took over and publicly stated that he wanted to run the franchise in his uncle's image that fans started giving the Yorks credence.

Eddie was awesome. Would do anything for the team to be great.

Eddie was permanently suspended by the NFL, he could NOT have taken the 49ers back. He would have had to sell it to someone else. Instead, he traded it to his sister for some other family assets. I don't know what all was involved, but I remember one of the things being a horse racing track.

https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/DeBartolo-s-Sister-Sues-for-94-Million-Denise-2937043.php

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/DeBartolo-Files-150-Million-Lawsuit-Against-His-3318689.php
"We're brother and sister. Genes did that -- I didn't."--- big yikes.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/No-resolution-of-DeBartolo-York-fight-over-49ers-3076982.php

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/DeBartolo-loses-49ers-to-his-sister-3068921.php

And after many years prior to Eddie's HoF entry:

https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2016/01/29/Family-approach-leads-Eddie-DeBartolo-to-steps-of-Hall-of-Fame/4791454048650/

'...Truthfully, the team really wasn't taken away from me. I think it's been a misnomer for many many years. Commissioner Tagliabue did obviously suspend me, but as I was going through negotiations with my family and we went through these negotiations and we went through them with lawyers, obviously and with a judge in Akron, Ohio. It did not come down to that team being taken, it came down to a decision that had to be made whether or not I wanted the 49ers or whether or not I wanted to take the other part of the company. And I figured at that time, and my sister Denise (49ers owner Denise York) was involved totally as was her family. I decided in that meeting in Akron Ohio, that I thought it would be best that I took the other side and my tenure with the 49ers would end then and end there. I don't know if that story has ever been told, it may have been, it may have not been. But, it really was a choice, I figured there was more to do with my life at that time. I had succeeded and done a lot with the 49ers. It meant the world to me, but I figured with my daughters, with them getting older and obviously with all of us getting older and having grandchildren at the time, and them planning on families, that it would be best for me to do what was best to be a good grandfather, be a good husband and dad, and do what I want to do and maybe travel a little bit and spend more time with my family.

Originally posted by RDB4216:

Originally posted by DrEll:

Originally posted by DonnieDarko:

Originally posted by amir_tn80:
Here is my recollection of where things went wrong. In late 1997 Eddie had to step aside as team owner because of his legal issues with the governor of Louisiana. He handed the team over to his sister with Carmen still as the president and running the club. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement until Eddie had his legal issues resolved. While he was away, for some reason he felt Carmen is conspiring with Denise to take over the franchise permanently. Even though he was not officially the owner, Eddie was still running the franchise from behind the scenes. He fired Carmen and Dwight Clark and brought Bill Walsh back as the GM. Then in 1999 Paul Tagliabue stepped in and suspended permanently. Carmen and Dwight went to Cleveland to run the expansion Browns franchise.

I have no idea if Eddie and Carmen ever made up. Eddie is mostly out of the spotlight now. I think he lives in Tampa.

he didnt have to hand over the team, he did it voluntarily, no one forced him to

He handed the team over to Denise voluntarily with the intent of taking it back after he dealt with his legal woes. Denise didn't give the team back though and that caused a rift in the family.

It was Eddie's baby. He brought the team out of the ashes and hoisted 5 SB trophies. The Yorks, who had no clue on how to run the franchise, basically stole his puppy and decided not to give it back.

Thats why there is so much animosity for the Yorks. It wasn't until Jed grew up and took over and publicly stated that he wanted to run the franchise in his uncle's image that fans started giving the Yorks credence.

Eddie was awesome. Would do anything for the team to be great.

Eddie was permanently suspended by the NFL, he could NOT have taken the 49ers back. He would have had to sell it to someone else. Instead, he traded it to his sister for some other family assets. I don't know what all was involved, but I remember one of the things being a horse racing track.

This. Not sure what he's talking about...as usual.

Originally posted by GoreGoreGore:

Originally posted by RDB4216:

Originally posted by DrEll:

Originally posted by DonnieDarko:

Originally posted by amir_tn80:
Here is my recollection of where things went wrong. In late 1997 Eddie had to step aside as team owner because of his legal issues with the governor of Louisiana. He handed the team over to his sister with Carmen still as the president and running the club. This was supposed to be a temporary arrangement until Eddie had his legal issues resolved. While he was away, for some reason he felt Carmen is conspiring with Denise to take over the franchise permanently. Even though he was not officially the owner, Eddie was still running the franchise from behind the scenes. He fired Carmen and Dwight Clark and brought Bill Walsh back as the GM. Then in 1999 Paul Tagliabue stepped in and suspended permanently. Carmen and Dwight went to Cleveland to run the expansion Browns franchise.

I have no idea if Eddie and Carmen ever made up. Eddie is mostly out of the spotlight now. I think he lives in Tampa.

he didnt have to hand over the team, he did it voluntarily, no one forced him to

He handed the team over to Denise voluntarily with the intent of taking it back after he dealt with his legal woes. Denise didn't give the team back though and that caused a rift in the family.

It was Eddie's baby. He brought the team out of the ashes and hoisted 5 SB trophies. The Yorks, who had no clue on how to run the franchise, basically stole his puppy and decided not to give it back.

Thats why there is so much animosity for the Yorks. It wasn't until Jed grew up and took over and publicly stated that he wanted to run the franchise in his uncle's image that fans started giving the Yorks credence.

Eddie was awesome. Would do anything for the team to be great.

Eddie was permanently suspended by the NFL, he could NOT have taken the 49ers back. He would have had to sell it to someone else. Instead, he traded it to his sister for some other family assets. I don't know what all was involved, but I remember one of the things being a horse racing track.

This. Not sure what he's talking about...as usual.

I just looked this up and he was initially barred from all team activities for one year by the NFL during which his sister assumed control. He became involved in a feud with his sister and John York over control of the team. Eddie had been cut off from the family fortune because he was $94 million in debt. He and Denise eventually met and reached a permanent agreement that allowed Eddie to keep certain properties in exchange for signing over complete control of the 49ers. This was a complex family matter . I suspect the NFL may have eventually allowed Eddie to take back control of the team but the family feud got in the way.

I got this story from SF Gate for those that want to look it up. I had forgotten the details.

$500 for the Giants...holy s**t. I hate my great grand parents.

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

How much each #NFL team last sold for.

(collab w/ @ASCSportsMedia) pic.twitter.com/HoIzNxPyOg

— Tyler Webb (@tylermwebb) July 3, 2024

This is crazy.

Eddie D is the best owner ever!

Bill Walsh is the G.O.A.T

All of the rules had to be changed just to get other guys into the conversation.

Originally posted by Patton:

Originally posted by blizzuntz:

How much each #NFL team last sold for.

(collab w/ @ASCSportsMedia) pic.twitter.com/HoIzNxPyOg

— Tyler Webb (@tylermwebb) July 3, 2024

This is crazy.

This chart shows not only how much the value of franchises has increased but also the amount of money that billionaires have to throw around. The Broncos are owned by the wealthiest family in the country.

Originally posted by Erratic:
From a 98'' Sports Illustrated article by Michael Silver entitled "What Went Wrong"

The rift between DeBartolo and Policy has become entangled with tension that has developed in recent months between DeBartolo and his sister. Policy declined to discuss specifics of the feud, York did not wish to be interviewed, and DeBartolo has not made any public comments since word of his possible indictment in Louisiana surfaced last December. But interviews with sources close to DeBartolo and Policy reveal the following reasons for their falling out:

--A personality clash between Policy and DeBartolo Entertainment president Ed Muransky, who has displaced Policy as DeBartolo's closest confidant. It was efforts by DeBartolo Entertainment, a company founded by DeBartolo in 1995, to land a riverboat-casino license in Bossier City, La., that led federal authorities to include DeBartolo in a probe of former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards, whose attorneys have said that DeBartolo paid him $400,000 in cash to act as a lobbyist.

--Money. Policy was skilled at manipulating NFL salary-cap restrictions by restructuring player contracts and relying on prorated signing bonuses and incentive clauses, but DeBartolo came to believe that he was not adhering to corporate wishes in regard to the bottom line. In July 1997 DeBartolo, who had been under the impression that the 49ers would break even that year, saw financial records projecting a loss of more than $10 million. He also expressed anger to team officials that Policy had not informed him of signing bonuses given to several players.

--Organizational turmoil. After the '96 season DeBartolo began negotiating with his sister on a spin-off arrangement that would have broken up their financial partnership, essentially allowing DeBartolo to buy the 49ers, who are owned by the DeBartolo Corp., in exchange for his share of the family business. Policy believed at the time that if the deal had gone through, he would have been ousted by DeBartolo. But the agreement was derailed that summer by the onset of the Louisiana probe, and with DeBartolo expecting the NFL to step in, Policy helped devise the plan that eliminated DeBartolo from active ownership, put the team under York's stewardship and increased Policy's power, even allowing him to replace DeBartolo on the DeBartolo Corp.'s board of directors.

--A power struggle. In January, DeBartolo reviewed minutes from DeBartolo Corp. board of directors meetings and was enraged to
learn that Policy had voted for the sale of the jet DeBartolo had used as his personal aircraft. DeBartolo's feelings of betrayal increased when he heard that Policy had met with several investors interested in buying the 49ers. Policy
concedes that such talks took place, but says they were done with the DeBartolo Corp.'s blessing. One potential investor, who did not want his name used, says that he and a partner talked with Policy about buying the team and including Policy as a minority owner. The investor says the DeBartolo Corp. knew of those talks. In response, York said, "The DeBartolo Corp. has never authorized the sale or marketing of the team."

--Communication breakdowns. Policy says that during a February meeting in Youngstown, York instructed him and two other team officials, executive vice president Dwight Clark and chief
financial officer Bill Duffy, not to discuss business with DeBartolo--something for which Policy believes DeBartolo blames him. "I never did one thing that wasn't approved by the
corporation," Policy said as he cleaned out his office at the team's Santa Clara, Calif., headquarters last Friday night. "Here's what Eddie has to understand: Things changed. For so
long, we all viewed Eddie as the solitary power, which he was. But then we were told to act in a certain way, and Eddie wasn't involved. What can I say? It's like telling the king, 'Sorry, your majesty, but you're just not the king anymore.'"

In March DeBartolo and his sister were close to a deal on another buyout, after which DeBartolo planned to fire Policy and replace him with former 49ers coach Bill Walsh. The deal fell through, but Policy knew he was vulnerable, and in early July he began speaking to Lerner. On the day after his dinner with Tagliabue, Policy met for 15 hours with Lerner at the Manhattan office of MBNA Corp., the $65-billion credit-card company of
which Lerner is CEO. Policy, who enjoyed a striking amount of freedom after being appointed team president by DeBartolo before the 1991 season, said he wasn't convinced until Lerner told him, "My successes in life are attributable to picking the right people for a particular business, then stepping aside and letting them run the business."

Once Eddie lost control and Policy started operating under York and the corporation, trust was basically gone. It reads less like villains and heroes and more like a classic case of a dynasty unraveling from the inside.